The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-02-13

4
, a greater tax is a question which you, as repre-
sentatives of the people, are called on TO decide
Looking at the extension of the school course,
| would recommend first step in the direc-
| ton, that the law be so amended as to provide
for establishing schools in which higher
branches shall be taught, with such careful
| limitation, as our wisdom may suggest, to
| guard against mpalring the efficiency of ele-
| mentary instruction, which Island always must
be, the foundation OF every good school sys-
| TEN.
Another needed legislation, IN my judgment,
| is to throw proper restrictions about the eligi-
| bility OF county superintendent so that only
| those qualified to fill the Office can secure it.
| 1t is claimed that the people of the State are
| compelled to pay higher prices for school books
| than they should on account of ''trust'' or
combination among publishers. The State can
not afford, in its present financial condition, to
/ furnish the text books as some advocate, and as
some States do, but it would be proper for the
State to aid the people in finding some plan that
would enable them to get school books at lower
| rates. A lack of uniformity in the textbooks
used in the public schools of the State is also a
cause of complaint. Patrons are forced to buy
| new books upon moving from one school dis
| trict to another and upon change of teachers,
and children often kept out of school for the
| inability to procure the books needed:
| While 1 am not prepared to advo-
| cate definite measures, 1t seems to me
| that the State Board of Education, together
| thorized, by an extension of their powers, to
! constitute commission to look into the feast
| bility of forming plan TO adopt uniform sys
| TEN of text books and to make contracts with
publishers for the delivery of textbooks to the
various counties of the state, thereby saving
needless expense to patrons, and removing, by
the wisdom of their selection of textbooks, the
| objections of erroneous teaching contained in
many OF them now in use.
In the extension of the course of study, l
sl,, ole
| densed work on Civil Governmental order that
the children of the state may have the oppOr
tn nifty of acquiring correct knowledge of the
principles of our Government.
| STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
would suggest that a change be made re-
lating to the salary of Superintendent Of Public
instruction, which, without increasing the cost
to the State, will place the salary in more def
mite form. AT present the salary is $4,000, and
it is customary to appropriate $500 in addition
| thereto for travelling expenses. The Superin-
| tendent is thus always left In doubt as to the
| provision which shall be made fer his remunera-
ton. 1t is just TO this officer and more in keep
| ing with the honor and dignity of the State,
| that all provisions for his remuneration be
| placed upon definite and permanent basis. 1
| therefore recommend that the law be so amend
| ed as to place the salary at $500, which will
| include his travelling expenses.
Teachers Institutes-AmOng the potent agen-
cies devised by the officers of the public schools
| for the improvement of public instruction, none
have been found moro useful than the Teachers
| Normal Institutes. They enable the supervis-
/ ing officers to meet the teachers collectively
and bring together the school officers, the teach
| ers, and the public. They have the effect of
| disseminating the best methods of instruction,
and Of bringing them to the ,sttention of the
| people as well as to the attention of the teach
ers.
These institutes have been held in Tennessee
by the several State superintendents since 1874
and have been productive of the most useful
results. Heretofore they have been maintained
have not cost the state cent. 1t is now un-
derstoOd that the Peabody Board will, in fu-
ture, Withdraw its appropriations from those
states which do not themselves make provision
for maintaining institutes. AS the cost of
these institutes is but a small sum in compari-
son with the important results they accomplish,
recommend that an appropriation OF ($2O00)
be made to enable theState Superintendent
to maintain them with suitable legislation,
for their regulation. The Peabody fund will
thereby be secured, andmuch good for edu-
alton be the result.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.
The State University should be the pride of
the commonwealth. In accordance with the
statutes of the State it forms the capstone as it
were, to its public educational system, designed
to complete the work begun in the common
schools and carried on through the high schools.
1t is gratifying TO hear such favorable accounts
OF the progress of this institution through its
honored President and Board of Trustees.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Another source of encouragement is the in
crease in the income of the university accruing
through the Agricultural College, by the addi-
tional appropriation made by Congress to the
Immigrant colleges, by the Morrill, act of Au-
gust 80, 1890. This act appropriated the sum of
$4,000 for the year ending June so, 1890, and an
additional sum of $1,000 every year thereafter,
for ten years, after which time the annual APP
preparation Will be $4,000.
This appropriation is "to be applied only to
instruction IN agriculture, the mechanic arts,
the English language and the various branches
of mathematical, natural and economic science,
with special reference to their application in
the industries of life and to the facilities for
such instruction" The grants of moneys au-
thorlzed by this act are made subject to the
legislative assent of the several States and Ter
ritories. This assent is mere matter of form,
but must not be overlooked by your honorable
bodies, as after the adjournment of the Legis-
lature now in session, unless an act of accept
ance is passed, the executive VIII not have the
authority to receive the appropriation on be-
half of the State.
This industrial college opens an avenue to
much-needed instruction, and will doubtless
be felt for good throughout the State. This
work is in its incipient stages, but time should
show that when students have completed its
regular course of study, they should be able to
engage with fair prospects of success in farm
ing, dairying, fuit-growing, teaching, me-
chanical pursuits, surveying, civil engineering
and manufacturing. The representatives of
the people should see that their respective con-
stituenc1es derive the benefit that they ought to
receive, and that was designed by the State
and general Government for them to receive
from this institution. The trustees of the uni
versity ask for the appointment OF committee
to investigate their need for new and more
commodious buildings, and report what ought
to be done, which request your committee has
doubtless complied with. They ask further for
an appropriation to maintain a teachers de-
partment and establish scholarships therein. 1
recommend their requests to your considera-
ton.
PEABODY NORMAL COLLEGE.
This institution, organized for the profess
sional training of teachers, truly deserves the
States fostering care. In consideration of this
service il receives from the State an annual ap-
preparation of $4,000 BY this expenditure
through the benefcence of the Peabody Board
and the Board of Trust of the University of
Nashville, the State has the advantage of build
ings, equipments, and appropriations amount
ing in value to 800, 900. have heard the report
of its worthy Chancellor and the State Board of
Education, and find that the school is steadily
growing both in numbers and character. and
not only takes rank as the leading institution
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