FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL INSPECTOR FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1910. OFFICERS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS. R. L. Jones, State Superintendent Public Instruction. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. Governor M. R. Patterson, President. Superintendent W. C. Anderson, Nashville. Superintendent J. L. Brooks, Johnson City. Superintendent R. L. Bynum, Jackson. NASHVILLE, TENN., December 1, 1910. Hon. R. L. Jones, State Superintendent, Nashville, Tenn.: Sir: I herewith submit my first annual report of the Public High Schools of Tennesse, the same being for the scholastic year ending June 30, 1910. Owing to the fact that this is the first general report attempted, it has been impossible to make every item complete, for some principals and superintendents found their records had not been kept in accord with the forms used for this report. However, the items reported are not estimates, but facts taken from rec ords. Most respectfully, P. L. HARNED, SYNOPSIS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL LAW. The County Courts are authorized (1) to levy a County High School tax not exceeding fifteen cents on the hundred dollars, or (2) to make an appropriation out of the county funds other than the school funds, and (3) to elect a County High School Board of Education consisting of six members and the County Superintendent, not more than one member of the board to be elected from the same school district. The County High School Board of Education, after organization, is required (1) to locate, establish and manage one or more High Schools, (2) to employ and make contracts with teachers holding a license to teach in the County High Schools, (3) to draw all warrants on the County Trustee on account of the High School fund, and (4) to keep a complete record of all business transacted. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State High School Inspector, and the County Superintendents have general supervision of the organization and management of all County High Schools. County Trustees are required to keep a separate and accurate account of all High School money collected by them and to pay it out only on the warrants of the County High School Board of their respective counties. The State Board of Education is given authority (1) to classify all County High Schools, (2) to prescribe the minimum course of study, and (3) to make regulations for the distribution of the State High School funds. For more than a quarter of a century after the enactment of a law providing for common schools, the State did nothing for the higher education of the children living in the rural districts. Even in the wealthiest counties that levied a tax sufficient to run first-class elementary schools and able to maintain firstclass high schools, the people were not allowed the privilege of taxing themselves for high schools. It was not thus in the cities. Under their charters, they could levy sufficient tax to erect buildings and to run first class elementary schools and first class high schools ten months in the year. That is, under the system referred to, the children of the cities were given a thorough elementary and high school education, prepared for college entrance or for some useful vocation, while the children of the rural communities were denied all but a simple elementary education. If the country children wanted to go to college they were forced to spend four years in a preparatory school, where they paid both board and tuition, before they could enter. If they wanted to prepare themselves for a vocation, they had to leave home and pay board and tuition. It was not until 1889 that the State allowed any county to levy a high school tax for country children, and that law not only offered no help from the State but gave so little encouragement that but few counties took advantage of its provisions. The county court of Lake county was the first to levy a tax and start a high school. During the ten years following the passage of this law little progress was made. There was no uniformity in the course of study or management of schools, and in most places little work was done above the elementary course. With so great a difference in the educational advantages of the city over the country, it is not at all surprising that those who were ambitious for the success of their children were moving to the city to educate them, a thing that meant decay of the farm and of country institutions and the decline of country life. These facts were so apparent that the legislature of 1909 amended the high school law so that the opportunity of the country child might be the equal of that of the city child, and that every county might have one or more high schools that would meet the needs of all the people of every class. High schools are divided into three classes. The counties having least taxable property may run a third class school or one whose course of study extends over two years, but the pupils who complete this course are not prepared for college. The second class school has a three-year course of study and those who complete it may enter the State University under certain conditions which the faithful student may remove. The first class high school admits pupils who have completed an elementary course equivalent to eight years of eight months each, solid time, and gives them a thorough training in any one of the four prescribed courses. Graduates of the first-class school are admitted to the regular courses in the State University free of all conditions. The first class school offers (1) an academic course for the pupils who are to go to college, (2) a course in agricul ture for farmer boys, (3) a course in home economics for the girls, (4) a commercial course for pupils desiring to take bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting. Some of the high schools are doing excellent work in all these courses, and one, Central High School of Hamilton County, is doing, in addition to the foregoing, first class manual training, having a new brick building for its shops, and it well equipped for work in wood and iron. Fountain City High School of Knox County is also doing splendid work in all departments. A number of others are running courses in business, agriculture, home economics, and shorthand and typewriting. At the beginning of the year, thirty-six counties had high schools, but the county courts of Carter, Hardin, and Overton did not make the levy for 1910, leaving thirty three. During the year, however, there were eleven counties, Claiborne, Greene, James, McNairy, Marion, Maury, Montgomery, Polk, Rutherford, Tipton and Williamson to levy the tax for the first time, and all except one are now running their schools. Hence, at the close of the year, forty-four counties are offering their children the advantages of a high school education. The general education law of 1910 provides (1) that the State shall pay to every county that levies the high school tax or makes an appropriation out of the county funds for high schools onethird as much money as the county produces up to one-fiftieth of the total State high school fund; (2) that all high schools be graded and that the minimum course of study be fixed; (3) that all teachers be licensed before they are eligible to teach in the high schools; and (4) that a high school inspector be employed to supervise the work. (1) In December, 1909, the first distribution of the State high school fund was made, each county receiving one-third as much as it had produced up to the maximum, which was fifteen hundred dollars. (2) The State Superintendent, the Professor of Education in the University of Tennessee and the High School Inspector, after a conference with county and city superintendents, high school principals, and representatives of the leading colleges, carefully studied the conditions in every section and prepared two courses of study for schools of the third class, three courses for schools of the second class, and four courses for schools of the first class. These courses which appear elsewhere in this report are intended to meet the needs of the people whether they live in the country or city, and are to be used in all schools run wholly or in part by the high school funds. (3) When the general education law went into effect in July, 1909, the high school boards had already elected their teachers for the ensuing year, and it was too late to arrange for an examination to test the qualification of teachers. But plans were then made to carry out this provision of the law, and in June, 1910, three State examinations were conducted: one at Jackson for West Tennessee, one at Nashville for Middle Tennessee, and one at Knoxville for East Tennessee. The questions were uniform and made by the High School Inspector, and the papers were graded under his directions. All persons passing this examination were given certificates to teach in any high school of any county in the State. On the same days these State examinations were held, and with the same questions, county examinations were held in each county in which one or more high schools were run. These examinations were conducted by committees composed of the County Superintendent and two other members selected by the county high school boards. These committees graded the papers and reported the same to the High School Inspector and certificates, good for the county in which the examination was held, were issued for a term of two years. In addition to these certificates, under the direction of the State Board of Education high school certificates were issued to teachers holding a bachelor's diploma from a college requiring fourteen units for admission and maintaining a four-year college course. The latter, however, is no permanent arrangement and may be modified or rescinded at any time. At this time all regularly elected high school teachers hold regular licenses. (4) The High School Inspector was charged with (a) the supervision of schools already established, (b) going before county courts in the interest of high school tax levies, (c) assist in the organization of new schools, (d) prepare questions and conduct examinations of applicants for high school certificates, (e) and such other related duties as may be assigned. Since the inspection of high schools requires so much time, |