The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-01-22

school is not only great blessing to
the pupils who avail themselves of
its advantages. but ii is often a
factor in the prosperity of town.
/ speak from some observation.
For an example near home, the
graded school in Somervile, under
the efficient management of Prof.
N. a. FIournoy, has drawn a num-
Der of valuable citizens to the town,
increased the trade. and / was in
ormed by a prominent merchant
there that since the opening OF the
school every vacant house in town
had been taken.
1t is a matter Of graduation that
our citizens have resolved TO put our
own public school on better foot
ing. The action recently taken is
certainly move in the right direc-
tor. BY the present arrangement,
If understand it, we will have Il
free school for seven months and
our citizens guarantee a sufficient
sum to keep 1t open three months
longer, in case the pay scholars do
not support it alone. 1t is certain
ly to be hoped that some better arr
rangemeut can be made in the fI-
ture, by which we will have the
benefit of free school ten months
in the year, as in other towns. Rome,
however, was not Guilt in a day,
and. as 1t is, there is no reason why
we should not have all excellent
school.
The first requisite to good school
is good teachers. 1t is perfectly OBJ
vi0us that certain persons may be
selected to teach and called teach
ers, who are in reality no teachers
at all. They are counted teachers,
but are not teachers in fact. "Huw
many legs does a calf have if you
connt his tail one?" is a boY's CO.
nundrum. Give" answers one.
"Not a bit of it" says the other.
Counting a calls tail a leg doesn't
make 1T a leg. A calf has only
four legs, however. you may count
them" Counting a man teach
or doesn't make him a teacher if he
can't teach. Only one who can
teach and does teach is a teacher.
In our new school it is to be hoped
that we will have three teachers,
who are not only counted teachers
by the School Board, but who are
really teachers. The welfare of the
school imperativelY demands it, and
the right use of the public money
demands it, likewise. Teachers
should not he selected because they
need the salary, but because they
can teach. Any other policy is
suicidal one and really unjust.
Those entrusted to dIsburse the
funds of the State have no right to
be charitable at the expense of the
public. What isS charity to one is
cruelty and injustice to many, and
Is an improper use of a public
trust. In Prof. Fusch, the Board
has selected one who is really a
teacher, worthy of the support and
confidence of all. Our past acquain-
lance with HIM leaves us no room
to doubt this, and /, for one. always
considered his leaving Bolivar
misfortune to the town. And, as
Prof. Fusch has been allowed to
choose his own teachers, his good
judgment is a guarantee that his two
assistants will be efficient teachers.
and we have every reason to believe
that our new school will be a sue
cess of which We may be proud.
No teachers, however, no matter
how efficient they may be, can as
sure the success of any school
without the sympathy, the support
and the cooperation of its patrons.
And it is especially to this point
that / desire 10 offer a word.
First, let us not be prejudIced
toward the school because of any
religious UNCONVENTIONAL preferences.
Let us understand III the outset that
it Is no denomlnatic al school. 1t
is a public school and no one has
right to object to any teacher be-
cause of his ecclesiastical connec-
ton. The school certainly ought
to de opened with the reading of
Gods word ard prayer daily, but
we have no right to demand any
thing beyond this. Sectarianism is
not christianity, and we ought to
guard against this unjust, petty,
uncharitabIe spirit. No matter to
what denomination our public
school teachers may belong, we owe
them our cordial support.
Second, do not expect too much OF
your teachers. Teaching is a wear
isome vocation, and we ought not to
add 10 ITS onerous duties by un-
reasonable exactiohs.
Do not expect your teacher to do
pastoral aCOrk. Some people seem
to think that it is the duty of the
teacher to visit all the families
connected with his school. In the
country, this is of cour-e pleasant
custom, agreeable to scholar and
teacher alike. In town, however,
where school duties are heavier
and the scholars live within ear
shot of the school bell, 1t is differ
ent. A teacher, it is true, ought
10 be social and agreeable, but
surely pastoral visiting is no part of