Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-16
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Resignation Of j. D. Moore
and Election of DR.. Beach.
The Change Brings UP Interesting Rem
iniscences in Educational Circles
That Will Repay Careful
Reading.

as pre- sident Of the Board OF Educa
tion and the election Of DIR. III. e.
Beach to that position, marks an
epoch in public school history In
Clarksville, from the fact that Mr.
Moore had been president of the
board, with the exception of two
years, since the graded school system
was inaugurated. On August 4, 1876,
Mr.. Moore was elected a member OF
the school board to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation of 0. NJ.
Blackman. This was before the
graded system had been inaugurated,
and was his first connection with the
educational interest, in an official ca
pacity. At this time ward schools
prevailed. They were scattered
around over the city, and they were
also maintained at points in the dis
trict, the city and districtfunds being
kept separate. There was one school
in the basement of the old Cumber-
land church, one where Rev. Mr..
Burney now resides, on Union street,
another at the II. III. Williams place
on Main ST jet, one in the neighbor-
hood of the City cemetery, another
at Mrs. Gums residence on Main
street, almost opposite the residence
of G. II. Bailey; and there was also one
in South Clarksville near Episcopal
chapel. The schools were run in
this way until 1877, when the graded
school system was adopted and the
funds consolidated. j. G. Brooks
was the first superintendent, being
elected at the same meeting that
adopted the graded system. This
man was one that might be called a
"straightener." He took hold of the
schoo business at time when boy
was ''looked down on" If he
attended free school. He had much
trouble along this line, and be 1t said
to his credit he brought the whole
combination under his thumb and
kept it there. He believed in rigid
enforcement of discipline, and he car
ried his belief into effect to the letter.
There are many, perhaps, who will
read this article, and recall the way
he pursuaded boy into his way of
thinking. Brooks was an excellent
man to break them In, but when that
was accomplished he was at the end
of his tether, consequently he gave
way to some one else.
On March %, 1879, Jno. ID. Moore
was elected President of the Board of
Education, and from. that hour to the
date of his resignation, no man in
Clarksvile has taken a more lively
interest in educational matters. He
has been member of the board
seventeen years, and president of the
same over thirteen years, During
that time, as the minutes will show,
he has been actively at work, A re-
porter got hold of the old minute
book Saturday evening and noted
down q few things that will be of in
terest Ia this connection. In 1884, the
president OF the board was instructed
to make personal Investigations as
to the character and fitness of the
many applicants for the superin'
tendency. This work necessltated
several trips to cities throughout the
country. In June of that year the
board elected c. Il. Kellogg, superin-
tenGent. He came here and ran the
schools until December of the same
year, when the board called on him
for his resignation. 1t was handed
in, and II then became apparent to
the board that they were without u
head for their school system, at u
time too when the schools were
all In full blast, II fell to the lot %
the president to tlll the vacancy him
self until superintendent could be
secured, MIR, Moore dld this for two
months. When trouble arose In any
of the schools the unruly pupil was
sent to him, The case was heard
aud the pupil was either made to
come to taw or he was sent home
with note to his parents, On Jan.
10, 1885, Prof. j, W. Graham was
elected superintendent and has filled
the position with marked ability
since.
A comparison of the expenses Of the
public school system at the time Mr..
Moore was elected president of the
board and the expenses OF the same
now will bt interesting, When the
graded school was adopted the
monthly pay roll was $4,000; now II
Is nearly 81, 500, At that time there
were four white and two colortd Il
teachers; now there are fourteen
white and eleven eolor,d teachers.
Besides this, both public school build
iugs have been erected, aud the eX-
vv,ivnce Of the Clsiksville public
school system * now attracting the
attention of educators In many parts
of the United states, The growth Of
the school has been gradual, aud the
retiring president Of the board has