Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1900-09-13
Hinderances to Education Ia Ma
riOn County.

ter INTO a full discussion of thu
subject. We hope, however, to at
tract the attention OF all persons
interested aud enlist all of thei
abilities in its behalf. II we cal
only get this question before th'
people and secure a general public
discussion Of our educational stat
us and our duties to the rising gen
Grafton, we shall feel amply re-
warded for our effort. Fer it is a
we'll known tact that out OF open
debate has come our most bene-
fetal laws. I'm q multitude OF
c9unselIors is safety" says Holy
Writ.
We shall here enumerate some
of the apparentIhinderances to ed
ucation in our county. First,
general lack Of interest. Second,
short school terms. Third, mat
tention to duty on part of direct
ors, and fourth, lack in zeal in
teachers. 1t would be of inestim.
able benefit to the rising genera
tion if every parent could have a
convincing vision OF the good re-
suits aocruing to their posterity
from a liberal business education.
No person who is perfectly honest
with himself, and who is susceptiA
bic to impression by the sdgns OF
the times, can fail to note the
growing demand for educated men
and women. The time has come
when even the farmer to succeed
rndst be guided by scientific and
business principles. What is true
Of the farmer is true of every other
profession and calling. Hence the
Importance of education along
these lines. Let every one. who is
alive 10 this all important ques,
tien call upon his neighbor who
is less interested and demonstrate
with him in behalf Of the cause of
education. Let US no longer re-
gard our school fund ss gift from
the State, but understand that it is
gathered by the levy of a direct
tax, of which each property holder
and voter pays his proportional
part. Let US arouse ourselves and
see that this fund is properly dis
posed of, aud that the best inter.
ests Of the schools are served.
Short school term. Proof is too
abundant for this statement to be
called to question. Nc other per-
son realizes it 80 much as does the
teacher. Partly because of pecun-
iary interests but mainly from the
limited training he is permitted to
give the pupils under his direction
our average school term being on,
ly about eighty days in duration.
Owing to this deficiency in school
days, children must necessarily
spent a part of each term review
ing the work of the preceding
term. This prime necessity, there.
fore, so shortens the time to be de-
voted to new work that compare
lively little is accomplished. The
longer the school term, the less re-
viewing is to be done, hence the
greater amount Of new work and
more rapid advance of students.
Long terms not only advance pu-
pills directly but gives to them
more efficient teaching, Teachers
are enabled to prepare themselves
for the work. What man would
be so presumptuous as to assert
that a person dividing his time be-
tween farming and teaching could
do as efficient school work as the
man wholly given to teaChingi
Our school terms should in no in
stance be less than FIVE months,
and if possible be extended to
nine. The means to the end lies
in the county court. A greater
levy of school tax with fewer and
more efficient schools should bt
arranged. 1t, therefore, becomes th'
duty Of directors TO establish
schools of convenient size aud not
" endtavor to satisfy the whims o.
individuals by placing schools al
their very doors. The greatest
good 10 the greatest number is the
spirit Of a democratic government
rightly administered.
GEO. S. BROWN.