The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-12-18
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

we're satisfied that il IDerited praise, and
ns little inclination TO condemn it, in
whole or 10 paEt, unless We were con-
sinced that it deserved condemnation.
As systsn it has made friends in
many parts of the State. If the praises
which are lsvished upon it by some oi
eur contempt aries are just, while in
many others it has inspired no csn6-
dsnes, and large proportion of the tax
payers who have children TO educate are
heartily sick Of their experience with th e
system as it IL, when Gun sideFed as a
means to lessen th cir tuition bills and
at the same time to give their children
proper instruction.
Il may be that the dissatisfaction
which prevails in some localities Is
ewing to the inefscisncy of the officials
WhO have il in charge. and besides it
vas expected that dificalties WOO d he
encountered in the Inauguration of a
prise if defects have been found in the
system by those who have b0en connect,
ed with it during the two years OF its ex-
istenee. This too was to be expected,
and remedy for the defects will be a
proper subject of legislation.
Much has been said about the unnec>
sssary expsnse in operating the system,
and some are Of the Opinien that it would
be iust 40 efficient in the hands of a
smaller number Of paid officials. We
have had no connection with 1t, but we
have heen observing It's workings in our
own county AMI we propose now to
speak Of it as we see it here, believing
that the people of other counties have
had like experience, and like our own
people will demand Of our legislature at
least modification Of some Of its pro.
visions
We have q scholastic population in the
county Of 6Io8 Our school fund from
ali sources amounts to $7367
If this amount we're all collectible the
pro 49, for each child would then only
be about $1.2l 1t Is not all collectible
and the pro rata is therefore some
thing less than 81 20.
Is it 20 be expected that an Efficient
public school system can be maintained
With this small pIttance9
We do not propOse to be met with
the argument that the County Court can
levy . special tax with which to increase
ths small fund already provided 1t
hes go far failed to do it, and with the
present :state. Of our finances, our people
are unslterably opposed TO such tax.
They cannot now be made to see the
Hsnehcencs Of such policy while coun-
" warrants are at a discount OF IS per
cent
Whet is the resuIt7 1t is this: The
school fund is just sufficient 20 justify
the name, keep large number Of officials
busy doing nothing, while it is an abso-
late harm to private schools The app
portionment 70 each district is 80 small
that Is can only support a school for q
short time, and the consequence ia that
We see someti nes from City to seventy
scholars nnder one teacher. The writer
Of this has had much experience in teach
Ing, and is prepared to say that forty
scholars is fully as many as one teach
er ought to undertake to instruct, anC
even then they should be web classified
he has taught forty efficiently and
knows whereof he speaks, regardless o.
the opinions Of those especially who
have had no practical experience in this
matter. With two or ncre teachers IL
che same school, the number can be
somewhat increased.
We propose nav to suggest plan by
which the very small school fund can be
satisfactorily disposed of, because we dc
Dot believe that the people of this county
are ready to have an additional schoo
tax leyied. It is this: Wherever an eft
scient private school is already estab
lisned let it be fostered by having th'
school law so changed that each child
which attends it may receive its pr,
N8s4 IA AuN EubhO tAino W AoCAoS ~ -
paying its regular tuition fees. Ih'
money could be disbursed as Rnw, ant
paid by the Directors to the teacher who
could give the child credit by tha
AMOUNT
IL this modification we're made in tin
law. il would be an excellent feature [,
have = provision that such child should
receive credit in proportion 20 the TIM
it actually attended school
Let as bring this matter directly hom
aud by properly stating what is bein
done in Bolivar We can the more ciearI,
show the true state of things in man,
other towns Of the State.
We have in this civil district %
white and $50 cOlored children. Provi
ded ali the school tax is colleotible we ar
entitled 60 S7l9 20 tor our SIC childre
for this year. A clamor is raised. an
the Directors, 20 keep from being annoy
ed and with sincere desire to eompl
with the terms OF the law, employ 'eact
or for snch period as the limited mean
will allow. The school very soon be
comes so crowded that it is impossib
for the teasher 70 do anything like ia
tice to the children All experience
school men will agree that it is an acu
IL damage 70 the progress of a child
Attead such school. In making tn
assertion we do mot wish TO be under
stood az saying that any teachers of I'll
pablo schools have been derelict ia the