The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-07-05
rnr TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
HlltorCuuoNicrr

Glltor CmoMcr
] desire 10 say Just a few words
in behalf of the teachers associa-
ton, recently organized in this
county. The cause of education in
Benton County is and hes always
been relegated to the rear of the
procession of progress Every in-
terest and cause has advanced more
rapidly here than has education.
There are several reasons for this
lamentable fact, and / know of no
better way to place education upon
a higher plane than by this move
ment. IL each teacher takes the
interest in this association that he
should, and / believe they will, it
will be only a short time until we
will have much better schools.
We have, however, many things
in this county to impede the pro-
gress of this cause. A great many
teachers do not take the interest in
their profession they should, and
very few patrons take any interest
at all. No teacher can be a sue
cess without the cooperation of
his patrons and district directors.
We need better school-houses. In
some localities we have no black
boards, and a teacher without
blackboard is like a farmer with
out a plow, or a "woman without a
mirror" In other localities the
houses are in such a condition that
a school can not be taught there
except during the summer months,
and no child can study to much adj
vantage during the warm sultry
days of July and August. The
houses should be repaired, stoves
places in them, flooring nailed
down, the cracks chinked, the log
seats removed and desks placed in
their stead. l know this meets the
approval Of teachers and students.
l believe by the organization Of
this association, we will have a bet
ter grade of teachers. Teachers
are, or should be students, but l
fear we have few students in the
profession in this county. l con-
slider this association q school with
in itself.
Then we have another obstruc-
tion in this county, namely, the
county court. This body has, to
the detriment Of the cause of edu-
cation, passed a resolution to the
effect that the directors pay only
S25 per month to teachers, and
many directors have acted accord
ingly.
This is not all. This body in
structs the county superintendent
to collect from each one to whom a
certificate is issued the sum of one
dollar. ] know of no other county
in this or any other State in which
this is done. Why should the
court say that each teacher shall
pay SO much revenue to the coun-
ty, and have only SO much for his
services? Is the county court the
proper tribunal to prescribe the du-
ties of a school director, or county
superintendent? Has this court
such power? | say no. The di-
rectors have ne right to be govern
ed by such a resolution, nor has
the superintendent any right tc
collect any amount for a certificate
It seems to me that it might be a
misdemeanor in Office to collect it
The teacher should not pay it, and
when he has passed a satisfactory
examination, he is entitled to &
certificate, and it can not be refus.
ea him.
Let us have the cooperation ol
the county court, county superin.
tendent, district directors, teacher:
and patrons, then we will have bet
ter schools and old Benton will oc
eupy the place among adjoining
counties educationally that she
should. AN OBSERVER.
July 5, 1895.