Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-30
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Synopsis Of PartbeOaaIug Address from
Colonel Leon TrOusdhIe, state ku.
pSrintendent or Public Ida
cation,
Our Free sehOOIs-ThekF ExteusiOn and
PeTpstuRJfOB-Frsc and Wise
EugEestfOas-EeOHOm with
cut PaFsImORy.

, uted to the county sUpeTiGtendents, AM
we suppose all the public school officer
in the State. It's scope is as follows: be
ginning with a copy Of the amendment
: Of 1875 to the public school law, the su
peTintendeut discusses the effect OF tn
amendments, recommends and enjoiu
upon county supeTintendents certain
measures, gives instruction in regard t,
, the examination Of teachers, explain
certain requirements Of the school Law
concerning the scholastic census, an
nual reports, etc, and treats the subjec
OF county taxes for schools, efficiency 0
directors and teachers and the Stat
I normal school. We make only such ex
tTacts as will be OF interest to the publi
at large, as the school officers will ge
copies Of the pamphlet:
EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENTS.
, The amendments do not impair The
efficiency Of the school law; and though
there are changes which might have
been desirable, iC is incumbent upon al
who are officially connected with it, tC
exert their utmost energies in rendering
ali practical provisions contained in if,
active and vital, during the next two
years, with a view to procuring such
| further amendments hereafter as are
necessary to its complete success, and
| for the further purpose Of commenting
it to the acceptance Of the people, by
extracting from it the utmost possible
benefits contemplated by its trainers.
There is no law which is so dependent
upon p favorable public sentiment for
| its successful operation, as well as for its
continuance. 1t, therefore, behooves
those who have in charge the execution
of its provisions, to discharge their re-
spOnsible duties vi b the highest and
most conscientious regard to the great
and beneficent ends 90 be attained.
With this view, I recommend and en-
join upon the county superintendents
the following measures, viz:
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.
That, wherever practicable, they sd-
wise the district directors to "make con-
tracts of consolidation with the trustees,
teachers, or other authorities OF acade-
mics, seminaries, colleges or private
schCO's, by which the public schools may
be taught in such institutions; provided,
that the branches Of study designated in
the thirty-first section of this act shall
be taught, free Of any charge, in such
consolidated schools; and, provided fur
ther, that the authority OF the county
superintendent, district directors, and
other school officers over those studying
such branches, shall be as full and am
pie as in the ordinary public schools"
as provided for by the thirty-third Sec,
ton Of The school law. l earnestly re-
commend this measure to the county
and district directors, as
being an absolute necessity in winning
the confidence of the people in the school
system, elevating the grade of the
schools, and securing increased interest
from all quarters in their success.
SCHOOL ESTIMATES OR BUDGETS.
Another measure which I recommend
to county superintendents, is to make
out each year, before any contracts are
entered into with teachers, an estimate
of the amount of the school money from
all sources, which will probably be ap-
portioned to each district in the ensuing
year, or require the directors to do the
same, taking as a basis the actual ap-
portiOnments Of the preceding year, pro-
vided no change has been made by the
county in the levy of taxes. If any
change in the levy has been made, then
the estimate may be increased or dimin-
ished accordingly.
E<AAlu1NA4L VI lEhChEhos
The instructions issued by the late
state superintendent, with reference to
the mode of examining and licensing
school teachers, and their qualifications, |
are hereby adopted and re-issued to |
county uperintendents, with this modi-
fication: that when, after examination, |
the grade Of the applicant in any branch |
Of instruction prescribed by the law for |
the schools, falls below fUe, the appli-
cant must be rejected. The former in
struction was, that when the average
grade falls below fUe the applicant |
should be rejected. This modification is
made in order to advance the standard i
Of qualification each year.
COUNTY TAXES FOR SCHOOLS.
In consequence Of the pOstponement |
Of the collection Of taxes. until Novem-
Der, and the passage of the new assess
ment law, the county superintendents,
in counties which have levied nc addi-
tional tax for prOlOnging the schools for
five months, are urged to respectfully
call the attention of the county courts to
the necessity OF making the necessary
levy. the schools are established by
law, which seems to be fortified by
sentiment so strong that they may be
LCSdluGu Gho uACus IL " III UG diuOSL a
waste of the public money to attempt to
carry them on with the interest on the
school fund and the State levy on polls
and property alone. The quarterly
courts, st their July term, ought, there
ore, to be urged to make them equally
ss efficient as those counties Of a more
advanced sentiment have done, who
nave levied additional poll, privilege
md 70 ha -
hem, at the rate Of twenty cents and
cents on the one hundred
iollaIs. To fail in this important
iuty is nearly to throw away or
waste, as useless, the State funG
Ipportioned to them. It would be
ust as unwise and unpatriOtic to re.
use leVies of soldiers, and means and
munitions TO support them, in time of
var, as for local authorities to refuse to
make levies of taxes to educate the chill
lren Of counties in time Of peace. The !
nan who would refuse to become a SOL
iier, when his services are needed, '
would be regarded as disloyal TO his {
country. Why should he who refuses i
o be taxed to mould good citizens in {
Deace and war be regarded as any bet I
er?
By the enlightened cooperation of I
be board of trustees Of the University
4 Nashville, and Of the distinguished {
General agent Of the Peabody education 8
und, DR.. B, Sears, the one lending the
magnificent grounds, buildings, and in l
ONE of the university, and the other |
the annual sum Of six t
housand dollars, under the supervision L
( the State board Of education, the |
tate normal school will certainly be put g
q operation during the ensuing fall, as /
am enabled to announce. The terms 7
pom which the pupils will be admitted T
7ill be announced by a timely circular t
-om the board of education. 1t is des- t
med to prove the most auspicious L
vent in our annals for the en- 8
and complete success {
our public school system. 1t e
lay be at least fairly assumed C
nat no longer shall the bounding ener- L
les and aspiring talent Of our youth be v
sstrained by the metes and bounds of e
ther trades and professions, in which b
, many languish and fail. But the 1,
hole bOundless domain, in which so e
lany honest and capable workers are d
eeded to cultivate the mertal and Il
Iorsl faculties of the rising generation, b
re hencefOrth to be opened to the youth .
Tennessee of both sexes. From such u
creation there rises up before the i'm b
yinstion a very fairy land Of promise; n
1d in sober, practical reality, there is n
resented the opportunity for honorable p
Il