The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-01-24
SCHOOL SYSTEM.

II SCHOOL SYSTEM.
n AT the recent meeting of the Public
School Oficers Association a bill to
provide a one board system for the
public school management Of the va
rious counties was recommended. The
tendency In Tennessee for many years
has been to divide responsibility with
the result that we have more boards,
commissions, bureaus and officials,
state and county, than can possibly
serve any good and useful purpose
There is no reason whatever why
counties should have both county
board Of education and high school
board. The high school is an integral
part Of the county system of educa-
ton and should be administered by
the same board that governs the ele'
mentary schools. Membership on
a.Mshool boards is a thankless task.
~ en- are usually persuaded to serve on
ITEM because of their devotion to the
sY.use OF popular education. One board
sM Ave good men in each county should
Sc sufficient to administer all OF the
school affairs. It is to be hoped that
the change will be made.
It Is likewise important that the
method Of selecting the county boards
or education be changed These bod
les ought to be selected by the county
courts. and the terms of Office so ar
ranged that not all the terms OF the
members would expire at the same
!. time. It Is altogether inadvisable to
suddenly change school policy II
would be better to make the terms OF
the county board members six years.
having one or two elected every two
years. In this way some experienced
men, familiar with the details OF
school administration, would always
. be on the board.
The great drawback to school i'm
movement in Tennessee is local legis-
lation. We can never have a state
system worthy of the name as long as
any county. may nullify it's provisions
under the guise of local courtesy. BIZ
annually laws are enacted In direct
conflict with the states policy. Many
counties still have the old district di-
rector system which Is always an IN
vitation to extravaganza, waste, incom-
potency and inefficiency in the admin
~ Sxfration ofsschool affairs. Other coun-
MAS have nullified the states system
air the election Of county superlntend-
yats by having those officials made
eflitical Offices. Both the superin-
toAdents and members of the county
fieards should be chosen alike in all
Counties by the members OF me coun-
ty courts.
II Gov. Roberts wants to do ms
state real and lasting service, one
that will rebound to his credit through
n
will set his face like flint against To-
cal legislation to nullify the states
educational system. This state is
spending one-third and more of all its
revenues for public schools. 1t should
insist that no county be the beneficial
~ Of this beneficence unless that
county administers the trust accord
ing to the states system. Gov. Rob-
erts has rare opportunity for gen
uine public service. His will domi-
mates the legislature. Any right pro-
gram for advancement that he might
insist upon will be adopted. He should
therefore urge at once the repeal OF
all laws creating district directors or
otherwise establishing system out
Of harmony with the act of 1907. He
should also urge and have enacted
law providing uniform method in ev-
cry county of the state for the elec-
ton of county superintendent.
There can be no more important
question before the legislature than
that of public education. 1t is of even
more Importance than tax reform.
We would have long ago had better
system of taxation as a matter OF
course had our people been better ed
ucated and more sensible to the high
interests Of the commonwealth. We
need more than anything else an ed
ucated and enlightened citizenship.
With that will come a public con-
science that will not tolerate the
wrongs we have witnessed under our
system Of taxation. The Herald sim
cerely hopes that Gov. Roberts will
have the courage, the determination
and the will to force a uniform pub
lie school system through the legis-