The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-02
An Important and Interesting Paper
by Mr.. w. L. Henderson.
Improvement of Schools and Uni
formity of Textbooks.
The Press in Advance of the Public
Sentiment.
The State and County Methods -of
Broadening Education Compared
The Attention OF the Legisla-
ture Called to the Matter.


in shelby county. The first teachers in.
stitute for the county was held 10y me in
the summer Of that year at Bartlett, at.
tended 10y about lOOtcachcrs, Then there
was no uniform system In any apartment
The clerk of each district before then had
kept no accurate minutes OF proceedings.
For the use Of each district | had check
kook printed. Then | had all orders on
the trustee itemized, in duplicate form, so
that in the clerks Office OF each board
there was we'll bound minute book
showing the official acts OF the board, and
a statement OF expenditures. also began
at once to have desks, maps, charts, globes
an blackboards furnished to the schools.
There was great
WANT OF UNIFORMITY
in school books. This was an evil that
had 10 be and was rcmcdird. Il involved
great waste OF the time ut teachers. IL
was waste Of money Ia patrons and q Woe
ful disadvantage TO pupils.
There had been no system OF public
examinations and granting of certificates
One hundred and thirty-lour first grade Ger
tihcatcs had been issued IN the county.
instituted plan OF writton examination,
and rs has been stated held teachers
institute at Bartlett. Some thoroughly
educated men in the county came forward
aud assisted me. The present efficient
state superintendent was there and aided
all the time in the work tn which he has
devoted his life Some teachers who
failed then have since become proficient
and successful.
In many OF the States oi the Union there
is set aside what il called an institute
fund" Bear II in mind We had no such
fund in Tennessee.
Among the taXpayins citizens Of the
county instances wcrc very rare Of oncour-
agement In any work, although they are
now alive 10 IL; but the editors Of the city
press Of Memphis urged forward the
IMPROVEMENT oF Tim SCHOOLS.
The press ol Tennessee has ever been In
advance OF the people on this subject, as
well ~ Of the politicians aud members Of
the Legislature.
A topical method Of instruction
thing little known in the schools before 80
was adopted and explained 10 the teachers
In their iirst institute. The best teachers
in the county are following Il now. Cues.
tons Of great interest Ia the schools were
for the frst time discussed, such ~ dis
ciplinc, the relation Vi teachers and parents,
new methods, etc.
We now come 10 the contrast. Tho en-
rollmpnt in the public schools Of Shelby
county Is today 300 more than IL WIS
then. The colorcd people have some
1900 more pupils In tho public schools
than the whites, which ~ an indispuiablr
rciutntion Of the ianatical. sectional idea
that Justice h not done the former class.
Maps charts, globes, specimens, black
boards, etc, are In nearly oil thc schools.
Tho qualification OF teachers Is advanced
in the aggregate 100 pcr cent Public in
tcrcst Is awakened, 80 that in the county
court recently the effort 10 reduce the
school tax was defeated, aud outside citi-
zcns, in behalf Of tho schools, went he
fore that body aud opposed IL reduction.
The school law Of 1873 has not yet been
amended in any way. but a. aid normal
schools II is defective In many particulars.
Yet under this law
WI NAVE FRo0Rssrn.
II IL hoped the next Legislature will
extend tho provisions and make improve
mcnts In many important respects. Al
the last meeting OF the State Association Of
Teachers a committee was appointed 10 90
before that body and urge important
amendments.
A vital discussion has arisen a. 10 tho
comparative merits Of what IL called u
State system and county system oi pub
lie schools Tho poorer counties ui the
State naturally contend that Il Is the duty
81 Fla.s "a. saslNUuNn l.sHF sHIEHNNFNV uUI
hence 10 distribute ali the school money
raised 10y both State aud county In accord
ance with the scholastic population in each
county 10 the several trustees Ol the same.
There IN q considerable disagreement ~ 10
this. Shelby county wants her own school
fund 20 educate her own children; aud
while Il may be- conceded that q State tax
may bc thus distributed, not 10 with the
county tax, aud the school districts should
DO allowed 10 raise by taxation rs much
money ~ they please for school purposes
The local pride Of apcoplc and their inter
est In home instructions should be main.
tanned.
My last annual report states ~ follows
Our. financial condition IL good, NJ our
Ss.Sl4.5l balance ON hand viii show, !
have steadily advised the directors not 30
run In debt. The directors are awakening
90 their duty, outstanding the public
school funds and employing, In most IN
stances, the best teacherl with iirsl-grado
certificates The people aro more careful
20 elect only thoroughly qualified men for
directors. In punctualliy, attendance, de-.
pertinent, scholarship, enrolment, and
the Increase Of popular appreciation, this
year Is brighter than any that has has pre-
coded II In the history Of our schools.
Our scholastic population has increased
zoos since last onrollmcnt-including
Memphis, 3,Sj7-w which shows very plainly
that there Is a deep interest felt by all.
| The people are more watrAlnl Of their cd
ucational interests than ever before, and,
by reason Of this, have aided materially In
pushing forward and building up the odu-
oalional interests Of our county
The teachers being tbp handspring OF
the public schools, held two nornals-
one nj the JeMoyne institute, In Mem
phis, for the colorcd teaChUu, and had adj
| vcriised and sent out circulars l0r
county normal Al Arlington, when ! was
ordered by you 10 hold nj the same time
and place n State normal. The colored
normal ut LeMoyno was held IN the Le
Moyne building, very cUmmodious and
well equipped college. With Proi. A. j.
Steele ~ conductor, assisted by his corps
] Of well qualified teachers. There were ~.