The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-10-06
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EDUCATIONAL.
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The monthly institute for white teach,
ers will meet at the high school in this
city on Saturday, October q, and every
teacher in the county is urged to be
present. On the same date the colored
teachers will meet at the Training
School just south of town.
My Dear Editor:
am informed that
there is some dissatisfaction in your
county relative to the opinion of the
Acknowledgement as to the legality of
secondary schools. | am sure this dis
satisfaction comes from a misunder-
standing for know if the good people
of your county only understood they
would see hetter things are in store
for them.
1t is not the intention of the law to
take secondary educational advantages
away from the rural districts but the
intention is to give it to them in a
much better form.
The law providing for a secondary
school made no restrictions as to the
number Of schools established or num-
Der of teachers employed. As result
vast number Of these schools were
established. In many of them there
were as few as one or two pupils. In
a secondary school of one of our lead
ing counties found teacher last'year
was paid $75. 90 a month to teach four
pupils in the ninth grade and three in
the tenth or $40 10 per month per pu-
pill. On the other hand in many of
these schools we find one teacher tried
to teach ten grades, this no teacher can
do. In such schools we find the teach
err devoting almost as much time to the
very few secondary pupils as to the if
ty or sixty elementary pupils, thus rob.
bling the elementary child of the time
and money that the State intended for
him, cannot say that any of these
conditions existed in your county but
| do know that they existed in. many
of the State. For these rea-
} ons the secondary school has been UNI
satisfactory. What can take its place? !
We answer, the third class or two year
nigh school. say this for two rea-
sons: first, these. schools can be stand
lrdized The law prescribes conditions
that must be met. These conditions
guarantee the protection of the best
interest of the child. There is a uni
,orm course off study. A pupil com
)leting the work in these schools is
given credit by the State. Second. to
lave this work done as high schools
outs the county in line for the State
% give it its share of the high school
und. The State gives one-third Of
he amount spent in high schools.
What is necessary to be done to get
tate aid? The County Court must
lect a County High School Board and
'rovide funds. The duty of the Board
will be to handle the high school bust
ess. This board elects High School
eachers, locates the high schools, etc.
n your county | would advise the
Of sufficient number of
hese schools to suit the convenience Of
he people of your county. The geog-
Apply of the county will have to de-
ermine the number of schools to es-
ablish. | am strong believer in car |
ying the high school advantages back |
lose to the people. In levying the /
Ugh school tax, |, Of course, would ,
dvise to levy tax in addition to the
,hool tax you now have but if you !
annot do this why not lower your
Iementary tax. say ten cents. or 9
nough to create a fund sufficient to
IN your high schools and place it as
Ugh school tax. That is exactly what
Du are now doing but you are not do
ig it in such way as to permit the
tate to give you one-third of what you 8
lise. f
In conclusion let me say the disorgan- q
ed secondary school is gone. 1t is c
one, first because it was inefficient e
nd second, because in such schools the q
tate cannot give aid. il
In July eight counties of our State h
Established two-yesr high schools in
ace of secondary schools and all are t
slighted with the change. High I
.hools have been provided in seventy
lree counties of our State and sim
rely hope your county will join the
inks. Respectfully.
S. w. SHERRILL
State Superintendent