Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-29
FREE SCHOOLS.
Circular from the superintendent Of
Public distraction.

Circular from the superintendent Of
Public distraction.
In reply to the numerous applications that
have reached his office, the State Superin-
tendent has issued the following circular,
which is published for the information of
all concerned:
STATE SUPERINTENDENTs OFFICE,
NASHVILLE, Aug. 26, 1S73.-Dear Sir:
am at last enabled to reply to the many ap-
plications that have reached this othce Tor
aid from the Peabody Fund, and take shls
method Of doing so.
In accordance with instructions received
from DIR. B. Sears, General Agent or me
Peabody Education Fund, l have prepared
the necessary blanks for making appllca-
tiou. and have forwarded a supply OF such
blanks to each County Superintendent IN
the State, with instructions in regard to the
principles and terms upon which aid VIII be
Granted. Upon applying to the Superinten-
dent of YOUR county, you will be furnished
with all needed information on the subject.
You will discover that the Trustees OF the
fnnd design that it shall be used in aid OF
our publjc school system; thst application
must be m ade by public school officers, and
that aid will be granted only to schools un-
der public control.
I regret that an earlier reply has not
been practicable. So pressing have neen
nv official duties, that could not ln1orm
applicants, in detail, of the reasons Tor the
DELAY and the consequently apparent neg
lect of their communications. Very re-
spectfnDy, JNo. M FLEAlSd, LEM
From the instructions of Superintendent
Fleming to the County Superintendents,
we extract the following;
/ send you herewith q supply Oh olsns aP
nlications for aid from TIE Peabody fund,
wbich Won are requested to furnish to par
Ties in your county desiring to make sgen
ami cation. My reasons for thus Gaming
vonr official attention to this matter may De
briefly explained.
If Il designed by the Trustees ofthe Pea
bodv Fund, as set forth by DIR. Sears IA ms
distractions to me, that so mucn OF tne
fnnd az NAV be distributed in Tennessee,
sball he made strictly auxiliary to our State
svsfam of public schools. To tbs emo, L
am instructed to accept applications only
from publjc school authorities. therefore,
ali snch anpiications should come priInar-
ilv from the Boards of District Directors,
a1d onlv from them when they are IN q
sitnation to comply with all the cJnditions,
preeedert and consequent, as seb i'rIn III
he blanks herewith sent to you.
1t is proper that l should also eAplaln ~
YOU, and especially call your sI!en1lon ~
The fact, that the Peabody Fund Is no. ue-
signed to take the place OF mere cna.l.y
fund for the relief OF indlgent commuhi'loS'
or the fostering of ephemeral sonools, az
fording no promise OF permanency' Au
extract or two from the letter OF DE- sears
will better explain the real deslgn' he
says: ..,. s,,h
stautially the policy Of last year IN REGARD
to Tennessee, giving nearly tne Bame
amount, and observing the same rules as
annlications for aid are becoming very
numerous. we must not relax our rules Dus
reoI.ire a strict compliance with them. Our
aim ia to have all the schools, aided oy US,
model. grdded schools, kept through tne
wear. thus giving example OF what puonc
SCHOOLS should be. Let every Peaoooy
school 40 credit to the system which tney
are desIcned TO promote. The way I'd WIN
favor for public schools is to MAKE .nen
ba,tar than private schools, and 70 keep
them through the year. This Is the special T
-. - ,T -,Cr Ennd. The smaller
conntrv schools, although not assisted oY
ns row will feel the effect Of our success
wben ~ eor' lie State system gets into vigorous
one, sU a.ion. The people will then make the
best t nossible legal provision for the districts
Of a spa1ssr population"
awe are not attempting to dispense q
cbnTitu to the most needy, but to pronIote q
system of universal education which shall
intimately reach all the poor by intending
them in the general system
When the end zoe hare t1 cse7 Is "oe Ss'