The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-01-23
The State Public School 0fficers'
Meet


the state, including State Superintend-
ent and his staff Of helpers in the de-
psrtment at the capital. Normal School
Presidents and helpers. County Super
intendents, Boards of Education of the
counties and cities, State Board men,
bers, ETC.. etc. II represents the Of
fetal life of the school system OF the
state and has more Influence in shaping
school Legislation than any other body
in the state.
ln the deliberations ard discussions
there many conditions were made clear.
The scarcity of teachers which We have
had 10 the schools in this county pre-
walls all over the state. In fact, few
counties in the state are as well pro-
Vided with teachers as is tayette coun-
ty. We lack less than q dozen having
enough to fill the seventy odd positions
IN our white schools. while many coun-
ties have less than half enough to fill
their schools. IL was reported from
allparts of the state thatteschers were
dropping out OF the work and entering
other occupations where the pay is bet
ter. This was pointed out I'd being the
one cause of teachers quitting the
work, and it is borne out by the facts.
The larger counties have all the teach.
ers they need because they pay the
price demanded. Counties like this
which run their schools nine months
each year and pay about the average
monthly salaries for such counties have
almost enough while smaller and poor.
er counties where the monthly salary
is small and the term short the scarcity
of teachers is greatest.
To remedy this difficulty school pa.
irons had as well make up their minds
to pay raore dollars into public school
funds in order that boards way be able
t. raise salaries to compare favor.
ably with salaries in other lines that
teachers might enter. And smother
point was stressed at the meeting by
several speakers that, sltho salaries
generally are low. there are many
teachers now in service who get every
dollar they are worth. and we must
get down 20 the punt that the salary
will be fixed for the teacher and NOT
for the school. Many county boards
are already running far ahead of their
income and are now heavily 10 debt
and schoof warrants are below par.
TDis county is to be congratulated that
such is not the case here and that ev-
cry warrant 10 paid on presentation to
the County Trustee.
The effect the new tax valuations will
have on the school funds was discussed
and every speaker touching the sub-
iect was Of the opinion that the rates
For school purposes ard for other pull
oses would not be reduced in the same
ratio as the valuations were raised aud
that all funds would receive . substsn-
tiAl increase 10 dollars and cents over
the present and past years. Those in
charge of the assessments have stated
that the new valuation would not 10.
crease the taxes Of the individual tax.
payer who has been paying on sn
equitable valuation under the old plan,
but not . single speaker voiced that
sentiment Ia the meeting mentioned.
County courts will fix the county rates
after the County Assessors have com.
pleted the assessments which will be
made between noxA and the fiess OF
Jane
Y With all the discoassons IL. wonihi
makethe heart ofns Fsyette couutian.
feelgecd 10 be there end hsssth ideal
schoct conditinnss topsea: which, the
coanties are working. for ia sec many.
of the ideals set this county has passed
It. The school term ideal was fixed az
eight months. we rIn nine: the system
of the ideal was for elementary. third
class high schools and 9 central first
class high school. and we have the cenV
trsl high school, with ten third class
high schools and more than ifty ele-
mentary schools, all runaing nine
months. Many counties employ teach.
ere regardless Of high school or Normal
school training. while this county em.
ploys 40 teacher with iess than four
year high school educstion. And when
reports of these conditions are made TO
the state association, this county looms
ss one Of the leaders in the school prog
ress in the state. although there are
many things we might desire remedied.
Indeed, the System in Fsyette comfy
has many things to be thankful for,
many to be congratulated upon.
many that no other county Of its size
and population enjoy.
The meeting was the largest In num-
Der in attendance that il has been in
years and more interest vas manifest
Cd than in any meeting for long time.