Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-14
EDUCATIONAL.
Another Blast at the County Superin-
fendeuts.

lChDCAAtSs
To the UnieR and American:
L see by reading your paper (which l
have done for many years with much
satisfaction that occasionally men are
giving their views on the question of
public schools. | am IN favor of ju-
diciousan enconomizing system ofpub-
lie schools, and am free to admit that
much contained In the present system
is good. / would, however, prefer a
system more enconOmizing. Iwouldhave
no county superintendent. l. Because
We would thereby save from fifty to
sixty thousand dollars to the school
fund which has to come out of the hard
earnings of the people. I'd, because
we cannot have schools without school
district directors, and all depends on
their action, whether you have Coun-
ty Superintendent or not, and regard
1t as almost a useless expense to the
people. Besides, do not think we
would be annoyed half so much with
book agents urging changes SO frequent
If they had to travel over the whole
country to see district directors In
place of hunting up County Super
intendent in each county. Fur
Their, L am opposed to. all things
that have a tendency towards centrali-
zatiOn In State or National affairs. 1t
is increasing to an alarming extent in
National affairs and there is certainly
great danger of the States-drifting in
to the same policy. l have no COM
plant to make against the efficiency of
our County or State Superintendent,
but do think that ninety odd County
Superlntendents at a salary of from
three to nine hundred dollars annually
for each IS unnecessary expense to the
people, especially when we have a heavy
State debt ranking about seventh in
magnitude percapita as compared
with other States in the Union.
Our school law, with few amendments
IN theiway Recommending, would, in
a short time, give almost entire salts
faction, and at the same time prove to
be a success. l do not pretend to say
that 1t viii not be a success to remain
as it now Is; but it Will be a success
costing the people more money than it
should do. AT this day it seems that
almost all officials think that they
should have a salary sufficient to
enable them to live In great ease and
style, supplying themselves in abund-
ance with the Injuries of life.
This Is an evil IN our land
that should be corrected from
Congressman, yea, from President down
to the inferior Offices within the gift of
the people. l hope that the people VIII
examine and investigate for themselves
all questions Of public policy; but it
seems that the people or the voice Of
the people are so little regarded, espe-
cially In National affairs, that
they have to some extent lost
their energies, especially when
1t comes to acting on questions
of public policy. Therefore, we should
endeavor to bring all things concerning
the public welfare as nearly as posi-
bic under the immediate and direct
control of the people. Perhaps it may
be asked how schools would proceed
without a County Superintendent.
Let the law remain much about rs il
Is, letting the County Trustee receive
the school fund as he now does, paying
it out on the order of the District Di-
rectors to teachers for services render
ed, allowing the School Directors to
judge Of the qualification of teachers,
as required by law. l know this idea
will be ridiculed by many, but never
theless 1t would suit the masses Of the
people whose pockets are made to fur
nish the school fund.
Money is rather scarce in old HEX
man, but is said to be getting easier.
The people are getting to be great
economists in these parts since the
pinch IN financial circles. What a good
thing 1t would be If those controlling
at the head center Of the nation could
be affected IN the same way.
HICKMAN FARMER.