The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-12-06
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
]. J. ZUcCARELLo, EDITOR.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OUR 1UBLlC SCHOOLS
The object of our public schools |
is to do the greatest amount of good |
to the greatest number of people |
with the least expense TO oil. Is
this the case under our present sys-
TEN is question worthy of our
consideration. The average length
of the school Germ in our county
with $4,000 scholastic population is
four months in the year. The av-
erage cost of tuition for each pupil
per month is about b0cts including
all expenses. Are we not compell-
ed to acknowledge that this is the
cheapest education and the only
available way of educating the mas
ses But is this meagre school term
OF tour months sufficient TO accom-
plisn the design for which the pub
lie school system was instituted.
No. Ist. because the people have
depended almost altogether on the
public for the education of their
children until it has become very
difficult for our best teachers to sc.
cure private school in the rural
districts. End because our teachers
can not afford to spend their time
and means in fitting themselves for
a profession that will give them
employment only four months in
the year. Under the present system
there is a great deal of dissatisfac-
ton in regard to the time when
these four months should be taught
Some prefer winter, some summer
and some want 1t divided. If all
the school is taught in the winter
many say tnat they cannot send
their smaller children because of
the weather. Ii it is taught in the
summer they claim that their boys
are declared on account of their
having to make crop. If it is d.
vided she terms are too short to &C
complish scarcely anything. LIE.
US not object to public schools be-
cause the system is not perfect but
let Us endeayor to remedy these
evils. We need & longer school
term with more system about it,
The Tennessee school law to main
tain system Of public schools, enac
ted in 1873, needs some revision.
have been called by the state Su-
perintendent to represent Giles
county as one Of the, committee or
school laws In the Superintenc. ents
convention which convenes at the
state honse in Nashville on Dec
I1th. In the meantime if any mag
i-trate, school officer, teacher or pat
ron, have a suggestion to make
please forwar d it to me.
In view of the fact that if fret
tuition, books, board and clothing
should be furnished many of til,
pupils in the rural districts they
then could not attend school orr
than six months in the year on &C
count OF their labor being needed a
home. The popular sentiment nov
l Ach0 IOl OLA AANt OAiI SlA
in order that the true object frs
mentioned may be obtained. | have
a plan. Let US see how it will work
With our 100000 increase IN the
valuation of taxable property 6
very small increase in the county
tax in addition to the state tax
will be required to secure enough
money to run the school six months
and this if properly managed BY
having three months in the winter
beginning in January. and three
months in the summer, beginning in
July, will give all classes the benefit
of the public funds and will il
most schools secure q ten monthl
system; for many of the teacherl
will be able to continue each tern
two months longer by private sub.
scription. The advantage, to be de.
rived from such plan are obvious
1t will make school teaching in our
county profession, give teachers
more than double the amount o.
employment, insure better qualifica-
tions in our teachers and enable
them to organize coed graded
schools throughout the county
Can l secure the hearty co-opera-
tion OF the county court, school dl
rectors, teachers and patrons in my
earnest endeavors to organize just
such a systems. l am nor HAVING
published, and will soonl r3ail to "a
the teachers ald schoo officers ir
the county, course of study and
program for grading our country
schools, founded on The system o.
textbooks adopted recently by the
county board OF directors.