Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-10-10

beyond few dog-eared school books
and a few paltry newspapers, can in
no sense be termed an educated per-
son. have never yet known one to
acquire taste for reading of the
right kind after reaching full mental
maturity-it must be nurtured before
the attainment of ones mental
growth. Apart, however, from the
necessity of training children to read
proper books, school library is of
immense assistance in mastering
textbooks, because general reading
supplements the textbook, and
broadens:the upil'sknowledge Of the
subject'in hand, and especially be-
cause it stimulates inquiry and all
forms of mental activity.
urge upon you the Importance of
taking some steps toward the acqui-
sition Of such Library as would
meet our wants. would again sug-
gest that small sum of money be
put aside each year for this purpose.
l hope the Board will not vote me a
crank on this subject. So profound
ly am | convinced of its importance,
that should / have accomplished
nothing else but the purchase of
school library during my term of
service here, | should feel that have
indeed not labored in vain. | urge
this all the more strongly because l
believe the town has never before
had Board of Education who could
so clearly appreciate the importance
of the question have thus striven to
present. All the more do | urge the
matter upon you in view of the re-
cent action of the city council, be-
cause it seems now certain that prop
er buildings will shortly be erected,
and if you should now set about pro-
viding small library suitable
place could be provided for such
books and apparatus as we might in
any way acquire. In the prompt
purchase of the
BEN L0MOND LOT
the city council has shown liberal
ity and public. spiritedness that
should commend its members to peo-
pie of every rank and class.
In this action they have shown
that they most unequivocally intend
to keep their pledges to the people to
provide new and more cOmmodious
school buildings. None the less
worthy of commentator are the eff
forts of your own honorable body in
laboring for this same end. For
nearly three years has this Board
sought to get possession OF that prop-
erty, and feel that the Board Of AL
dermen, in thus browning your eff
forts with success, have not only paid
deferential compliment to our
Board of Education, but, upon the
erection of suitable building upon
this ground they will have planted
for themselves an imperishable mon
ument.
THE COLORED SCHOOL BUILDING
now in process of construction will
be, when completed, most excel
lent house for the purpose. While
not much can be said in favor of the
location, it will for some years to
come serve all purposes most admira-
bly,. 1t will comfortably seat not less
than $50 pupils. 1t will probably be
completed within three weeks.
Meanwhile we shall continue to use
the old church for the colored school.
The colored school is doing as well as
could be expected. The teachers are
doing their best, and both of them
are thorough andl competent.
l wish to express to your honorable
body my high appreciation of the
corps Of
TEACHERS
: you have this year put in the schools.
The perfect condition of the school
rooms under the management of
: Misses Thurman, Pearson, and
Stainback, l have already mention
ed. The services of these three
, teachers you could ill dispense with.
In Mr.. Lowry you have also secured
, quite competent and efficient in
= structor.
A NEW TEACHER
:, and more room will be necessary if
: we push the schools as they should
= be, and take all applicants from the
= country. The county schools all close
about the first of November, and
many by Oct. 10. Many pupils. will
y doubtless wish TO enter school about
that time. | do not see why we