The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-03-12

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5 our attention is s:-What may be the
: best method by which our Legisla
: ture may extend the benefits Of com
: mon school instruction to the whole
, body of the people? 1t is clear that
any system which leaves the eatire
burden of the matter upon the peo
pie, individuality would not, and
could not. meet the requirements or
the emergencies Of the case, because
neither The minds nor the hearts OF
the people are prepared or disposed
for the work. It is equally evident
that that system cannot prosper
which proposes to relieve the people,
leaving them nothing to do, and, as
a sequence, nothing to pay. Every
one. at all acquainted with the work
ings of human nature, knows full
we'll that men will not take an inter
est in that which costs them nothing,
or demands no exertion. 1t cannot
be doubted but that that system is
+ the best and most efficient, which
holds out just sufficient, and no
more, to arouse and encourage the
people to IiveIy aetion-not so much
as to produce the lethargy of de.
pendence, nor so little as to cause
them to discard the entire system as
intolerably onerous and impractical
Bile.
It is very certain that in some of
the counties Of Tennessee, little in
terest is felt, or action taken. on the
subject of education; and it certain
ly is one of the most important du-
ties of this body, to ably second the
heroic efforts that have already been
made by him who, for the past four
years, has so earnestly, and so faith.
fully striven to unfurl the banner of
intelligence ia those sections to
which I might call your attention.
1t is, therefore, an important duty
incumbent upon us, to strive not
only to elevate the cause of educa-
tion throughout Tennessee. but, at
the same time, to equalize, as much
as possible, the educational advan.
tages Of the entire scholastic popula-
ton of the State. From an inti-
mate connection with, and a practi.
cal experience in, the working of the
school system, we, as educators, |
should point out to our honorable
Legislature the real necessities of |
the case. This much they expect,
and have right to demand, at our
hands. Correctly advised, they will
cheerfully pass such laws as are best /
adapted to subserve the school in-
terests of the State. and exercise a !
happy influence wherever their op.
Grafton is felt.
STATE AND COUNTY SUPERVISION.
We are fully satisfied from the
"inexorable logic of facts" that an
efficient State and county supervis- |
ion is an absolute essential to
thorough prosecution of the Public
School system. III proof of this we
might evidence several instances,
where, for the lack of this necessary
supervision, the system has proved |
not only imperative, aud inefficient,
but. to all intents and purposes, a
most decided and complete failure.
need not however, dwell at great |
length upon the subject, as it is an
uodisputed fact among intelligent
classes and, those best qualified to
judge, that in those counties where
the Public Schools have been und er
the control and management Of an
energetic, faithful and earnest Su.
perintendent, the system has proved !
an unquestionable success. Our
Legislature cannot act wisely, safely |
and intelligently without light; and,
if they enact laws from partial or bi.
ased views, such laws must be pro-
ductive of much harm and entail in-
caIculable evil. 1t is one of the
most important duties of public |
school officials, by actual visitation. !
extensive and varied correspondence
to collect all the facts bearing upon
the subject of education. and lay |
them before the Representatives Of |
the people. Such procedure -on
their part could not fail to be atten.
ded with the happiest result that
the most enthusiastic educator could |
desire. What is everybody's bus
mess is nobedy's business" is a
proyerb, the truth of which is not
more clearly demonstrated many de-
partment of life than in the depart
ment of free schools. -
THE STATE NORMAL.
1t would be an objectionable omis.
sion on my part TO pass over, with
of special notice, our noble State
Normal College Of Nashville, which
continues to send forth the flower of
the teachers from its halls to supply
the wants of our Public Schools. In
order that we may retain it. and be