The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-09-08
Letter to Public Regarding
the Secondary School Law

have been elected chairman OF
the County Board Of Education, and
it will be my purpose to use all the
power and influence which | may
possess by virtue OF this position
Tor the improvement and advance
ment OF the public school interests
Of the county. With this idea in
view, | am prompted to employ
this means OF bringing before the
public matter pertaining 10 the
school situation, and ask the people
generally to aid me in tue solution
II this problem,
The State Superintendent got an
opinion from the Attorney General
Of the State relative to Chapter 1872
OF Acts OF the General Assembly OF
1891, which created the secondary
schools. The Attorney General was
Of the opinion that this Act had
been repealed by Chapter 279 Of
the Acts of 1899, which provides for
the County High School Acting
upon this opinion the State Super.
intendent instructed all the County
Boards OF Education OF the State
not to use any OF the general school
funds for teaching any branches
above the eighth grade. This has
been done in this county, and there
is no child in the county who can
receive any instruction from the
state or county above the eighth
grade.
Now, have investigated this law
very closely and carefully. and have
conferred with other attorneys con
corning it. and as a result have
come TO the conclusion that the Act
creating secondary SCHOOLS has not
been repealed. II it was repealed
IN 1899, which is the time they say
it was, it has taken the people OF
the State seventeen years to lind II
out.
From my investigation, am led
10 believe that this opinion OF the
State Superintendent, and Attorney
General is nothing more than
scheme to compel the different
counties of the State to levy a coun-
~ high school tax.
AT the meeting of the County
Board Of Education last Friday |
introduced resolution ordering
tha, the secondary studies be- taught
in the schools NJ the county. which
we're formerly secondary schools
All the other members Of the Board
except one were uncertain as to the
law and 1t was not passed, am
writing this letter that the people
may become aroused concerning the
situation, and investigate for them
selves as to whether am right in
my construction OF the law, II the
secondary schools of the State have
not been abolished, the people Of
this county are suffering a great
hardship in not deriving any bene-
dts from the school fund above the
eighth grade. and the children who
have completed the studies in the
elementary school are suffering a.
great hardship because Of the fact
that they ale deprived OF education.
al advantages at the very time when
they are needing these advantages
the most. trust that every parent
who has children that should be
studying the branches provided in
the secondary schools will use his
influence 10 have this matter in
ves,iaat.d thoroughly at a very early
date to such an extent that the
other members of the Board OF Edu.
cation may be convinced that this
law creating the secondary schools
has not been abolished. Assuring
each and everyone that my every
effort shall be used for the purpose
Of having instruction given in the
secondary branches OF all the schools
which were formerly secondary
schools at as early date as posi-
Bile. beg TO remain.