Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-04-21
L. b. WHITE.


primary schools, 93 male and 49 femal
{ teachers, total of 6S are employed il
the white schools, and one male anc
hve female teachers are employed il
the colored schools, a grand total of 81
teachers: Fifty six frame and 4 log
total of 60 houses are owned by the
schools, worth at low estimate $l2, ,56:
also school apparatus worth $6O5;
The average term for 1908 was lOi
days, average salary $32, average cost
OF tuition per month was 70 cents; rate
of school tax on property 80 cents, rat,
on polls $500; One Institute of tw,
weeks duration was held, 70 teachers
attended, Supt. Holt visited 25 schools
examined SO applicants, rs white, {
colored; issued 81 Sd grade certificates.
Funds received From State apportion.
ment S3l34,75, State and Cousty lew
from County Trustee $l48l0. .62, making
a total of $l7, ,945.35; Amount ON hand
at the beginning of year S5,523.91. a
grand tetal of So, ,469.26.
Funds expended, For salaries of teach
ers l2,372.63, New building sites etc
Sl7SIl7, Furniture etc S4S.79.County
Superintendent's salary SPAS. 96 District
Clerks $ll4.70, all other expenditures
1878, total l54SO63, leaving balance
on hand at the end of year $79SS. .G3.
me fund is now even stronger than it
was DIT the time of this report and the
policy of the Department of schools of
Lawrence County is to establish a sys-
TEN OF records in the Office of the
County Superintendent, beftting the
dignity of the schools and the office. In
eXpending the money, the policy
should be to expend the greater part of
that which is appropriated other than
for teachers salaries, upon school build
lngs and in fitting those buildings al
ready erected with school desks and
backboards. Other things are needed
but these should be supplied first.
When school houses are erected, thew
should be planned with the view to
permanence in location and should and
should be of good substantial work.
manship. 1t is pleasure to note that
tins spirit has characterized the comun
mites that have erected houses, in q
marked degree, for the past few wears
and the large majority of our new
school houses are well planned, substan-
TALLY built, and are credit to the |
While we have school
fund that is gratifying to the friends of
public education the directors, as n
whole, have always been noted for their
economy in expenditures. For the
past few years they have been very
raising the salaries of teachers.
until now, the average salary is $32 per
month, quite sufficient, believe, under
all OF the conditions. since about two
thirds OF the teaching force each year
are unframed and inexperienced school
boys and girls. No inexperienced
teacher should be paii over $25 per
month until given trial. Directors
who pay $50 per month, and upwards,
40, very properly, endeavor to secure
the most able and experienced teachers.
There is in some districts a graduated
alary system by which the better
chools are given larger salary to
heir teachers than those which are few
II numbers and very elementary in the
character of their work. 1t is NOT n
ase of paying too much for salaries
'ut case of improper distribution,
when district pays uniform salary to j.,
is teachers, regardless of the work that Il.
to be done. Often teacher is re-
ulred to teach 20 pupils or more for .
80 to $40 per month, and a teacher in =,
he same district gets S35 or $40 for S5 :
o 40 pupils. 1t would be better to
rrange for salary for an assistant in !,
he large school by paying the teachers :
Nth the snail school less sum of
money, it necessary, than to allow, what
hould be the best school in the district !,
utchered by one teacher, and thus be- :.
ONE the least effective school, Trained :
eachers is the crying need of our pub. c
Ic schools. We need life and blood in II
he teaching force. We need to cling
o the good that we have, discard t