Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-06-24

small school, but.SOOn would reign
as king in that community, with
every child in the neighborhood in his
school. He accomplished this 10y his
enthusiasm In the cause, and ny gain
ing the affection of his pupils If a
person. Just teaches to put in time and
make money, he will leave u coldness
in The hearts of his scholars which par
alyzes them. A man must work with
enthusiasm to be n successful teacher
Prof NJ. G. Butler, of Knoxville,
made few remarks on the paper. He
wanted to emphasize the first point
made-the knowledge of the mind.
Teachers are not born teachers, but it
is an art that must be acquired, aud it
is very difficult art to be acquired, as
it is "A thorough knowledge of mind.
Teaching, to be etfectual, must be scien
tifically done, and hence the teacher
needs preparation. A farmer may have
all the necessary implements, the seed,
and good ground and yet make a failure
for the want of knowledge how to
make proper use of what he Possesses.
so teacher may have all the books
necessary, aud "A thorough knowledge
of the same, but not of the mind he
undertakes To train, and make fail
primary department, unless he can
see the end from the beginning
The next question for discussion on
the programme was postponed until
night, To give Mr.. Sharp, who is to
take DR.. Sears place in the discussion,
a little more time to prepare.
Prof. A. II. Smith, of Columbia,
who was to read a paper on English
Universities. not being present, but
having sent the paper, the Secretary
proceeded to read it. 1t, however,
proving to be mere description of
Oxford University, after reading a few
pages, on motion further reading was
suspended.
Prof. II. H. Smith, of Shelbyville,
read paper on Public Schools Eco
nomically Considered" He held that
graded free schools were cheaper than
other schools, and here gave facts and
figures to bear out the assertion. As
"a practical argument in favor of this
assertion, he stated that free schools
were always established where they
loved money most, and are never given
up when once thoroughly organized.
He cited Germany and other countries.
Boston, he said, expended over 81, OoO,-
900 every year on their public schools.
He was astonished at some men saying,
Let every man educate his own chill
dren.n If the State wishes to deserve
TO be called a mother country, let her
be the Alma Mater to all her sons.
DR.. Lindsey took the floor, Prof. ii.
II. Smith being called to the chair.
He said there was doubtless "A wide~
spread opposition, but il was silent,
yet powerful, and it has to be met at
the street corners and the fireside. AS
to the rich opposing it, he thought n
powerful argument to be used with
them is, to call their attention to the
fact that though their children do not
need the free school, their grandchil-
dren may. He never knew this argu-
ment to fail.
Mr.. Presnell, of Washington county,
was deeply interested in the paper, and
the manner it was delivered. He felt
satisfied that the masses could never
be educated outside of Public schools.
He thought public schools the cheapest,
and thought they could be made to be
a. good, if not superior to other
schools.
Prof. ]. r. Dean made a few re-
marks. He said he found one man
strongly opposing free schools, who
was wealthy and claimed that he had
paid $4,000 to educate his children,
and he did not wish to be taxed to
educate other mems children. He
asked him. do you know your grand
children will not need the benefit OF
free sehools?" This brought him over.
Mr.. Dean gave some facts ard figures
as to the cheapness of the free school
system.
Prof. Bartlett, of Maryville, was in
favor of free schools, but thought that
it was wasting money to pay some OF
the district school teachers, as some OF
them were injuring the children more
than they were benetitting them. The
way to remedy it, is to raise up gene
ration of teachers.
Prof. Sharp thoughtit bad policy to
leave children uneducated. Money
invested in free school is the best in
vestment "a State can make. They
paid in his county last year about $3.50
more eXpences of courts and criminals
than for public schools, :and the ma.
iority of the criminals were uneduca-
ted and the sons of drunkards.
Prof. Wilson of Morristown, wanted
to reach the masses of the people. He
thought the wealthy were willing to
pay taxes for free schools when they
see it will do good.
Pref. j. r. Dean explained what he
meant by saying the free schools were
the cheapest and best, and stated that
though il was true some of the teach
ers were not as well prepared as they
should be, but then they were private
teachers before, and he thought they
could be made to be more effective
under the free school system.
Rev. ID. Sullins, of Bristol made some
remarks. He felt interested ia the
discussion, and thought many good
points had been made, but thought
that the main trouble in the way OF
free schools at present had not been
mentioned (here he paused, when Sen
ator Richards said speak on). He
thought the trouble in the way,
was the apprehension of the pas
sage of the Civil Rights Bill. He
thinks the language Of the people is,
we will gladly support the schools pro-
vided you do not put my child by the
side of the colored child. The chair
man called him to order as his remarks
were not confined to the subject.
| Senator Richards made few re-
| T.. q, 4.