Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-05

than a relatively small portion OF the
school taxes for 1873 could be realized
during 1873. The only considerable por-
ton of school revenue expected to be re-
allied during 1873 was the first semi-an-
nual installment of interest upon the
Permanent fund. That was appOrtioned
on the first Monday in October, and has
been distributed among the counties ac-
cording to their scholastic rights. The
next apportienmeHt will take place on
the first Monday in April next, and will
embrace the second installment Of in
terest ard the State poll-taxes that may
have been collected aud returned to the
treasury, The greater portion of taxes
assessed for 1873 will, in fact, be realized
during The year 1874 and this rule will
prevail in regard to succeeding years.
BY the terms of the school law, the
scholastic year in Tennessee begins the
first of September, closing with the
thirty-first of August of each year, so
that the first scholastic year under the
new syatem will not close until the
thirty-first of August next. 1t will be
seen, therefore, that practically the
school taxes levied in 1873 were for the
support of schools during the scholastic
year from the first of September, 1873,
to the thirty-irst of August, 1874,
and by the same reason that the school
taxes levied for 1874 will be practically
for the support of schools during the
scholastic year beginning first of Sep.
tember, 1874, and ending thirty-fiTst of
August, 1875. This, it is meant, will be
the general practical result, owing to
the near correspondence OF our revenue
collections with the limits Of the schol-
a. fhnG
sented with q view, first, Of correcting
any misapprehension that may have
prevailed; and, secondly, to indicate the
importance of making early provision,
by additional rates OF county taxation,
for the continuance of the schools for the
next ensuing scholastic year.
In the circular address, issued in con-
nection with the pamphlet edition OF the
school law, it was shown that the funds
provided for by general law would not
be sufficient to maintain five months
schools. In that calculation, the best
premises possible were assumed, the OBJ
| ject being to demonstrate the necessity
for immediate action by the county
courts. The revenues will not be quite
so greas while the scholastic population
| is somewhat greater than was tneh
dllOMCNlt 81 lldls dS bCiOlC oSeA'SNt 49,
State supply of revenue cannot be relied
upon for more than three months in any
county, and ia many of the counties for
not so much. Thus, the duty of the
county courts to provide for the cOntin-
uance of the schools in their respective
counties presents itself now with greater
demands for action than heretofore.
1t has been no part of the purpose oil
10 fha QTOI1.
ments at command in support OF tht
call upon counties for supplementary
revenue much less is its design to
officiously obtrude counsel upon the
courts, Most of the county courts OF
the State have already manifested a
cheerful disposition to meet the require
ments Of the law, and all, it is believed,
have listened respectfully to such sug-
gestions as have been made touching
the demands of the public-schOol inter
ests. Our school system is now but
fairly organized. Its legitimate fruits
are not vet seen. The needed supplies
for its support have not yet been real
ized. With proper attention and sup,
port on the part of the county courts, il
is believed the system may be, in COM
paratively short time, so perfected that
satisfactory provision will be secured for
the elementary instruction of all the
children of the State. 1t is the chief
purpose of this communication, by
respectful presentation OF facts, to arrest
the attention of the county courts, and
invoke such action as will prosper the
cause of public schools in their resi- ect-
i've counties.
In this connection, it is hoped another
suggestion will be pardOned. The cOun-
ty courts have jurisdiction of the cOun-
ty superintendents. They elect and re-
tain, or displace superintendents, and
provide their compensation. In many
of the counties it is feared the compen-
sation allowed is not sufficient to retain
competent men in Office. The import
ance of having competent, active coun-
ty superintendent can hardly be over
estimared. Without such an officer the
best efforts of all the other officers of the
system will fail TO secure a good system
of schools in the county, and man MT
ted for the satisfactory discharge of the
duties Of the office cannot be expected
to make an uncOmpensated sacrifice OF
his time, talents and labor for the public
good. 1t is hoped, therefore, that the
idea that the Office of county superin-
tendent is one that anybody can fill, and
fill at his leisure, will not anywhere pre-
vail, but that at least sufficient cOmpen-
sation will be allowed in every county
to secure the close attention of q cOmpe-
tent person to the many duties Of cOun-
ty superintendent. Begging pardon, il
in any respect this communication shall
seem intrusive, l am, very respectfully,
JOHN NJ. FLEMING,
State superintendent.
FROM THE STATE TEACHERS AsSOCIA-
TI0N.
NASHVILLE, December3l, 1873.
To the County Courts OF Tennessee:
At the annual meeting of the State
Teachers assOciatiOn-a voluntary or
ganizatiOn comprising teachers and
friends of education : om all parts of the
| State-held in this city on the ninth and
tenth of this month, the undersigned
were appointed a special committee
with instructions to prepare an address,
respectfully calling the attention of the
county courts of the State to the pres
ent condition of our public school inter
ests, and to the Importance of prompt
and favorable action on the part of the
several courts in relation thereto. We
| find that the discharge of the duty i'm.
posed upon us has been rendered
well nigh superfiuous by the brief, prac-
tical and pointed, though respectful
communication of the State super
! intendent in reference to the same mat.
| ter. We beg to add our invocation
| for ourselves and the association
we represent, to that of the State su.
perintsndent, for timely and generous
action in behalf of our public school i'll
terests in every county in the State. As
stated by the State superintendent, om
present public school system, though
| but il its infancy, is already organized
10 every county in the State. This much
il an achievement that should inspire
every friend of the youth of the State
with courage and confidence. But the
vantage ground already secured must
not be lost through Indifference and in
! action. At much expense we have
opened the way and brought within
sight the accomplishment of a glorious
result. Under the present provisions OF
the law, the responsibility of failure OF
success rests largely with the county
courts. fHE -N rn- ~
Areasonable provision for school reve.
nue. in each county, as indicated by the
state superintendent, will enable the
good work, so aUspicous begun, to &C
forward triumphantly, and when sys.
tenn Of good common schools shall have
been perfected in Tennessee, it will be
found that the moneys appropriated in
the shape of school taxes have been the
best public investment ever made in
the commonwealth. Representing, as
we do, the friends of popular education
throughout the State, it would be q
/ ,,,o-lz ~ ,,Iaaut1ra 70 offar aro,uYoonts In