The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-11
Letter from the County super
intende1lt.
COUNTY SUPERISTENDEST's OFFTcB,

CoUSTY SUPERINTENDEST's OFFICE,
WHITEsBURe, August ?, 1875.
To tie School Directors Of Hsne6se,e Coung:
promised one of oar District Direc-
tors some time since, 70. make known TO
the Directors of the county the result of
correspondence between State Super
intendent IrousdaIe and myself with re-
gard to the duty Of Directors ia these
districts when the amount of money APP
propriated 10 the colored population in
any one year is insufficient to give them
a school for any considerable length OF
time, and where consolidation with
other districts is inpracticable. The
question involved is just this: Have the
Directors the right, under any circunl-
stances, to use the money belonging to
one race for the benefit of the other?
Col Trous1ale in his reply quotes sec.
20. sub sec. 8 of the School Law, in
which it is declared to be the duty of
Directors ito use the School Fund APP
portioned to their districts, derived from
donations or other sources, in such man
ner as will promote the interest of Pub
lie Schools in their respective Districts"
He then says. ''The Directors can
alone Judge Of this manner, which will
promote the interest &C. 1t is certainly
their duty to see that tile eolored child
rem have a fair chance when it is practi-
cable. In Washington county they
have agreed to consolidate the fund for
colored children ami have one good
school in the county. But it is impossi-
BILE to lay down any rule for the guild
ance of Directors, the circumstances be-
ing different in the different counties.
The whole matter must, therefore, be
left where the law leaves it, to their
judgement" / expressed the opinion,
that, in districts where the amount of
money appoltioned to the colored child
rem for any one year was insufficient to
give them school, and when consolida-
ton was impracticable, it was the duty
of the directors to reserve the money
until sufficient amount should accumu-
late TO give them school. / entertain
the same opinion STILL This is simply
my opinion, and, of course, the Direc-
tors are in nowise bound thereby Sec.
26 sub sec o of the School Law declares
that it shall be the duty of Directors
''to keep separate and apart, schools for
white and colored children The col
Ored children, according to the law,
have clearly a right to the benefits of
Public Schools. Then how can these
4. TO. f1ar
under any circumstances, be legally de-
privcd of themg Is any course justifia-
bic that entirely debars them? think
not. If, because there is only half
enough money due the colored popula-
ton of districtto give them school
ii for the benefit of the white schools,
We put it just as far out of their power
to have a school next year. Next year
we could come forward with the same
plea. again take their money because
there was not enough to do them any
good, use it in the white schools, and
thus make it utterly Impossible for them
for them to have IA school at all. Such
course, think, would be contrary to
the spirit of the law. This, l repeat, |
is simply my opinion upon the subject,
and Directors will be governed by their
own Judgement as to their duty under
such circumstances; but hope earnest
effort win be made to give the colored |
children schools wherever, and when
ever it is practicable, for they certainly
need the benefit of every enlightening
influence.
I'll. NJ. SHERWOOD,
3 @ g. County Sup't