The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-08


schools, submitted TO the county court on
Monday last, is complete and interesting
one. The report rectcs that the first duty
attended to by the superintendent was TO
visit each district and organize the school
boards on a basis 10 do effective work.
The report then proceeds
''The next important subject found 10
be teachers and their qualifications. There
seems 10 be no other county so related To
a large and growing city Us Shelby county
Is 10 Memphis. Memphis being great
commercial entrcpot, having an immense
local trade, the largest cotton market i'm
the south, built ON the shore Of an inland
sea, or the outstrctched arm of the Gull of
Mexico, on the bosom Of which palntial
steamers ply their vacations, Is visited
daily 10y vast numbers OF people who
make observation upon every feature of
our improvements. Our county Is tray.
ersed by far more railroads than-any other
county in the State,-,hm making al parts
~of II easliy accessible. Over these roads
an immense passenger travel is conducted.
Memphis, cosmopolitan city, and, in u
measure, IL the metropolis OF the State.
have thus given YOU a mcagcr pen.pc.
ture of the Taxing District that YOU
might draw some idea OF the relation that
the suburban districts bear 10 Memphis
We have IN our schools pupils represent
ing probably every civilized nation on the
globe; many Of these pupils having had
excellent educational advantages, are
well advanced in the branches re-
CURED TO be taught by the public school
laws. The parents In most instances
express themselves In emphatic terms,
that their children be allowed 90 complete
these studies or branches thoroughly and
efficiently. Now, 90 do this. Il is neccs-
sary that our schoole he taught By teach.
ems perfectly familiar with and we'll
grounded IN the branches required 10 he
taught by the common school laws. No
second grade teacher could perform these
requisites. Thus, shortly after my Undue
ton IN the office, / held n public examine
ton at which larger per cent. failed to
get inst grade certificates than at any pre-
ccding examination. The questions, II
answered, implied complete knowledge
OF the common school branches. At this
examination ! also lecturcd the tcachcn,
In attendance ON the theory and practice
Of teaching"
The next step taken, as the report states,
was the preparation for holding q county
normal for the colorcd teachers, which was
held at the lemoync institution. At this
normal institute more than 100 colurrd
teachers were cnmllcd, and great many
al them showed the most satisfactory prn.
hciency in their several departments oi
study.
The normal institute for white teachers
was held at Arlington during last Dcccm.
Der, lasting two weeks. great many
noted educators fr0m different portions 1f
the State. all Of the school dirccturs aud
teachers In the county attended, anil q
great deal Of effective work WIS accom.
plishcd. Al the close Of the term q two
days public examination was held The
superintendent then adds II take this
opportunity 10 thank TnE MMrms Ar
rEAL for the accurate daily report made Of
the State normal"
In regard 10 the grading of schools the
superintendent saws "Our schools have
nov advanced 10 that state, which, In the
opinion 81 most Of our beet teachers, ~.
quircs asysiem Of grading. This can he
brought about only by unity Of action of
The district dircton Ia the county loarl
OF education; We have that unity. have
received many plans for grading the country
schools which ] will submit Co the teachers
and board Of education, from which 10
formulate system suitable 90 our county.
The grading Of country schools IL the grand.
est and most progressive step ever taken In
The education Of country pupils. A school
oficcf Of Massachusetts,, In his IMPORT a.
the United States commissioner oi cduca.
ton nj Washington. says That by grading
the country schools one year In six u
saved"
Another important organization which
had been perfected during the year, IL the
sounty Teachers Reading circle. which
has adopted the reading and Joined the
ahatAuqua Literary and Scicntiiic circle.
The ncport CLOSES In the following words.
and then submits the appended official
statement rs 10 the funds, number oi pu.
pills, etc:
81 am now preparing for two summer
normals, one for the colurcd and one Tor
the white teachers That for the white
teachers will, by instruction from the state
superintendent include the supcrin,cnd.
ents and teachers Of this Congressional
disircl. Chancellor Paine. Of the state
normal, and DR.. Dabncy, president 81 the
State university, aud State Superintendent
Smith, three Of the most noted educators
Of the south, will bc present aud give us
their valuable services Armngcmenlsarr
now pending with other noted educator.
and when completed will have a corps
OF Instructors for the normal which will
have no superior. have visited most 81
the schools. ] visited iiut thoee that be.
heved needed my services most have
encouraged monthly In Thresholds.
Tho citizens and patrons Of the schools arr
invited 10 attend tbcse reviews and sce the
progress Of the pupils and the condition Of
The schools. II gives me pleasure 10 re.
port 10 You thatnot only these, but all meet.
ines pertaining 70 the schools are well al.
tended. In visiting the schools /
spend much time In intro.
ducing tho most approved methods
In discipline and ioachlng-mcthods an.
proved by the most progressive educators.
II this good work Is continued Il will not
be long until the incompetent teacher will
be converted or rclcpated 10 communities
out Of Tennessee, WHERE the blue back
spelling book and tho long birch pcrsuadcr
ere opponents OF n teachers idea Of school
and school WORK. II Is the incompeient
that s~nds his excuse for not attending
teachers meetings, Institutes, normals,
etc. Visit bis school. We'll, for his e..
pccial benefit, but not that Of tic couinu.