The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-08-01
County Schools To Open August 4

Next Monday. August 4, is the date
set for opening the county schools. and
with few exceptions the schools will
open on that date. There are q few
schools yet not supplied with teachers.
and the strict enforcement Of the laws
by the new State Superintendent makes
the supply of teachers less than has
been contemplated. Under the law no
temporary certificate can be granted
to any person who has not stood an ex-
examination, and who has not gotten
grades above so on every subject, with
a general average of 65 or above. This
law has not deem rigidly enforced by
former state Superintendents. and It
has been possible for the County Su-
perintendent to secure temporary cer-
tificates for some who had never un-
dergonean examination at all. New tea
chers must have had four years of high
school work and must have undergone
an examination with results ss named
above. or they can not be employed.
A number of teachers who expect
ed to teach have been cut out by
these rulings. and others who failed to
take the March examination have been
cut ont. 90 thst the snpply is hardly
equal to the densIsd. and whiie every
effort 10 being made TO secure teachers.
IL 10 feared that sufficient number
will not be secured for MI the schools
of the county.
Numerous questions have come to
the Office Of the County Superintehd-
ent in regard to the new text books re-
Gently adopted. 1t is regrettable to
state that not one word of information
has yet been Issued by the State Su-
perintendent in regard to this matter.
and the County Superintendent knows
no more about il than the teachers do.
But this advice IS gwen: The new books
are not now available, at all. They can
not be had. We would 90 ahead using
the old books when schools open, andi
may be, continue that use thru the en-
tire session. 3ut certain it is now that
no new books can be bought before
September, and then they will likely be
scarce. Under these circumstances
there 10 nothing to do, but to use the
old ones. the same ones used last year,
for the present, and when we get infor-
nation from Nashville regarding the
new ones we will govern our actions
accordingly.
The first monthly meeting Of white
teachers for the new school year will
be held in SomerviIle on the third Sat.
urday in September. The law requires
attendance at these Institutes, and 1t
can be stated here now that teachers
must comply with the law. 1t matters
not what kind of certificate teacher
holds, the certificate can be revoked IL
institute attendance is neglected by the >
holder. Attendance of our teachers in
the past has been most gratifying. Out
of Gu teachers in the white schools we
have often had 40 to 45 present at a
meeting. And yet there are few
teachers who have never attended an
institute. Some of these are being re
fused schools this year for this very re.
ason. aud the law must he applied to
ell.
With colored teachers the matter 10
different. The colortd men who teach
have never attended teachers meet.
lngs, summer meetings or monthly
NEE tings, ana many of the womeu have
not. Out of about so colored teachers
in the county, many meetings have
been held with less than 20 present.
This condition can net continue and the
colored teachers had as understand
it.. A score of the deIinquents are be-
ipg dropped from tie list vi teachers
this year and others vii be dropped.
They must comply win requirements
made BY school law aud the State Of
ficer. or be .dtopped from The lit of
teachers.
Many eomplsinis have come 70 the
County Superintendent aAd members
of the Board about teachers disregard.
ing hours fixed by the Board Tor
opening and closing schools each day.
A strong effort will be made his year
to secure uniformity in this respect.
Regularity in running school Is alb
soIutely imperative. and no school that
does not open and close on schedule
time is worthy being called a school.
And nothing should be allowed to in
terfere with school for 9 dsy. School
every day In the week with regular
hours Tor opening and closing should be
the slogan Of every teacher.
With colored teachers this trouble be
been more marked than with white
teschers. and these colored teachers
had a. well make up their minds TO
compl, with these rules or quit. one or
The other. Go TO school on time. stay
the fol day. and carry this rule out
everv day for five days each week.