The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-11
COMMITTEE REPORT.

Meeting Of the Common Council Of the City |
N of Evansville held the evening of the 9Th inst
the following report was submitted by the Chairman Of
the special committee, to whom referred the School
Trustees Report to-wit:
To THE MAYOR AND COMMON CoUNcIL
The special committee to whom referred .se re-
port OF the School Trustees, have had the same upaer
consideration ard would beg leave to report:
We fully with the Trustees in the importance, ef-
fciency and economy Of a graded system of Common
Schools and also bear willing testimony 10 the zeal
and ABILITY with which the Trustees have discharged
their duty, both IN the selection of superior corps of
teachers and in the attention and oversight they have
EXTENDED to the schools, Whereby accurate and
cetc system of teaching has teen introduced rendering
the schools equal to any in the State. We have there
fore hesitation in saying that the Public schools of
city exercising better influence in moral, in
teleual and social improvement, than any other In.
stituton amongst and ought to receive the cordial
and efficient support Of every citizen desiring the citys
| welfare.
The Trustees, receiving their appointment from the
People, by election much the Peoples represen
taiiFes the Council ITSELF and they devote more
time and give their special attention to this subject
they better prepared to actor the peoples Interest
in this matter than the city Council. no matte
how much We may desire the public good
The Ordinance regulating public schools and defining
The duties of schoolrustees, has wisely placed the whole
matter in their hands 1t requires them to give ample
security for the safety OF the funds report regularly
the Council the progress, the expenditures and the
wants Of the schools; their reports are be published for
| the information of the people.
This ordinance properly separates the levied
for school pur poses from the general revenue, and has
placed the at the disposal of the trustees and
thereby relieving the council from all the details incl
dent thereto. The council controlling the action of the
trustees only by the amount levied for school
The council viii doubt always examine carefully
the reports Of the trustees will visit the schools as often
convenient individuals and as councmen, inter-
ested in the Improvement OF the young and will grant
by levy, for school purposes, whatever in their udg
men the public schools require, whether for tuition in
cident expenses repairs the erection of schoo
buildings when necessary.
We would recommend hereafter that the tax for publ
schools should be separated the tax duplicate from
all other special taxes and that all expend lures fol
schools and for school houses should lie cargeable T.
the school fund.- and paid out of monies levied for school
purposes. Our that it is epar,te by
nance in the hands of the Treasurer but especial
ly that the people should see and know what they pay
for school purposes. The practice heretofore has been
to place with other special taxes; last year the head
ing Of the column 'Schooi Tax, Sc" sc on the
hundred dollars, when the school tax 5c, and thS
sSc' 2Oc; many good and intelligent citizens over
looked it, and thought they paid &c school tax.
Wewould recommend that levy for school purposes
ne iNed al 20 mills or &c on the che hundred dollars
With this amount annually continued, we think the
school trustees will be enabled to provide suitable school
accommodations for all the children OF the city.
We would recommend further that the trustees be en-
powered 10 purchase such lots for school houses as
neceS sary, not exceeding at any time Four thou
sand dollars in amount raised upon and payable out
the school fund.- and also may contract for building
school houses and making different yments, having
not than ten years to for any amount les.
than six thousand dollars to enable the trustees e
erect suitable buildings nased the mon schoo
revenue.
Nwillb unnecessary for the committee to 60 into
any elaborate argument in favor this measure, we as
sumo it principle 'sthnt is the duty of the govern
men to provide at the public expenses for a thorough
ard efficient business education for every child in the
community, without regard to wealth poverty"
We ask the question-Is there man worth one hun
dred dollars that would refuse y cents each year
opportunity for good education every boy
and girl in our cy or is there any man worth one
hundred times that amount that would begrudge TWEEN
yhve dollars annually for the good object. II
there such, think they Sew and far between
All Ofwhich is respectfully submitted
e NV. FOSTER, Ch'mn.
On motion Of Mr.. Foster the report Laid for
one week, and ordered to be printed
Attest: WELL III. WALKER,
jell-loi tVolksbote copyl City Clerk.