Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-01-15
The Educational question.

important subject of education. 1t was
prepared by G. w. Charlton, Chairman of
the Committee, and unanimously adopted
by the Board of Trade of this city at its
recent meeting.
1t will be seen that the memorial is a
strong and earnest one, and can not fail to
attract the attention of members of the
Legislature.
In our next issue we will give to the
public another memorial, cmanating from
the same source and adopted 10y the same
body, on immigration: 4"
10 tie honorable, Mc Gcacol .iss,,a5ig OF
Tennessee.
The Undersigned, q committee appointed
by the Board Of Trade Of the city OF Knox
vile to memorinliZa your honorable hclv
on the subject of the enactment OF some
thorough and efficient school law, would
beg leave to call the individual attention
of the members of the respective Houses
of the General Assembly to tie acknow-
edged importance of education, and to inn
press upon you, the representatives of the
people, tho imperative duty OF the state to
foster and encourage such n system of
common school instruction rs will place
the rudiments of education within the
reach of all the children of the State.
y
attention to the following self-evident
truths or aXioms, tO-wit: That the human
mind can not remain idle without con
tracing dangerous hnbits-and nropCry
cared for, will find employment for their
mental faculties in vicious paths and di-
Tections; that ignorance always develops
crime in its most aggravated forms; that
the expenses incurred by the State in the
prosecution of criminals proceeding from
and growing out Of ignorance, would far
exceed the sum necessary to provide com
mon school instruction for every child in
Tennessee; and that, as an evidence of this
assumption, we refer you to the statistical
fact that moro than seventy-tivc per cent.
of the convicts now in the penitentiary
can neither read nor write. Political
economists agree that it Is cheaper
to prevent crime by liberal sys-
tenn OF education than TO punish
offenders by the ordinary process
of law. 1t certainly cannot be maintained
with any show of reason that such posts
ton is false and untenablo, nor can It be
denied that the wider the advantages of in
struction are diffused, among the masses,
the more prosperous the State, the more
efficient its laws and the more faithful and
useful its subjects. Indeed, as a State, we
owe all to the intelligence of our people.
1t is the forerunner of immigration, of
wealth, virtue and prosperity. 1t blazes
out a new pathway in thorough reform of
every hue and grade. Its vitalizing influ-
ences permeate every artery of human in
dustry and impart dignity, strength and
policy to the commanding efforts of the
human intellect. The pillow, the loom and
the anvil, all owe their triumphs to the
genius of intelligence, while the electrical
agencies and the mighty achievements Of
steam claim til cir origin and their final
elimination in the advance of science.
How, then, in view of these wanderful
facts, can q great State like Tennessee, re-
main Indifferent as regards the education
of the children? How can she refuse,
through her acknowledged representatives
to adopt some feasible plan or scheme look
ing to the accomplishment of this end ?
We shall not attempt to point out to you
that plan, or to dictate to your honorable
body how it shall be done. We do not eX-
pect, nor do we urge such q system, for eX-
ample, as exists in some of the older States
of New England. We are aware that we
are not sufficiently advanced in our
educational idea6 to foster such IA sys-
tenn. That las been the work, and
the earnest toll of years-the product of
careful thought, patient Investigation and
long and well tried experience, But we
may adopt one fully commensurate with
our present wants. We would venture to
suggest to your honorable body, that we
are of the opinion that any school system,
not having general and central head, as
n state SUPERINTENDENT, WIN SuDOENlllalPS
in each county, and county and school
district directory, would be defective and
altogether inadequate to the eXgencies Of
the present, although, we are free to con-
fess, time might at no distant day, author
ize your successors - dispense with County
SupeTntcndents. However, the system
suggested is not unworthy of your atten-
ton, as we humbly conceive, and might
be given a fair trial. We are aware that
any valuable system OF public instruction
will require the expenditure of consdera
be money, but that should not lie in the
way of so important an undertaking.
The direct road to prosperity and financial
advancement is, education. 1t is the way
TO get out of our troubles. 1t will COM
mand population, capital and skilled labor.
We are not rash enough TO encourage and
stimulate the throwing away the peoples
money. On the contrary we advocate
rigid and watchful economy in all eXpend-
itures but, in the matter unGer consider
alton, we are free TO suggest to your
honorable body that you could not, it
seems to us, make a more timely and
iudicious appropriation than that of sus-
tanning the work Of education
thrnu. bout the State. Ii would
be money properly expended, and while
many Of your constituents would perhaps
complain OF your action nc the time, I'm the
end would applaud your course.
In conclusion, your mrmutullats would
represent To your honorable body that the
Board Of Trade Of the ely of hua.yi!i" is
the rsp.Cseu'aJ.Eg or-aulZntjau Of % large
constituency on UTuUgTrV nuiirTH. Url-lrIrr-s