Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-03-12
HoUK's SCHOOL SPEECH.

r. w. Robertson.
HOUKs SCHOOL SPEECH.
The House of Representatives havingun-
der consideration the school bill, Mr.. Houk
said:
Mr.. SPEAKER-The bill under consider
alton does not meet my conception of what
good school law should be, nor will it ac-
complish all that l desire. 1t falls far be-
low the expectations of the people. Were
1 in an attitude to criticse, 1 should take
occasion to condemn many of its features,
and contribute whatever influence might
have, together with my vote, to correct and
improve its provisions.
1t is imperfect in many respects, 1t does
not meet the full wants of the people. And
yet it is a very great improvement on the
existing school law indeed it is so much
better than what we now have, that pro-
pose to accept it as the very best we can do
under the circumstances. The system of
common schools which we now have, or
rather the uncommon system, relating to
public schools, which has been bequeathed
to the children of the State, has furnished
an inferior character Of educational facili-
ties to the poor children of t1Uenty-raipe
counties out of ninety:four. If the House
will bear with me, will attempt to point
out some of the advantages to be gained by,
and at the some time urge the reasons, why
this bill should be passed by this House
without the dotting an 81" or the crossing
of st" We now have but the fragment
of Seventy-tive-dayS session before us, in
which to do great number of important
things. Hedged in by the iron rules of an
uncongenial Constitution, twelve or fif-
teen days, and our labors are ended To
attempt to take up this bill, section by sec
ton, and amend it as l and others could
wish, will involve more time than the
friends of free education dare to consume.
If it were possible to engraft upon it the
individual preferences of each member of
| this body, and there would be no conflict
of opinion among ourselves, nor jargon in
the parts of the bill, such a policy would
! still result in defeating the enactment of
any school law at this session, for the
reason that we have not time to return the
measure and procure the concurrence of
| the other House of this General Assem-
| bly,.
If we amend the bill here and send it
| back 20 the Senate, it will fall into the
chasm of the closing sessions of the two
| Houses, as such matters often have in the
past. AS we are circumStanced and sur
rounded, there is but one course of duty
before both the friends and enemies of free
schools. Those who desire action and a
school system established, will be COM
PEELED to accept this bill as the best and
only thing to be had on the subject.
Those who are opposed to action, those
|
on the subject, those who are not yet
ashamed of the illiteracy of our otherwise
grand old State, will endeavor to occupy
the time of the House in the discussion,
and, if possible, the adoption of amend
ments, so as to load down the measure,
and cause either a non-concurrence by the
Senate, or, failing in that, plunge it into
the abyss of the approaching adjourn
ment.
/ appeal to the friends of a school sys-
tenn, to those who wish to educate the
poor, to the kindlier emotions Of the heart
when it pleads for action in this matter
now and not hereafter. L ask the mem
bers OF this House to join with me and lei
, us take this bill because we can get moth.
ing better. I tell you, gentlemen, the
country is ripe for and eXpects-yea, de.
mands, a system of free education.
The people have been constantly calling
for it through petitions and memorials
| The press of the country has proclaimed
: its absolute and imperative necessity. II
has been, and will continue to be deman-
ded by the enlightened and progressive
D minds of the country, as the great civil
l iZing agency of modern times The peo
ple-yes, the common people, as they ar,
! called, are far ahead of the politicians, anC
u will, trust, hold the unfaithful to "a fear
e ful accountability.
e We, as the representatives of the people
dare not go back to our constituency with
, out having enacted some law making ;
start in the general march of Christian
e civilization.
o introduced school bill which stand
a as No. 3 on the calendar of this House, an,
which | confess was quite "a pet measure
with me. 1t would be profoundly crafty
/ ing to have the pleasure of returning 4
= my constituents and saying to them, 'Be
hold my bill has become a law hay
secured its adoption" This ] repeat
would be pleasing to the small amount @
D vanity / possess. But / am denied thi
privilege, Here l stand advocating thi