Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1911-03-02
To the Statesman-D Democrat
and High School Board

The communication below was sent
to the Statesman Democrat but for
some reason it was refused, and at re-
quest of Mr. Thach we publish it. =
led.
Kimball, Tenn, Feb. 81, 1911.
Editor Statesman Democrat;
AS you did not criticise my CON-
munication of Jan. 81, regarding the
management of our High School.
suppose that you agree with me in my
views or contentious, namely: That
the High School building and campus
is the property Of Marion County; that
the school should be run solely and
wholly in the interest of the boys and
girls of the county; that If the school
is not crowded the grade at which
students are allowed to enter should be
cut down; that the primary annex, or
preparatory pay department should be
cut out entirely, and that no non-fesi-
dent should be allowed to attend for
love, money or pull.
Now, as before stated, as you did
not criticize one word of my epistle,
after being invited to do so should it
need criticism. l am compelled to in
fer that you agree with me in my con-
tentions, so will ask you to kindly
give me little space in the States
man Democrat so that can sound the
Marion County High School Board and
learn where or how they stand on the
matter
Gentlemen of the Marion County
High School Board
Our High School is, as you know, IN
sense stock corporation or company
and everv citizen of Marion County is
stock holder of the Company. You,
the High School Board, are the officials
and directors of our ntelprise, the
High School. Every stakeholder Of
the High School should be interested
in its success. I am, and that is why,
and the only reason why, I take the
liberty to ask you. our board of direc-
tors, few friendly questions, to-wit:
| If our school is not crowded and of
course it is not or non-residents would
not be allowed to attend, why should
not the grade at which students are
admitted, be lowered to, say the sew
enth grade, and cut out entirely the
preparatory pay Department. The law
creating High Schools will. l suppose,
allow you to do this, and if it will, it
seems to me, this would be a good
plan, just and fair to all; but if not,
why not9 Do you think it fair and
right for our own citizens, taxpayers
or non-taxpayers, to be compelled to
pay tuition for their children when
the doors of our High School are
thrown open on CREASED hinges to non
resident students? Do you think it
just and fair to permit outsiders to en-
ter our school and usurp the time of
our teachers instructing them, when
their time should be employed in
structing our own Marion County boys
and girls Who bought the High
School building and campus, and who
is paying most excellent corps of
teachers to govern and instruct inside
its walls' Not Grundy or Sequatchie
County; not Georgia or Alabama, I
am sure. The way I see it a county
High School is strictly a county insti-
tuition and enterprise, and should be
run wholly in the interest of the boys
and girls who are SO fortunate as to
reside in the county in which it is To-
Gated. If any one wants to send their
children to our High School they
must, or should, become citizens of
old Marion, and therefore stockholders
in the enterprise. Marion County will
not, or should not, at least, run her
High School for revenue only, but
for the purpose of giving her boys and
girls High School education SO that
they will be we'll armed to enter the
arena of life, battle for bread and a
home, and become useful men and |
women.
If it is right and proper to admit
non residents to our High School, why
is it not right AMI proper to allow the
manned and poor of other counties and
states admission to our home for the
poor Both are Marion County insti-
tutions andboth are kept up in the
same way. No person who resides
outside of Marion County, and there
fore not a stakeholder of our school, |
should be allowed to attend, no matter
how well we like them, or low much
we would be pleased for them to at
tend.
Now, gentlemen, believe that
have said enough. No word of mine
is intended as personal fling or
prod. Kindly answer my questions in
as friendly spirit as l have asked
them. We all make mistakes, and if l
am wrong | want to be set right, and
should you find that you are wrong
you will of course, turn about and
get right.
With no unkind feelings toward
anyone, and hoping that our High
School will flourish like a green bay |
tree, | am,
Yours very truly,
n IT THACH