Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-09-22


aroused to the possibilities that in them
lie and are manifr.tng ambitions to
secure II higher training than the publ
schools afford we have some excellent
schools in the county which are doing
much toward the promotion OF this ad-
vanced scholarship among those who
receive the Fundamentals in the common
schools
Such conditions are indeed gratifying
and of right should provokra pride in
our system but mnch yet remains to be
done.
Our school fund is larger and the i'm
provemcnt of our houses and the pro-
vision made for nice seats for the chill
drpn are conditions which make it pos
sble for still greater successes along ed
ucatioual lines.
Better teachers are contributing their
portion in very marked degree to the
improvement. More eanestness and
greater efficiency among the directors Is
another factor of Importance. That we
have advanced there can be no doubt
but that the advancement we have made
is only the beginning of what we should
dc and must do is very evident.
The standard of education among us
must be raised If we are to be the gamers
thereby, school officials must recognize
merit in experienced teachers and pay
the successful ones sufficient salaries to
Justify them to remain in the profession
Teachers who attend the institute who
are otherwise qualified certainly deserve
recognition over those who take no
course of training for professional work.
This is too often overlooked by school
officials and it uust be admitted that it
is difficult to always do an official duty
without favor or Partially to influential
friends. But the success of the effort to
improve conditions, depends in very
great measure, upon how we'll this is
done, hence its great Importance.
In this connection the county board
system adopted by Montgomery County
in 1903 has proven Quite an improve
ment over the old system Of district
directors, Under this system there is n
county board composed Of one member
elected from each civil district and the
county Superintendent rs chairman.
The members OF this board meet for the
purpOsh OF selecting teachers, establish
ING schools and such g.her matters n
now come under the supervision and
central of the district directors. Tn,
members of this board are paid 81 ~
per day for services for the actual i'm,
enga eel. Elch member takes TIN
scholastic population of his district anC
is paid in the same manner rs we now
pay district clrri; in Other counties
The result of the change in MontgOm
cry has been to increase the school term
to increase at the same time the salary
of the teachers and increase the etiicien
CIV of the schools In that county sucl
results were brought about by cOnsolid
alton Of schools. There were too man,
small weak alhoos and the board yer,
properly consolidated them Anothe
very important advantage gained wa
that the teachers were sent to partlCu
lar schools with due regard to their all
ility, fitness and the salary paid, /
our county now and in other countie
too for that matter teachers who hay
never taught are often given the bcS
paving schools, This should not be st
The best places should be given to TIL
most suhcesSful experienced teachers.
But we are improving along this lin
We have many directors now, who loo
to nothing but qualification and ftnes
in selecting teachers.
Such men ought to be retained in O
Zee for school director Us other me
need a training for their duties in ord,
to fill the office most acceptably. III
offices of school directors and justice
the peace are two of the most importal
and most honorable offices in the gift
the people and greater care should
exercised in the selection of these thi
almost any other. These offices shOu