Have You Caught the Vision of a Real High School and Free Public School in the Greenfield Special School District

Do You Understand the Real Significance---of the Bond Issue? Look Backward and You Turn to a Pillar of Salt---Look Forward and You See and Hear the Rhythmic Tread of Marching Youths Into a Perfect Day. 

The 1925 Session of the General Assembly of Tennessee passed a bill creating a special school district in . this county. known as the "Greenfield Special School District." This school district embraces the town of Greenfield and the territory reaching about two miles from said town in every direction. The exact boundaries are set out in full at the close or this article and the territory embraced therein comprises this school, district.

For several years the people of Greenfield and this section of the county have been clamoring loud and long for a High School. Every other town in the county has a good one and they al1 are very proud of the results they are getting, All over West Tennessee High Schools are being established to the satisfaction of al1 concerned. Everywhere equal opportunities are being given to America’s future citizens in the way of enlightenment at the expense of the public. Throughout the land the public is doing a fine part in preparing the boys and girls to meet and solve the problems of life and to carry on the great work of a great Republic intelligently and efficiently. The public school system opens up equal opportunities for both the rich and the poor, and makes it possible for the sons and daughters of men to occupy the high places in the affairs of the world according to the kind and manner of services rendered and upon a basis of true merit.

Greenfield now has the opportunity to pay this obligation to its youth. The special High School District has been established. To maintain this school a tax of thirty cents on the one hundred dollars of taxable property is levied in said bill. This tax of thirty cents is necessary to pay the salaries of competent teachers and maintain the High School in general. During the first two or three the number of pupils in the High School department will not be sufficient to pay the expenses of same. The High School fund paid by the state will be inadequate during this period. It is believed, however, that the District will be able to do away with this maintenance tax of thirty cents after two or three years. It is a positive fact that it can be and will be less by one half or more. This will be brought about y a larger attendance in the High School department which, will--under the per capita apportionment made by the state--give more public money for this purpose, thereby eliminating the necessity of the maintenance tax. 

Although the Special High School District has been established and is now a certainty under the law, it is a recognized and important fact that the present building facilities are entirely and wholly inadequate for the needs and requirements of the school. In fact, it will be impossible to maintain the schools in the district in the present building. A greatly crowded condition now exists and with additional students next fall the situation will be impossible. The state will give the school no credit because it will not even approach the necessary requirements. This is a matter worthy of serious consideration. The present public school building in the town of Greenfield is all the school property owned by the school district. Any reasonable person will appreciate this fact. The Greenfield Training School property belongs to the stockholders thereof and is private property. The stockholders of the said Greenfield Training School corporation have agreed, however, to sell to the Special High School District or the Town of Greenfield its property at a ver reasonable price---a price which is one third of what it would cost to replace it today. This property can be converted into the High School proper, but it will not be sufficient for the High School and the Grammar School both. Therefore, it is vitally necessary to prepare for the Grammar School--this, all the grades up to the ninth grade. It is now proposed to have all the school interests of the School District on the beautiful campus of the Training School. This is and ideal location and will bring all the students together in one harmonious and unified effort. With a solid front and unbroken ranks we can march onward and upward destroying the blind forces of ignorance and indifference.

To carry out these plans which have been carefully studied it will be necessary to raise some funds. Anything worth while cost money and effort and genuine sacrifice on the part of the people. To provide the necessary funds to carry out this project and make it worth while an election has been called Saturday, May 9th, 1925, to vote upon the issuance of Forty Thousand Dollars of coupon bonds running for a period of twenty years. The proceeds of these bonds is to be used in building and enlarging the free public schools of the District and the property on which it is expended will become the property of the said Special School District in the town of Greenfield. It will not belong to the town of Greenfield, But to the citizens and tax payers of the whole School District.  Something to which they can look with pride and call it mine---a monument to the childhood of South Weakley County. All qualified voters within the territory embraced in said District hereinafter set out in full will have the opportunity to express themselves FOR or AGAINST this bond issue. Its passage means a new day for the boys and girls of South Weakley County--a beacon light upon the high hill of learning and an opportunity for all to become refined, cultured, enlightened citizens. Its failure means a backward step; a lost opportunity, and absolute neglect of the future welfare of the childhood of this community. This bond issue carries a tax of twenty-five cents on the One Hundred Dollars of taxable property. Suppose you are paying taxes on four thousand dollars worth of property. In such event your bond issue tax for this school would only be $10.00 per annum. Could you send your child to some other town and board it there for this mere pittance? Suppose you have more children than one. Could you send your child to a boarding school of any kind away from home, or a private school at home for TWENTY times that amount? Just let your common sense guide your conscience. Just apply the golden rule. This twenty-five cent tax is to pay the interest on said bonds and create a sinking fund to retire said bonds when they fall due if any of same be left after paying the interest thereon. Both men and women over the age of twenty-one years are eligible to vote in this election. It is only necessary to be registered in the Ninth Civil District and have a POLL TAX RECEIPT ON DAY OF ELECTION, in addition to citizenship requirements. The election will be held at the City Hall in the Town of Greenfield. Remember that you are to determine a proposition that means more than words can express in the premises. What do you think of your children---your flesh and bone, and what do you think of your neighbors children? Are they worthy of a fair and equal chance or do you prize more the dumb breed in your barn? If this bond issue fails our children fail, and the free public schools here will be a farce, with no one to censure but ourselves. Do we have the vision? People without a vision perish. This proposition should challenge your deepest concern.

Following is an exact description of the territory embraced in this school District: 

(A complete description of the boundaries were listed consisting of an area about 2 to 3 miles surrounding Greenfield, TN.) 

  These names were listed in these boundaries as well as roads:

G. E. ALLEN, John JENKINS heirs, Fonzo JENKINS, William ORR, R. O. BURROUGH, J. C.
ROSS, John CATES, Jessie KIMERY, J. J. CRUTCHFIELD, B. E. BROCK, Jim SIMMONS,
Mrs. R. A. ELKINS, Robert KEMP, Mrs. Basil MAYO, MOSELEY and MORRIS, J. M.
ABNEY, Hilary MOSELEY, Arthur SULLIVAN, Connie RICHMOND, John DUNLAP, W. W.
BROOKS, Mrs. N. J. CORUM, (formerly Mrs. C. R. PATTERSON), Dr. J. B. ShANNON (
formerly Millard JOHNSON), Henry SMITH, G. J. BRASFIELD, E. M. SHANNON, T. T.
WOMBLE .