Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-06-05
EDUCATIONAL.
Circular Address Of the State super.
indent OF Public Instruction..
General Points Of Interest Relating to
Our State System Of schools
Discussed,

!
Col. Leon Trousdale, State Super
intendent Of Public Instruction, has
just issued an elaborate circular ad-
dress, in which he says that as the law
now stands no district tax can be levi
ed, the Directors being dependent en-
tirely upon the resources derived from
State and county taxes. He urges the
prompt collection of poll taxes.
The amendment which requires the
County Trustee to place to the credit
of each district the unexpeuded
balance of each year, allows the dis.
tricts to use the same for school pur-
poses on the next year, thus giving to
each district a fairer scope for i'm
provement.
He recommends that County Super
intendents advise the District Directors
to make contracts of consolidation
with the Trustees, teachers or other
authorities of academies, seminaries,
colleges or 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. IA such conselidat<
ed schools; and, provided further, that
the authority of the County SupeFin-
tendent, District Directors and other
school officers over those studying such
branches, snail be as fall and ample as
in the ordinary public schools" as
provided for By the I'D section Of the
school law.
Such consultations as are contemp-
lated by this section, will enable the Di-
rectors to establish graded schools, \"
thus increasing the efficiency Of the
whole system, when the taxation Of
the State and county does not furnish
sufficient fund for such purpose.
Contracts may be made with teachers,
who are qualified to teach the higher
branches, allowing them the amount
of the tuition fees which may accrue
from the same, but taking care to make
the schools, in all instances, absolute
ly free to all pupils who study the ele-
mentary branches required by the law,
and to leave such pupils to the sole
control of the public school officers.
He recommends the making, every
year, of an estimate of the amount of
money, from all sources, to be appor-
toned to each district the ensuing
year, and the first amounts to be used
to pay any accrued Indebtedness to
teachers or others. He is induced to
make aud argue this recommendation
from the numerous instances which
have come to his knowledge Of gross-
earelessness in making contracts, reck-
less as they have proven of the rights of
inviduals, and tending to bring our
school interest into disrepute. He
adopts the instructions issued by the
late State Superintendent with refer
ence to the mode of examining and
licensing teachers with modification,
that when, after examination, the grade
of the applicant in any branch Of in
struction prescribed by the law for the
schools, falls below FIVE, the applicant
must be rejected.
The law requires the District Clerks
and Treasurers to take a census Of all
persons residing in the school district
between the ages of six and eighteen
years, annually, in the month of July.
1t is the duty of the County Superin-
tendent to consolidate these reports
from districts, and to furnish a state
ment there of the County Trustee, and
also to report the same to the State
Superintendent, in his annual report,
on or before the 1st day Of October.
Census blanks, for the use of Clerks
and Treasurers, are sent with this cir
cular to the County Superintenden;s
in every county, which they are strict
ly enjoined todistiibute before the 30th
OF June, giving the necessary instruc-
tions with regard to the time and man.
ner of making reports. Duplicate
copies of these enumerations should
be made in each case.
The annual reports of the District
Clerks and Treasurers % the Couaty
Superintendent, are required to be
made for the year ending 3lst day OF
August preceding, on the 10Th Of Sep
iember, on all subjects indicated in the
blank forms. Ii is very doubtful
whether districts which have not COM
piled with the law, in making enumera-
tions of scholastic population, are en-
titled to the benefit of an apportien-
ment of the school money, as there
will be no standard by which an ap-
portionment can be made, if no census
be taken. Three or four counties have
failed to comply with the law, by elect
ing County Superintendents. The
County Courts, at their July term, are
respectfully notified of the delinquency,
and requested to remedy the same If,
however, they persistently refuse or
fail to comply with the law, IN this
particular, legal steps will be taken to
compel their compliance. 1t is also
believed, that the failure to elect u
County Superintendent will deprive
them of a share of the school fund
distributed semi-annualiy by the Comp
troller, as all the data upon which said
distribution is made are required TO
be furnished by that officer.
In consequence of the postpone
ment of the collection of taxes until
November, and the passage of the as
sessmens law, the County Superintend-
ents, in counties which have levied no
additional tax for prolonging the
schools for FIVE months, are urged to
respectfully call the attention of the
County Courts to the necessity of max
ing the necessary levy. The schools
are established by law, which seems TO
be fortified by sentiment so strong
that they may be regarded as fixed. Il
will be almost 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 at their June
term ought, therefore, 70 be urged to
make them equally as efficient as those
counties of more advanced sentiment
have done, who have levied additional
poll, privilege and property 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 to throw away or waste,
as useless, the State fund apPortioned
20 them.
He suggests that Teachers Conven-
tins be held in each county, which will
arousein the teachers an esprit du corps,
and worthy ambition to avail them
selves of every opportunity to improve
their own methods, and to qualify
themselves more perfectly for the high
er and honorable duties to which they
have been assigned
By the enlightened cooperation Of
the Board Of Trustees of the Uniyer-
sity of Nashville, and of the disting-
uished General Agent Of the Peabody
education fund, DR.. b. Sears, the one
lending the magnificent grounds, build.
ings. and income Of the University, and