The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-02
To the members of the County Court:

To the members Of the County Court:
GENTLEMES.-I have the honor to
submit to you, through your worthy
Chairman, my second annual report of
the school department of Hardeman
county:
1t has been customary to present
briefly in in this annual report, to you
the cost of education, number educat-
ed, the number engaged in educating,
the various expedients, facilities and
provisions adopted and proposed for
improving those, and throughout the
report to so laud, and magnify and
exalt public school condition and man
agement rs to leave the impression
that school-houses, teachers, officers,
about all that pertains To public edU-
cation, are as nearly as can be, what
the public needs, should have, and
pay for. Public sentiment and Opin-
ions created largely by these annual
reports from the head ofthe education
al department of the state and county,
and by the statements and opinions OF
the teachers in other, and various ed
vocational reports, makes it sometimes
unpleasant to b~aak this rnle, even
though the breaking would better sub
serve the public interest. Therefore,
in making this report, shall not be
governed by pGecedents.
When tue public is dependent, al
most entirely upon the reports Of eff
cials, and employees for the informa-
ton that should make known the cost,
character, condition, and these en-
ployes animated By n desire to build
up and strengthen a good institution,
annually portray the public school
management IN such brilliant cOICrs
as to leave no where 4 dark corner or
shade marriHg the glorious sunlight Of
this management, it Is not strange
chat the public may for a time see only
the glitter and glare, the bright coiors
and beautiful fields, though there be
shadow andElarknCss, and barrcnnCss
all about them.
But are our public schools doing no
good Ianswer yes, they are doing
good, and were they as wise, efficient
and practical as they Should be, then
this comfortably satisfied condition Of
the public would be conducive Of good,
and it would be my pleasure to encour-
age the apathy that has prevailed
respecting school management, but as
it Is, this satisfied, OF apathctic nndif-
ference is suicidal, is criminal. For
years the people Of HaFdcman county
have been paying taxes fer the sup
port of public education, but gripping
all with an apparent Indifference as to
the results. Foo little thought has
been given to the management Of
these sch 5oIs, too little attention paid
their supervision.
The culture and training Of 6777 Of
youth, ali the youth Of our county, to
that extent which will make Of each
one, at least, useful and honorable
citizen IL a work Of paramount impor-
lance. The erection and equipment
Of school buildings to accommodate this
army Of learners which must take their
place in future greatness. Or obsecurity,
requires the most careful, and wIseSJ
oeursight. The employment of 107
Ia BOI CIS, ~ NUM- JilOt4SOuIlS VI NOl-
lars must lie paid annually, to do any
work even that which requires but lit
tie skill and preparation is matter of
great Importance. But when these Ia
borers must have special Unborn fitness,
and careful preparation for the work
to be done, and when it is known that
the work to be done, must be lreH done,
or il would be better not to be done at
all, then the employment of these more
than one hundred labore-s is a matter
Of the most momentous concern. The
brightest minds may fail to compre-
bend some things, but the dullest
minded taxpayer in the county should
comprehend, at least that the sum OF
money annually expended by the
county to support any one interest
helps to increase the taxes he must
pay, and he should be made to com
prehend the actual worth Of that for
which such money Is expended.
There Is no other public interest for
the support Of which the county ex-
ponds so vast a sum of the peoples
money, ard ! cssgrt :hat 7hc-c : m