Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-09-06
not be actuated by any personal

ulOAlNGa
The head and front of my Offend
ing seems to be that | stated that
there had been some opposition and
dissatisfaction as to the manage
ment of the free school. In answer
to this / have to say that in writing
up the schools of the city, I gave
the true status of each and every
school. In doing this somebody's
"official corns were trod on;" "hence
these tears.u That there has been
dissatisfaction and complaints is a
fact we'll known in the community,
and if your man doesn't know it, it
is because he has not informed him
self as to the feelings of the public,
or possibly he may have heard aud
forgotten it as matter of small
moment; at any rate, | am not
responsible either for his ignorance
or his observation-disclosures. If he is
not satisfied that such is the case,
and will come 10 me, / VIII reief
him to various responsible patrons
of the school who have spoken their
sentiments.
He says, "rhe Board knows of no
opposition, and, if it did, would not
alter its course" Well, that is the
whole thing in nutshell. l and
Others who have been reared in this
benighted country have always
thought that the wishes and feel
ings of parents were entitled to
some consideration where the edu-
cation and welfare of their children
were concerned; but this autocrat
of the aboard of Education" (they
used to be School Commissioners
throws himself back on his dignity
and says to the parent, "Who's run
ming this thing? WE don't propose
to alter oar course; WE are going
ahead with our experiment, and
our teachers shall do as WE say; if
you don't like our way, just wait
until our time is out and see if you
can get anybody to beat U.s." The
parent is al the end of his row, no
matter what the cause of his COM
plant, whether just or not. The
teacher is not responsible to the
parent; he must obey the behests of
the Board; it makes no difference
with his pay whether the child goes
to school or stops, and the parent
has to submit or take the child
home.
AS to the importation of teachers,
I must say, with all due Difference
to the parties concerned, that it is
strange that GAINESVILLE cam furnish
a man with brains enough to man.
age a free school. We have them
here who manage all other kinds
very successfully. / have known
the place and her schools for thirty
years, and they have always borne
a good reputation men who have
been reared and educated here have
gone forth all over this broad land,
and have filled, and now fill, high
and honorable positions in all pur-
suits of life; some have even salts
fed the fastidious requirements of
"Boards Of Education" as well as
become journalists, bankers, May
ors, Generals, Congressman, Sena-
tors and Cabinet officers. Yet with
all this we must go from home for
teachers.
AS to carrying my complaints to
Nashville, l will say that / gene
rally choose my own. vehicle of
communication. In this instance
it was perfectly legitimate; l am
and have been for some time the
regular correspondent of the Banner
at this place, and it is usual for cor
respondents of the city press to dis
cuss local matters of the place from
which they write, and 1 shall con-
tinue'to do so. / don't belong to
any "mutual admiration society,""
and shall speak of matters and
things Just as l find them, and if at
any time 1 speak an unpleasant
truth, | shall do 50 without malice.
If your man don't like what l and
the community may think and say
of his official acts, he can wrap HIM
self in his mantle of Egotism (its
folds are certainly ample) and retire
on his resolve "not to alter our
course" Nevertheless, | shall speak
whenever occasion may require,
and substantiate whatever 1 may
say.
In conclusion l will simply repeat
q quote from memory "That while
1 do not impugn the motives of any
member of the Board, hope they
will take warning from the blum
ders of the past and improve in the
future so as to satisfy the public for
the large expenditure of money!"
and further, eff more attention was
paid to the wishes and feelings of
the community, much of the Oppo-
sition could be done away with"
VIDOCO.