Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-04-07
Review Of School Pro.
gress in Lawrence County ).
Another, Defect in the
School Affairs is !.
y Discussed
i. B. WHITE.

we uuu MUCH cause 10 congratulate
ourselves and the youthful generation of
our county, when we take the trouble
to familiarize ourselves with the history
Of Lawrence County's development a.
long educational lines---0 Our school sys-
tenn was established by law in 1870 and
the law establishing uniform system
was enacted in 1873, but the establish
ment of anything resembling real sys-
tenn is Of much later date. II
The first report of which we find any
record by County Superinte ndent to a
State Superintendent was that of C. A.
Carroll, County Superintendent, to G.
s. W. Crawford State Superintendent,
who filled out the unexpired siz months
of DR.. Doak who died in Office. This
report shows the scholastic population
to be $3.50 white and 2S2 colored; that
the County received from the State the
sum Of $923>37 That there were no
teachers institutes held, that no public
addresses were made by the County
superintendent, and that no first grade
certificates were issued.
IL shows that there were 81 certifi-
Gates issued to white males and 20 to
white females. and that theie were three
failures among the white teachers, all
males. Ten colored males and 7 fe.
males applied and seven and three res
pectively were granted certificates.
Forty Ave males and II females were
employed as teachers in the white
schools, while 4 male and 2 female
teachers were employed in the colored
schools. There were then 7 frame
school houses, Is log houses, and 2
brick houses in the county. The total
school fund of s., $50 for the entire
year was derived as fellows: Bal. on
hand July l 1881 $l420, Received from
Strife $780,, County $3479, all other
sources $l40. The 6S teachers, white
| and colored, received of this money the
princely sum of $353S.0O. The County
Superintendent s270O. Other expenses
were $24S.0O leaving a balance June 81
1882 Of $l726. Nothing was spent fol
school sites and repairs, nor for furni
ture and fixtures. The total enroll
ment of the. whites was 2725,, coioret
252, while 1850 studied photography,
1926 reading, $50 writing, 1857 Arith
metic, .667 Grammar. 125 Geography
81 History. Geology. of Tennessee.
and Elements of Agriculture were ii
the Course bnt were not then studied By
any body and have been given very
slight. attention since. There were ],
private schools in the County with i
teachers, enrolling 40 pupils, with, a
average daily attendance Of 1876, at Al
average cost of tuition Of $l.25 pc
scholar per month. THOSE who live
here then, will probably recall that il
many communities where there we
private schools $l.00 per scholar wa
the standard, uniform price per mont
for tuition. The average length of tn
public schools was then 90 days, an
the average price paid the teacher 81
I. per month. This made the averag
cost of tuition 81 cents per scholar pr
month according to the report, whic
commended the public school over ii
private school, owing to its cheapnes
The estimated value of the 25 scho
. houses and all land connected therewit
a was reported. to be sl700; Estimate
i value school fixtures $l25., Value {
. the one frame and one log house erecte
:, during the year, $4,000. The schoo
q were reported to have outstandin
warrants against the County of 1878
The rate Of school tax on polls was
cents, rate ON property 10 cents per hu
bred. Superintendent Carroll, in h
digest accompanying this report to L
+ State Superintendent, uses the followi
It language "The report l make to you
re correct statement Of the reports ma
20 me- by the several school directt