The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-05-31

could be given in this county where
the blending OF two small district:
has resulted in the enhancing of both
Two examples will suffice to illustrate
the above statement. In Civil DIS,
trict Number Nine there is one of the
largest and best rural schools In Obior
County. The name of the school il
"Union." The district has l52 white
pupils, with an annual income Of $500
Asa result that district enjoys seven
months school each year, with two
teachers at a salary of 500 month,
or 800 for the term, with $50 yearly
for incidentals. w. M. Freed, one OF
the Directors, says that for no con-
sideration would the people of that
district have the old districts re-estab-
lished. Another illustration is Chapel
Hill, in Civil District Number Six
teen. just few years ago Chapel
Hill district consisted of two districts,
both primary, with funds only to main
tain five months school yearly. With
the aid Of Ex-Supt Moore and infiuen-
tial citizens of the community, the
two districts were combined, and now
the district has l65 pupils with a yearly
income Of 1926. That means that
Chapel Hill has each year an eight
months secondary school, with ex-
perlenced instructors. Mr.. R. A. Cos
sum, one OF the Directors Of that dis
trict, says that for no reason would he
and Others re-diyide their district.
For the purpose of contrast, let's note
the condition In Pleasant Hill and
Commings districts. Pleasant Hill
has A white pupils and Cummings Az.
The former receives yearly 1920 and
Cummings 1926. Neither district can
maintain its school longer than five
months each year, and neither can
maintain successfully secondary de-
partment. As a result the pupils of
these districts must forego a secon-
dary education or else attend some
other school, either In this or some
other county or State. Why not com
bine these two districts and thus have
one good school? What is true OF
Pleasant Hill and Cummings districts
is true Of all other small Districts
they should be combined, If possible.
Will not the Directors and patrons in
these small districts do all they can
TO correct this error? The County
Superintendent will do all he can to
accomplish this end. He suggests that
10 combining small districts the
schoolhouse be located as near as pos
sible in the center Of the district I'll
necessary. tear down both buildings
In the two small districts and rebuild |
70 some other locality. With a few
iollars taken from the school funds,
,ogether with money easily collected
by means of suppers, lectures, plays,
'tc., the school building could be erect
ID with comparatively no cost. One
'ther thing to be considered is this:
Unless the small districts are COM
lined, the time is near at hand when
uch districts will have no expert
need teachers. In fact, twill not be
Ong ere such districts will have no \
eachers at all. Young men and young
aides qualified to teach successful
chools can make more money in 9TH
r professions. There is no induce
1ent TO young people to enter the
chool room at small salary for only
few months each year, while they
an command good salaries in other
ocations for the year round. K
There are many other things that
light be well said on this subject OF {
ombining schools, but the above shall :
lffice for the present. The Superin- Z
sndent has no thought OF usurping
1e authority OF the Directors, but as
le who has carefully studied this
lbject, and as one who has the well
re Of the boys and girls Of the coun- e
!, he asks the earnest consideration
gnz has heen said above.
UNIFORM GRADING or SCHOOLS.
This subject Of uniform grading Of
le county schools has beens generally
scussed in the county, hence it is
here 70 give the reasons
+ so grading. Many Of the leading
achers Of the county have assured
e Superintendent that they will
oceed to grade their respective
hools; others, 1T is believed, viii do
revise. There are a few teachers,
is understood, who have said they
II not even attempt to grade the "
hools, as directed BY law. In gen. 3 5
u, those teachers who object to =
aiding the schools are those who 10