Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-05
LOCAL MATTERS.
[FrOm Last evenings Edition.l
OurPublic Schools.

Hov. Il. s. STEVENS DEAR sTR The
only reason that have ever heard assigned
for Withholding from the Cleveland Board Of
Education all power to raise money for school
purposes, is this: the finance, Of the city ought
to be kept under he erelusioe control Of ke City
| Council.
This is plausible. 1t sounds we'll. 1t looks
we'll on paper. But 1t ia one of the numsr-
Gus beautiful theories that fail when the at
tempt is made to put them in practice. 1t is
ornamental, rather than useful.
In large city like Cleveland, there can be
no efficient administration of school affairs
without unity of purpose and action with
ont the concentration of necessary authority.
But the statute under which our schools ar
managed, aims to divide and scatter the sbil-
ity and the responsibility for carrying on
our schools, and in this way it happens that
our school system is afflicted with spinal
weakness. The Board is sovereign in moth
ing that will cost over fifty dollars. And if
the cost is but City cents, the Board cannot
order the payment of the bill. Even that
must be ordered by the Council. The pay
ment Of Teachers lie dependent on the will Of
the Council. It is true that the statute re-
quires the Council to make all needed pro-
vision for the support Of the schools of the
city but it makes ths COuncilmen the judges
of what is necessary in the case. The Board
sends it's estimates to the Council, but the
Council can diminish the amount " as they
shall see ft."
Although have but slight acquaintance
with you, sir, and none at all with the other
members of the City Council, doubt not
you are all good and capable men; each
worthy of the trusts which the people of
Cleveland have committed to your charge
That you are all as intelligent, pubIic-spirit-
ed and as sincere friends of our schools
as arc the members of our Board, do not
question. Still, the Board must and does
better understand and appreciate the wants Of
our schools than the Council does or can.
School business is the one, the only official
charge and care Of the Board. But 1t is but
one of the many departments of public in
terest which divide the care of the Council
and it is not to be expected that Education
will receive more attention than either the
Water Works, Fire Department, Police, or
Streets. The Board carefully consider
given matter of interest to our schools; it is
referred to Committee; an elaborate report
is made and discussed. At length unani-
nous vote is taken, recommending the busi-
ness to the favorable action Of the Council.
But the Council can not take time to discuss
the matter. It's Importance is not seen and
appreciated. Other business presses, and q
question of vital Importance to our schools
lies and dies upon the table. It meets this
fate at the hands of the City Fathers, not be-
cause they are Intentionally unjust or negli- |
gent. The fault is chsrgeable 10 the system, |
to the impracticabIe statute under which our
schools are managed. The plan wants uni
ty. It provides not the requisite eoncentra-
tion Of administrative authority. 1t does |
not sufficiently locate responsibility.
1 admit that we have many excellent |
schools in Cleveland. But this fact is not |
to the statute. Wise and ener- |
getic men in the Board of Education for |
many years past, able and faithful Superin- |
tendsnts and Teachers such as have been in |
charge Of the Cleveland schools for ten |
years, can not fail to secure good schools = |
But all who read my second and third let |
tiers, published on Thursday and Saturday |
of last week, must know that under our |
present circumstances it is utterly impossible
that our schools should be such ss should |
satisfy tie people Of this great and beautiful
city.
But, sir, while I esteem the law under |
which cur schools are managed as greatly |
inferior to the laws which govern the schools |
in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo |
and other cities, and while ] devoutly wish |
that It might give place TO one less defec- |
tive, do not know that an improvement in |
this regard is very near at hand. Shall We |
not, then, all be careful to perform most |
tho duties which the statute en-
joins7 May It not be hoped that the de-
mand of the people for additional school ao-
will speedily he granted?
Respectfully yours, ANSoN sMYTH.