Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-28
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
TenneSsee's Free Schools and Their
Interests.
An Interesting Address Forthcoming
from the S ate Superintendent.

We have before US advanced sheets Of
very important circular address from the
State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton. It will be put up in pamphlet form
and distributed TO the County SuperiG-
tendehts, and we suppose all the public
school officers in the State. It's scope is as
follows: beginning with 4 copy Of the
amendments Of 1915, TO the Public School
Law, the Superintendent discusses the ef-
feet Of the amendments, recommends and
enjOins upon County Superintendent Ger
tain measures, gives instructions in regard
to the examination Of teachers, explains
special requirements Of the school law con-
corning the scholastic census, annual re-
ports, etc, and treats the subjects Of cOun-
ty taxes for schools, efficiency Of directors
and teachers and the State Normal School.
We make only such extracts as will be Ofin-
terest to the public at large, as the school
officers will get copies Of the pamphlet:
EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENTS.
The amendments do not impair the eff
cheney OF the School law; and though there
are changes which might have been desir-
able, it is incumbent upon all who are
officially connected with It, to exert their
utmost energies in rendering all practical
provisions contained in il, active and vital,
during the next two years, with a view to
procuring such further amendments here
after as are necessary to its complete sue.
cess, and for the further purpose of COM
mending it 10 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
favorable public sentiment for its successful
operation, as we'll as for its continuance.
Il, therefore, behOOves those who have in
charge the execution Of its provisions, to
discharge their responsible duties with the
highest and most conscientious regard 10
the great and benefceut ends to be attain
ed. With this view, l recommend and en-
join upon the County Superintendent the
following measures, viz:
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.
That, wherever practicable, they advise
the District Directors 20 "make contracts
Of consolidation with the trustees, teachers,
or other authorities Of academies, semina-
ries, colleges OF private schools, by which
the public schools may be taught in such
institutions; provided, that the branches Of
study designated in the 3lst section of
this act, shall be taught, free Of any charge,
in such consolidated schools; and, provided
further, that the authority Of the County
Superintendent. District Directors. and
other school officers over those Studying
such branches, shall be as fol- and ample
as in the ordinary public Schools as pro-
vided for by the SD section Of the school
law. / earnestly recommend this measure
to the County Superintendent and Dis
trict Directors, IS being an absolute neces-
sity in winning the confidence Of the peO-
pie IN the school system, eleTatiug the
grade Of the schools, and securing increased
interest FROM all quarters in their success.
SCHOOL ESTIMATES OF BUDGETS.
Another measure, which I recommend
70 County Superintendent, 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 appOrtiOned
to each district in the ensuing year, or re-
quirp the directors to do the same, taking
as a basis the actual appOTtiOnments of the
preceding year, provided no change has
been made by the county in the levy Of
taxes. II any change in the levy has been
made, then the estimate may be increased
or diminished accordingly.
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
The instructions issued by the late State
Superintendent, with reference to the mode
Of examining and licensing school teachers
and their Qualifica. ions, are hereby adopted
and re issued TO County SUperintendents,
with this modification: that when, after ex-
animation, the grade Of the applicant in
any branch of instruction prescribed by the
law for the schools, falls below fire, the ap-
plicant must be rejected. The former in
struction was, that when the acreage grade
falls below fire the applicant should be re-
ieCted. This modification IS made in or
der 10 advance the standard OF qualification
each year.
COUNTY TANEs FOR SCHOOLS.
In consequence Of the pOstpOnement Of
the collection Of taxes until November, and
the passage Of the new assessment law,
the County SqperinteRdents, in counties
which have levied no additional tax for
prOlOI girg 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 forth /
fed by a sentiment so strong, that they
may be regarded as fixed. 1t will be
almost a waste Of the public money 70 at
tempt to carry them on with the interest on |
the school fund and the State levy on polls
AAlN NLDNEAN uADlAEs III AeAA AAN ccILA -
al their July term. ought, therefore, 10
be urged 70 maze them equally as efici- |
ent as those counties of a more
advanced sentiment have done, who have
levied additional poll, privilege and prop |
erty tax, the latter, some Of them, at the |
rate Of twenty cents and twenty-five cents |
on the 500. To fail in this important |
duty is nearly 10 throw away or waste, as |
70 ham
Il would be Just rs unwise and unpatriOtiC /
to refuse levies Of soldiers, and means and |
munitions to support them, in time Of war, /
as for local authorities to refuse to make |
leyies of taxes to educate the children Of |
the counties in time Of peace. The man !
who would refuse to become a soldier, |
when his services are needed, would be re- |
garded as dislOyal TO his country. Why |
Should he who refuses to be taxed to mould |
good citizens in peace and war be regarded !
as any better?
ETATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
By the enlightened cooperation Of the |
Board Of Trustees Of the University Of |
Nashville, and-of the distinguished General |
AGENT of the Peabody Education Fund, DIR. |
b. Sears, the one lending the magnificent |
grounds, buildings, and income Of the |
nlNefSllNs anu lll- NLlCL lile
annual sum of $1,000, under the super |
vision Of the State Board of Education, the |
State Normal ) hOOl will certainly be pat |
in operation during the ensuing fall, as i |
am enabled TO announce. The terms upon |
which the pupils will be admitted viii be |
announced by a timely circular from the |
Board Of Education. It is destined TO |
prove the most auspiciOus event in our an |
nails for the encouragement and complete |
success Of our public school system. |
1t may be at least fairly assumed
that no longer shall the bound
ing energies and aspiring talent |
Of our youth be restrained by the metes |
and bounds Of other trades and professions,
in which so many languish and fail. But
the whole bOundless domain, in which SO
many honest aud capable workers are need |
ed to cultivate the mental and moral fac