The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-17
PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS.
comprehensive Circular Letter tc
County Courts.


County Courts.
Prof. Frank M. Smith, State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, has issued
comprehensive circular letter to the
County Courts OF Tennessee. Various
subjects OF educational interest are touched
upon. In the introduction to this letter
he emphasizes the importance OF securing
good men for county superintehdonts and
reiterates that women are not eligible to
the office. He urges that liberal school
tax be levied. In regard to the school
districts, Supt. Smith says:
"There is trouble in some counties in
the State growing out of the fact that the
District Directors thought that they had
the right to form new school district at
pleasure. The Directors have no such
authority.
"The County Courts OF their respective
counties alone have this authority. The
District Directors can subdivide their re-
spccbye school districts, i. O., the directors
can say to which house certain pupils shall
attend school.
'The school district and the civil dis
trict should be identical.
This should be the general rule. There
are some instances where it may be ueces-
sary TO depart from this.
In all the counties in this State where
the public schools have reached the nigh
est point OF excellence, the districts as
allowed mentioned are identical
"Thc formation fnew districts and the
location of school-houscs in localities
where there are twenty-five on thirty chill
dren, have done more TO damage the
schools IN some counties than can be re-
paired in q lifetime. We must have fewer
schools and more children numbered TO
each house, ii We wish 10 have better
schools
In reference to the school fund the let.
ter snys 'Therc is something radically
wrong in many counties in the State in the
management OF the school fund, and the
County Courts are in agreat measure re-
sponsiblc for this. Trustees should be
required TO obey the law. | again call
your attention to Section 10, Chapter 25,
OF the acts of 1873, TO wit: That the
County Trustee shall keep separate ac-
counts OF the State funds and county
funds, showing whence and ON what ac-
count the moneys were soverllly derived,
and by what order, on what account, and
TO whom they were distributed; and as
soon no said moneys are received he shall
report the same 10 the County Superin.
tcndent and TO the District Directors of
each school district"
I'm some instances trustees will not re-
port the amount OF school funds on hand
oltener than once year. My attention
has boon called 10 a lact that in least one
instance the County Trustee makes an an
uual disbursement about January and the
schools OF the county open in July, and
the teachers who receive warrants on the
Trustee are forced to have these warrants
discounted in order 30 obtain money for
current expenses, aud these warrants are
discounted by bank where the Trustee
has money on deposit, when, in fact, the
teachers warrants are discounted and paid
IRON the school fund
"lhe chairmen OF the respective counties
should demand OF the Trustee disburse-
ment Of the school fund at least once
quarter.
The County Trustee is also required to
make an annual report TO the County Su.
perintendent on or before the 18th day OF
September, OF the amount Of money no.
celyed by him for school purposes aud the
disbursements Of the same. This, in many
instances. is grossly neglected. aud few
trustees absolutely refuse TO report 10 this
Office. In some instances there are such
discrepancies made from year TO year In
the reports sent here a. to readily lead one
TO the conclusion that the school fund
needs better protection"
In conclusion Supt. Smith calls attention
10 the convention OF superintendonts thai
meets in this city the second Tuesday OF
December next, and urges the courts, II
necessary, to pay the expenses OF superin.
tondonts attending the same.