The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-04-02
Our Improved School System.

public school system of Tennessee by |
creating in each county a county board |
of education and district advisory
boards. Prescribing their duties and |
abolishing the office of district direc-
tors"
This is perhaps the most important
and radical legislation enacted during
the whole Legislative session and it met
with strong opposition. Such legisla-
tion had long been urged by prominent
educators and educational associations
and it received the hearty Endorsement
of Gov. Patterson without whose aid
the measure would have failed.
Even after its passage great pressure
was brought to bear on the governor to
veto the bill and there we're those who
turned against the governor and up
braided him for his refusal to do 80.
Experience in the workings of the new
law has changed the minds of these op-
ponents and they are now its staunch-
est supporters.
Under the old system the county
schools were controlled and managed
by board of directors made up OF
three officers from each district. In
such large number OF people without
control or executive head or guidance,
many were chosen for these positions
who neglected them and many others
who were not competent to perform the
duties imposed upon them. More or
less confusion resulted and the schools
suffered, because the terms in the sew
eral districts were not uniform.
Under the new plan the county court
divides the counties into five school
districts and from each of these dis.
tricts one member is to be elected by
the qualified voters, the entire number
to constitute county board of educa-
tion. This board controls the schools
of the county, employs teachers, builds
and repairs school buildings, consoli-
dates schools when too small, purchases
all necessary school outfittings and
pays all salaries and expenses by war
rants on the school fund signed by the
chairman and secretary of the board.
This reduces the control of county
schools to a business basis, equalizes
all school terms to uniformity, gives
every child an equal chance with every
other child and preserves order, regu-
Iarity and system. The board OF edu-
cation must make a detailed report to
the county court setting'o out every item
of expense incurred and presenting q
record Of everything done, which record
must be kept in permanent form. The
board of education centralizes in itself
responsibility and, being reduced to @
working body, can discharge the duties
incumbent on it in speedy and prac.
tical manner. The benefits OF the new
system are already apparent.
In order to preserve the old demo
cratic plan of local control and the par
ticipation of the home people in the
management Of the children, each civi
district is authorized to elect three
mem bers who will CONSTITUTED distric
board Of advisors and who will work il
harmony with the county board of ed
ucation giving such information anC
advice on district matters as it possesses
looking after small repairs and the gen
eral welfare of the schools, admitting
pupils and expelling such as prove un
fit and refractory and performing al
such purely local acts as may be neces
sary, subject to the approval Of tn
central body. In this way the bes
results are sure to be obtained.
Another salutary measure along thes
lines is house bill 1895, authorizing
county boards Of education to max
provision for sending pupils to higI
schools and giving them the benefit Q
high school education by sending ther
, to high schools either in the cities or t
private high schools ut the expense G
the county. Many bright boy An
, girl is denied the advantages of highe
education because the county school
do not provide 1t. Where such educs
ton is within reach the wisdom c
sending such>pupils as are prepared fo
it to these institutions at the expens
of the county must be commended, Th
county board Of education is clothe
with authority and is given latitude
exercise sound discretion in these ma
ters.
!. Strange as it may appear some of th
counties for local reasons opposed thes
changes in the law and were exempte
from its operations. Obion county, Il
# instance, one of the richest farmin
counties in the state, clings to the oil
style. Obion has 1856 school district
and with three school directors fro
each district her schools are manage
by a veritable army Of 55S directOl
without an executive head or unifor
- rule to govern them, aud where eaC
ia district manages its own affairs aecor'
ing to the caprice of the acting dire
tors. Under such q policy no syste
4. can exist. 1t is only mosaic Of 90
hicting imageries. No doubt the goo
rs people Of these counties will see Il
error of their way and have the ls
l. extended to them by the next legisl
Observation-Disclosures.