Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-09
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

4
to again call for reports from dis
trict clerks. have received
full reports from but few districts
Reports should be full and accurate
from the 1st dayof July, 1882, down
to the last day of June, 1888. | see
no reason why directors should be
backward in making these reports,
in districts where the schools are
out. They have full power to de-
mand reports from teachers; in fact,
the law requires teachers to deliver
up the Registers of their schools TO
the clerks before the teachers are
entitled to receive their last INSTALL
ments; said registers having been
kept according TO law. A failure
of one report will render defective
the consolidated report that | am
lawfully bound to make.
Directors should not accept an
office, the legal duties of which they
deliberately neglect or shirk. They
should be removed by the Courts
for u deliberate refusal to perform
the duties required by law. The
grand juries have inquisitorial pow
ers into these matters, which it
should be enjoined on them TO dis
charge, with reference to the school
officers. 1t is hoped there will be
no failures upon the part of direct
ors, to comply strictly with the law.
Members of the County Court are
earnestly requested to inquire into
these matters in their respective dis
tricts, and thus aid the county super
intendent in securing prompt and
accurate reports. A large majority
OF directors need no other incentive
than a sense of duty, yet, where
other motives are needed, the pen
alties must be enforced. | am in
formed that there are persons teach
ing public schools without license.
Sec. 26, of the School Law positively
declares, "That no teacher of Public
Schools shall be employed, or receive
any pay from the public fund. unless
he or she have certificate of quail
fication. No such payment shall be
allowed, if made, and any officer
who shall make or sanction ii,
shall be subject to Il penalty of not
Tess than five or more than fifty
dollars"
Directors are, therefore, requested
to see that teachers have cestificate5,
and that they are not out of date.
One argument against the Public
School System is that, in some dis
tricts of the county, the schools are
so poorly attended, and conse-
quent waste of the public fund.
may be permitted to suggest here,
that this, in great measure, is the
fault of teachers. Any teacher,
who has his heart in the work, may,
by visitations to patrons and other
wise, 50 populariZe himself as to be
able to secure fair attendance.
Directors should notify teachers at
the commencement of the schools,
that whenever the attendance falls
below minimum, the schools will
be discontinued. CIamor against
the public school will never cease,
until teachers and school officers
their duty promptly and
l know directors are
poorly paid lin dollars and cents,)
for their work, yet, the success that
will crown their honest efforts,
faithful performance of duties, will
abundantly reward their labors.
Iappeal to the friends of II popu-
lar free school system OF education |
to labor earnestly to popularize the
present SYSTEM to such an extent
that even its most bitter enemies
will elect it. i..~
1t will be a bright day in the his
tory of Montgomery county, when
she wheels into line with Cumber-
land, Davidson, Gibson, Hamilton,
Hickman, Jefferson, johnson,
Knox, McNairy, Union, Washing
ton, Weakly, Upton, Lincoln, and
many other live counties of our
grand old commonwealth. 1t is a
and l may add almost
shame, that M0ntgOm-
cry fingers so far behind her sister
on their march OF progress.
Public schools enter into our stat
utes. They are fixed. He who
fights against public schools, might
as well fight against the revolution
of the earth. Our public schools
means that free education is a right,
q necessity, and a privilege of every
With our faithful and efficient
County Judge, and our County
Court, many members of which are
men of broad and liberal views, to
watch over the welfare and to pro-
mote the interest of ten thousand
in round numbers,) children of
county; the friends
1f public free school education may
nave many reasons to hope for a
better school fund in the near fu-
.ure.
Let the press of our county con-
inue its noble work of reformation,
md let the many friends of the
cause properly second the eforts of
he county superintendent to revo-
utionize the public school system
N our county, and success will
.rOWn our effort.
]. MILLER,
County Sup't.
ClarksviIle, June 8, 1888.
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