The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-01-12
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Is Pulaski Behind All the Balance Of
Mankind,


/ Mankind.
i From neighboring town come
the question rs Pulaski so far be
hind all other towns of her size an
pretentions that she is still debat
ling whether or not she shall sup
port a system of graded publ
schooIs2" The right of corpora
ton to educate need not be ques.
| toned by the save citizen, educa-
tor or legislator. 1t is fact--th'
grandest fact in American ciyiliza
ton. tits coeval with our coun
try's birth and continuous with 1t
growth and prosperity. Speaking
of this, a popular work on education
Published in 1878, says: at is th'
pride of the people, the satisfaction
of the poor man, the protection o
the rich man. It's influence Ia th'
northern and eastern states has
been rated so high that every new
corporation adopts it without ques
tlon." But here, fifteen years later
Pulaski is not yet decided upon th'
rightness Of educating her children
by taxation. You can scacely fn(
another town of Pulaski's size ant
intelligence in the United States-
and certainly not progressive one
that has not its system of graded
| ~.x11;n ooh0olo IaoEoop {rlo yk q
vile, Columo ia, Gallatin, Unior
City and many others in our owr
state have built modern schoo
buildings, employed full corps OF
teachers, who are paid liberal sala-
ries, and they are justly proud oil
their city schools. Capitalists are
coming into these towns, manufac
tories are springing up, and they
are growing and developing. In a
Iargea measure their prosperity is
due to their schools and its begin
ming dates from their organization.
No manufactures will ever be es-
! tablished in town where there is. mo
provision for the education of en-
ployes' children that is more access
lble to them than private schools.
We aeed not expect it.
Have Pulaski's public schools as
yet done nothing to add to her gen.,
eral welfare? True, they have not
educated, aud thus elevated the
masses. They have not had time,
but they are doing good work. By
careful classification, systematic
instruction, thorough discipline and
christian influence they are prepar-
ing our children for useful, induen-
tial men and women; laying a firm
foundation for the rich and afford
ing the children of the poor means
by which they may be able to main
tain themselves and BECOME loya
and intelligent citizens. They are
doing this in The most common
sense way, with the least outlay OF
money possible. A large number
of good substantial citizens have
moved into togn for the sole pur
pose of taking advantage of these
schools. They buy their clothing
from our dry-goods merchants,
their groceries from our grocery
men, their books from our book
81 ers; they rent our vacant house
at increased and increasing rentals
they have deposited their money in
our banks: they help support our
churches: they work for the gener-
al good Of our town. Every dwell
ing house in Pulaski is occupied
and there is q loud call for more
Property is In demand and increases
in value, and no other reason can
be given than that the town has
now good system of schools. Fol
ten months in the year a large
number of children ere uaefully en-
ployed gaining that which will b.
of inestimable value to them, who
would otherwise be idling or spend
| ing their time in learning wicked
ness on our streets. Our taxas are
not high. In the face of all com
plants l venture the assertion thai
increase in rents will more than pay
the school tax. A house that form
erly rented for $3.50 now pays 5000
The first annual report of tht
board of education and superintend
ent of schools shows that the cos
of tuition per capita for last yea
of ten months was less than $l1
In addition to the essential branch
es, penmanship, elocution, drawin'
and vocal music are thoroughly ant
practically taught without extr
, charge.
AS proven by its present pros
perity, uneeualed in its prevlou
history-the pubic schools are il
no way harmful to Martin College
On the other hand, by creating
public sentiment in favor of a lib
eral education for all classes, the,
must prove an important auxiliary
There is no rivalry or oppositio
between the schools. The trustee
of Martin College, themselves, ca
, have no kindlier feelings toward
, that institution than have the boar
! of mayor and aldermen, the boar
of education, the superintendent an
teachers of the public schools.
/ am neither a member of th
board of mayor and aldermen, nc
of the board of education, nor
teacher in the public schools, but
: blush to read in the papers of
nslghboring town Pulaski has pl
out an anti free school board of q
dermen," and this "by meeting
a number of her highly respectful
citizens"
take the following from an al
; dress by leading lawyer of Tel
e nessee who has ably stimulated
n growing sentiment in favor of puI
y lie schools:
y Il am interested in the cause
IS education because ! have childr.
:: to be educated, and all education
IS not to be obtained at school fro
r. professed TEACHERS. Whatever a
d vantages | may be able to give n
r. children, the greater part of the
Of habits, manners and what they W
h. accept as right, will be formed al
: taught by the people among who
ID they live and with whom they ha
business transactions, and wi
whom they must associate.
= this association they will
at taught, rather than by what /, in
Of busy life, will be able to teach The
" by preoept.
r. For the sake of my childr.
:. friends and countrymen, for tn,