Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-12-24
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
(Conkinnea tram end Rascl

TI0NkHHfd JyOW SNd rage
out Of more men and women every
year than we graduate from our secon-
dairy (Y) schools. Baby hands are ex-
tended from hundreds of little hillocks
and mounds of red clay all over the
county. pointing in shame and deris-
ion to living and rotten condition
among men which has fairly murdered
OF manned its thousands.
The story is simple and sad, but is
never told only in terms of the simple
but honest preacher, "God has called"
Count 9. OUR SCHOOLS HAVE
BEEN LARGELY UNDER THE d.
RECTION OF A ONE MAN POWER.
1t would hardly be we'll to wind
up series of indictments against
the general public school conditions of
our county without taking some notice
of the man who. more than any other,
has shaped for II years the policies of
the public school system of the county,
if indeed it may have ever deserved
the honor TO be called system-con-
trolled the wayward and lamb-like
| sons of the Peace Courts of the county
in body assembled, made and unmade
teachers i'll the twinkling of an eye
without reference to qualification or
character; raised primary "sheeps-
kings" to various per cent. above par,
and otherwise made himself, to para
phase, First in the Honorable Court;
first in the councils of the powers that
be; and first in the hearts of our coun-
ty teachers.
Such is the record of an affable, pol
tie, well-met, smooth, courteous, SOC
liable and kind man whom the State
| Superintendent referred to recently in
speech as splendid superintendent
of schools, Judging from the fact that
he had served the people in that
capacity SO long
1t were unjust in the extreme to
charge the present incumbent wholly
with the conditions that exist in our
county. If he has held the Office by viz
tue of political pull rather than by
virtue of his fitness and qualification,
then the fault is all the more the peo-
pies. For it is theirs every two years
to offer better man. All over this
county there have been grumblings
and murmuring against this man s
method of influencing the County
court. 1t is now beyond doubt that no
man can beat him for the Office. Here
in lies the crime of the people. Our
county court has undoubtedly been
amenable to this mans influence for
many years, going so far often as to
talk of voting by secret ballot on ques-
tions that common ethical decency
would require the ayes and nays. That
he has subjected himself to Sc
we're criticism, prostituting the most
sacred cause of the people to political
Vaccinations, is undoubtedly true
Whether he has given value received
for his compensation is no concern of
this paper, but why the county court
has not demanded of him more work
and made contract with him for all
his time, amply remunerating, are
questions that have shade and shadow
about them. And, on behalf of our su-
perintendent, we might say that we dc
not recall that any man of all those who
have fought for his place and failed
has been any better qualified than he,
SO far as mere educational require
ments are concerned. But, in conclud-
ing our indictments, we cannot but
feel that this man has had it in his
power to turn over his Office with the
schools in much better condition
that they are. 1t is our humble judge.
ment that in view of the opportunities
and the possibilities which the field
offers for service, his administration
has been an ignominious failure, and
deserves the severest rebuke of an in
telligent people.