Education/Schools - Historical Notes

The following acts constitute part of the administrative and political heritage of the educational structure of Cannon County but are no longer operative since they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 96, established an academy in Woodbury in Cannon County which would be called Laurens Academy with all the incidental rights and privileges of other academies.  James Taylor, James J. Trott, Joseph Ramsey, Eli A. Fisher, and Thomas C. Ward were named as Trustees of the Academy, and were granted all the power of that position plus the right to make regulations for the management, operation, and internal discipline of the school.
2. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 118, Section 6, incorporated J. D. Alexander, Henry Goodloe, D. Hogwood, and A. McNight, as the "Trustees of the Philosophian Institute of the County of Cannon."  The Institute may hold and transfer property, do other corporate acts, and make all rules and regulations necessary for the proper operation of the Institute.
3. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 237, Section 4, formed a common school district in Cannon and Rutherford Counties which would include the following families: C. D. Ivie, Simeon Hollis, W. J. Walkup, William Peak, Walter Peak, Peyton Shepherd, John Davison, William G. Brandon, H. L. Thompson, T. T. Peay, Mary Holmes, Martha Hollis, Dr. J. H. Dickens, Isaac McCullough, Charles Ready, J. C. Martin, Lewis Jetton, D. F. Weedon, John H. Wood, Dr. J. B. Armstrong, William Owen, and John Chappell.  These families would have the right to elect a Commissioner jointly and enjoy all the rights and privileges generally granted to other school districts.
4. Acts of 1903, Chapter 293, created a special school district in the Fourth Civil District of Cannon County describing the area involved with a metes and  bounds description. A special election would be held on the second Saturday in May, 1903, to elect the school directors who would all serve with no compensation. The Clerk would furnish a statement of the number of pupils in the district to the County Superintendent of Schools.  He would furnish the County Trustee with a copy so that the school funds could be pro rated.
5. Acts of 1905, Chapter 190, created a special school district in the Third Civil District of Cannon County describing the area with a proper description.  This Act called for an election to be held on the second Saturday in May, 1905, so as to elect the School Directors for the District.  The Clerk would furnish a scholastic census to the County Superintendent who would forward a copy to the Trustee to pro rate the school funds.
6. Acts of 1907, Chapter 43, created the "Readyville School District" out of portions of Cannon and Rutherford Counties, as described therein.  The Act named for Dr. W. E. Yanree, Bill McBroom, and Josh Burton as Directors of the District who would serve without charge.  The Clerk would send the scholastic count to the Superintendent who would advise the Trustee in order to pro rate the school funds.  Anyone who was qualified to work in the County System would also be eligible to serve in the District.  The school building shall be placed on the Porterfield and Milton Road, near New Hope Church, not over one-quarter of a mile from the Pike.  This Act was repealed by Chapter 529, Private Acts of 1915.
7. Acts of 1907, Chapter 79, formed a special school district in Cannon and Rutherford Counties to be called the "Porterfield School District."  The District would include the Readyville School District and the following families:  Mrs. M. A. Davis, Andy McKnight, Col. J. D. Vaught, William Thomas, Charlie Dement, William McElroy, Sam McElroy, Grooms, W. E. Hogwood, Dr. A. E. McKnight, Taylor Mingle, John Elrod, Sam Elrod, John Peyton, James Northcut, Ervin Ready, J. D. Northcut, J. E. K. Alexander, O. M. Alexander, Sambo Travis, J. A. Dement, and Bailey Paschal.  The Act named Dr. F. Desmukes, Steve Jordan, and C. L. Duggin to be Directors until the next election.  The other provisions were for the scholastic count and pro rata of funds.
8. Acts of 1907, Chapter 176, changed the lines of the Special School District of the Third School District so as to detach the land of Wiley Willis from it and attach it to the 12th Civil District of Cannon County.
9. Acts of 1907, Chapter 236, abolished the office of District Directors and created a Board of Education and District Board of Advisors in every County.  The County Courts would divide the County into five districts, composed of whole Civil Districts, from each of which one member of the Board of Education would come as selected by the County Court to serve until the members could be elected by the people.  The duties of the Chairman, selected by the other members, the Secretary, and the Board are all enumerated in the Act.  A three member Advisory Board would be elected in each Civil District and their duties are stipulated in the Act.  This Act did not apply to city schools nor to those counties exempting themselves in Section 17.
10. Acts of 1907, Chapter 495, also created a "Readyville Special School District" describing it with a detailed description which bears a lot of similarity to the former one.  Dr. W. E. Youree, Bill McBroom, and John Barton would serve as Directors of the District without pay. 
11. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 529, expressly repealed Chapter 43, Private Acts of 1907, Item 6, above, which first created the Readyville School District.
12. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 317, created the Auburntown Special School District out of the 11th Civil District of Cannon county, except for Mrs. W. T. Mengle's farm, which included Auburntown.  A five member Board of Trustees would be elected for the School District on the first Saturday in August to serve two year terms.  The Act named J. D. Odom, J. A. O'Neal, W. B. Kennedy, T. H. Summer, and C. S. Hawkins to serve on the Board without compensation until the scheduled election.  The powers and duties of the Board were enumerated in the Bill.  A special school tax of 25 cents per $100 property evaluation and a $1 poll tax on all males between the ages of 21 and 50 were allowed to be levied by the Quarterly Court, so that the school year would be extended to eight months which taxes would be collected as other taxes and paid to the school district by the Trustee.  The District was authorized to provide primary and secondary schools, to employ qualified teachers and other personnel and to acquire and hold property through its Trustees.  The Auburn District was further entitled to have one Representative on the County Board of Education.  This Act was repealed by the one following.
13. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 227, expressly repealed Chapter 317, Private Acts of 1921, Item 12, above, in its entirety.
14. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 878, amended Chapter 115, Public Acts of 1925, Item 14, above, by inserting a new provision concerning the composition of the County Board of Education in Cannon County.  The Board would consist of one member each from 15 Civil Districts, elected to six year terms by the people in the District.  The present Board would consist of those now in office who were J. R. Caffy, O. B. Alexander, Claud Spurlock, Clark Barton, John Gilley, G. S. Smith, A. A. Tenpenny, Ray Paschal, Cal Curlee, Tom Parker, H. C. Mears, Shelah Wood, Earl McAdoo, Bob Parker, and Hall Markum.  Staggered terms were provided for the future which seemed to elect five members every two years to six years terms.  This Act was apparently superseded by the one published herein.
15. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 445, provided that the Chairman of the Board of Education of Cannon County shall receive compensation, the amount of which shall be fixed by the Quarterly County Court and paid out of the school fund, but the said compensation shall not be less than $300 nor more than $500 per year.
16. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 313, provided that all teachers in Cannon County who have taught school for 25 years out of the last 30 and who hold a Life Professional Elementary Teacher's Certificate given by the State of Tennessee for two year's college credit, be given a Life County Superintendent's Certificate.
17. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 199, stated that in Cannon County no senior high school shall be established and maintained with fewer than 50 pupils in average daily attendance, but the County Board of Education is authorized and empowered to establish and maintain senior high schools where there are 50, or more, pupils in average daily attendance.