Sunday, April 14, 2013

4/14/2013 Tennessee Civil War Notes = TCWN


14, "We call the attention of the Council to the importance of making all teachers take the oath, female as well as male." Meeting of the Nashville City Council

Resolutions before the City Council, Public Schools, etc.

The resolutions subjoined were laid before our City Council by Capt. Driver, at their meeting on Monday (14th) evening last:

Resolved, That the Mayor of the city of Nashville be, and he is hereby requested and instructed to have the flag of the flag of the United States placed upon all public property belonging to this corporation.

Resolved, That the Board of Education are hereby required during the present week to take the oath of office taken by ourselves and other officers of this city or resign.

Resolved further, That the Superintendent, together with every male teacher in the city of Nashville, shall be, and they are hereby requested to take the oath of allegiance prescribed to us, within five days from the passage of this resolution, or resign their respective positions.

Resolved, That we cordially thank the officers and soldiers of the United States for the unexampled kindness and courtesy hitherto extended to our fellow citizens, and that, as men striving together with them for the re-establishment of the government of our fathers, we pledge them our most sincere and hearty co-operation.

Resolved further, that for hospital purposes and for barracks, the Federal authorities be permitted to have access to hydrants without charge.

We publish these resolutions for the purpose of giving them our hearty approbation. They are eminently just and proper, and are so expressed as to give no cause of offence to any one who is not a bitter enemy to his country. The resolutions which are of the greatest importance are the two in reference to our Public Schools. Indeed we cannot conceive of any question within the wide range of legislation which so deeply concerns the welfare and proper moral culture of our children, and therefore of the very stability and happiness of society itself, than that which embraces in its scope the education of the young. In Sparta, in Athens, in Rome and the Jewish theocracy, as well as in the enlightened nations of Europe, patriotism and loyalty have been ordered by legislation to be instilled into the minds of the young by those who had charge of their education. A school-room is the last place to be polluted by the step of a traitor to his or her country. We would as soon send a son or a daughter of ours to a gambling house or a brothel to have their minds and morals formed as to a school controlled by a rebel and a traitor. Away with such teachers of the young! We regret that the resolution does not include female as well as male teachers. The omission should by all means be supplied. Of the two we regard female rebel teachers as the most dangerous. A short time before the arrival of the Union troops at this place a female teacher in the Hume School in this city, was in the habit of making her pupils sing a song whose stupidity, wretched rhyme and rhythm, and treason were all alike abominable. Here are two verses of it:

"Oh have you heard the joyful news?

Virginia has Old Abe refused,

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

Virginia joined the Cotton States,

The news of which each heart elates

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

We'll die for Old Virginia,

Hurrah! hurrah!

Virginia joins the Cotton States,

The news of which each heart elates

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

We'll die for old Virginia!

* * * *

Ah! the stars and bars we'll fling on high,

And for our homes we'll fight or die,

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

Our cause is right, our quarrel just-

In the God of battles we will trust,

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

We'll die for old Virginia,

Hurrah! hurrah!

We'll die for old Virginia.

Our cause is right—our quarrel just—

In the God of battles we will trust,

Hurrah! hurrah!

We'll die for old Virginia.

And so on through four long tedious, dreary, stupid verses of idiotic reiteration. The teacher who would introduce such trash into a school of young children, deserves an immediate discharge on the ground of in competency. We call the attention of the Council to the importance of making all teachers take the oath, female as well as male. And some of them should be dismissed without being required to take the oath. The subject is one of momentous importance. Let the work be done thoroughly and promptly.
The resolutions in reference to the Union officers and soldiers are well merited compliments to their chivalry, generosity and magnanimity. Every word in them is deserved.

Nashville Daily Union, April 17, 1862.

James B. Jones, Jr.

Public Historian

Tennessee Historical Commission

2941 Lebanon Road

Nashville, TN  37214

(615)-532-1550  x115

(615)-532-1549  FAX

 

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