The mountain Democrat., 1863-02-28
school Matters.

The following is the protest presented by
the Trustees Of the City School TO the Common
Council against their action in refusing to al
low, in future, claims for tuition, on contracts
entered into by the Trustees, which was laid
upon the table:
GENTLENEN OF THE COMMON CorNcIL The
Board of Education feeling aggrieyed at what
they consider your uncallcd tor interference
with their special duties as Trustees Of the
Public Schnnl IN this city, and believing thai
such interference is injuriuuS to the cause of
education in nur Public School, and will tend
to Lower the standard Ot education which the
Trustees have endeayOred tu establish We there
fore protest against your recent action in, relu-
sing to authorize the payment OF 6rll which
the Trustees, in their official capacity. have
contracted. The service has been rendered
according TO contract, and the bill duly allowed
by the Trustees at their regular meeting
Against such actions We protest for the follow
ing reasons:
FtrSt.-Such a course on your part is virtu-
ally destroying the powers conferred upon the
Trustees 10y the enactment af the Legislature
OF the State of Cahfu mia. II you claim ;he
right To refuse TO pay this bill, YOU may at any
time, under what may seem tu YOU u sufficient
excise, CT governed by prejudice against the
Board, annut any contract which they may
make. Such course, on your part, Is virtually
assuming all authority in regard to tie Public
school, while the Trustees are made 10 assume
the obligation and respnnsl lbiliiy, making them
personally respousiOe for contracts euiered
into for the benetitof the Public School.
.SecOHdiy.-The right Of deciding what the
course If study in the Public School shall be,
belongs tp the Trustees, so long as they secure
instruction III the elementary branches. and d.
not contract liabilities for tuition beyond the
fund set apart for the Pebble School.
In"ay. Present expenses Of the
School, including the bill refused, do nul need
the. amount expended last wear. We have sim.
ply made different arrangement Of the course
ot study III the school.
Last year the large number of little children
IN Attendance at the Public School made addi-
tinnal provision for them necessary. The pres
ent year the necessity Is upon us To provide for
the more advanced classes. This have
done, and il is with this that you would inter
terc.
The Trustees have been made to +, el that an
influence prejudicIal to the interests If The Pnb,
llc SCHOOL has for Il long time been at work.
W u have had 10 contend against 1t; Lut have
been SOW to believe that We should mcct with
opposition from the Common Council Of the
Civ.
Ii the Trustees may cxpcnd whatever sums
they deem necessary for the primary classes,
and are forbidden 10 make provision for the
more advanced classes, then the evidence be-
com PLAIN and conclusive that the des igT is
| to keep The standard OF education in the Public
Schpul at Il low grade, and against this they
earnestly PI"te>t.
IoFrttiY.-We e protest against YOUR action in
THIS matter, because the fund set apart for tie
sIrppr; Of the Public School is, according to
Ia" law Of the STATE, under the control OF the
Trustees OF the School.
Gentlemen, our aim, rs Trustees, has been to
advanc" the interests Of the Public School. We
have labo'ed tn raise the standard Of education,
L. create m ere of spirit Of interest in the pi-
| ii!s aud teachers. aud thus Secure greater FRO.
gre>s. We have studied economy, striving
no" to accumE llsh The most al tue least posi-
bic eXptuse, We have, in some measure, sue
ceedcd and now to md cur efforts opposed bv
the Common Council, from whom we should
have reeciv- d encourug ucnt and cOuperalion,
- peculiarly irving Ii IS the hrSt tnIc we
th!ak, IA iLe history ut this Ur amy other city,
| that th, Trustees uf any Public School have
bvcn hlnd"rcd in their eitoIIs 10 imuruvr The
schools under their cha -. As Buird VI
| have lrburcd /" make the Public Schlul Il
crct'It |" the ely ard the pride Of the people
~ hITc sought u make II iAr best within TIC
IL, s!> al "a. d, u>al.
diamond Spru-s and ii Dorado have al.
r'"iy taken tie same measures toward the lnl-
! prov cncnl q their srhun's that We have inIu-
snrl;cd "a oui>; they ate encouraged, willie we
tl-yyi "itA "if s'tl"u.
t'-ui!H men, i YOU canLnt trust the u.auag ge.
Li'nt "t the Pubtic School 10 the hands of lis
/ present Trustees, and allow them 10 inake such
improvement as may be WITHIN their power,
villa lhc tIuda set apart Tor the Public School,
iacA We are read, t. resign our uilicc, and
commit II t" the hands oi ihuSe who will be
satisfied W.ih cuu.nnn schDo, and Il very
common one al that Years. respectfully,
j. H. MCMON AGILE,
WI. ;. BURNS.
WM. \. JANUARY,