McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-12-12
LEVY LEVY RURAL AND
HIGH SCHOOL TAX
SUPT. THOMPSON URGES COUNTY
COURTS TO PROMPT ACTION.
Ev-: NTs IN STATE CAPITAL
Doiags of the Various Departments of
the Government of Comm onwealth
Reported for the Benefit of
Our Readers.

State Superintendent of Public In
struction $. II. Thompson, together with
High School Inspector Bourne, is making
out strong program for county courts
at the January term. 1t will be recalled
that when Mr.. Thompson took the oath
of office on October "a he gave out a
statement to the effect that while he
believed strongly in the state university,
the high schools and the UNCONVENTIONAL
and private schools of the state, he felt
the greatest stress hould be put on
rural education. When seen in his office
at the capitol Superintendent Thompson
had this to say:
There are two or three things to
which desire to call the attention of
the members of the various county
courts of Tennessee, and also county SUI
perintendents and school people.
1T is not generally known that only
SO counties in the state have accepted
the states very generous offer on the
question of high schools. The state will
give one-third of whatever county
levies for high school purposes up to
one-third of $4,000. If county is so
small that if the full limit of the law
is levied fol high school purposes, which
is Is cents, the income for high school
purposes, together with what the state
gives, is not equal to $4,000, the state
can give out of it's high school fund
enough to make up that amount. For
instance, if county has assessed val
uation of property of only 100000, a
Is cents levy would then bring 5000
from the county. The state would give
one-third of that, which would be $500,
making a total of $1,000 for high school
purposes; but with an amendment to the
high school law passed at the last leg
islature the state board of education
may give out of the state high school
fund $500 more, or enough to make them
total high school fund of $4,000. OF
course, the larger counties do not need
this, but it is supposed that the laws
of the state of Tennessee exist very
largely to bring The weaker counties up
to the high standard already set by the
stronger counties for themselves.
"The SO counties above referred to
have 12s high schools, 35 of which are
first-class, 40 second-class, and So third
class. Any county that levies high
school tax ought to do it with the dis
tinct understanding that there will be
at least one first-class high school. By
first-class high school is meant one
with four years course running nine
month, having four teachers giving all
their time to high school work. By
action of the state board of education
additional money up to maximum of
$500 may be given first-class high
schools having departments of industrial
work.
'Now, word about rural schools.
According to the reports of this office,
there are only six counties in the state
that have eight months or more OF rural
schools. There are AZ counties that have
five months or less. Last year there
was not an increase OF even one day
in the length of term in rural schools
over the preceding year, and this year
one or two counties have only three
months schools. But with the increase
in the appropriation bill from rs to
SO 1-3 per cent, the average term this
year, according to information we now
have, will be heightened from one to
two weeks upon an average all over the
state, and perhaps even more than that.
Next year there is every reason to be-
lieve that with even small encourage
ment from the county courts we can
put the average up to more than six
months for the entire state and make
that the minimum in most counties, if
not in all.
"The purpose of this statement is to
encourage county courts to levy and en-
courage increased rural school tax where
the school term is not already six
months, and to levy high school tax
sufficient to make at least one first
class high school in every county. | am
sending this out broadcast to the news
papers of the state and wish iere to-
express my appreciation of the publicity
they are giving this department. With
out the newspapers and the free adver-
tising they give us | feel that we could
not do very much in the way Of pro-
noting educational enthusiasm and sem
timent throughout the state"
Superintendent Thompson, aceomp-
anied by High School Inspector Bourne
and Director Kelley, together with a
representative from the East Tennessee
State Normal at johnson City, and also
representative of the State University
at Knoxville, win visit six counties in
East Tennessee this week and some other
counties later.