New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-15
THE PUBL1c SCHOOLS.

At a recent meeting of the Board Of Assist
ant Aldermen, Mr.. Goldman made some
complaints concerning the present adninistra-
ton Of our public schools, particularly as to
the action of the board of directors in the ap
brought his complaints to climax BY offering
a resolution providing for committee to
examine all new appointees as to their qualities
tions scholastic and moral" This resolution
was laid on the table; which was avery proper
way to dispose of it. Such proposal as that
made by Mr.. Goldman is almost too absurd
for discussion. The board of school directors
is composed Of gentlemen Of intelligence );
and it is to be presumed, that, in the absence
Of any proof to the contrary, that IN their
choice of teachers, they were guided by salts
factory information as to the qualifications of
their appointees. Indeed, SO far from the
views of Mr.. Goldman being shared by the
community, it is the general opinion that never
before have efforts to select a perfectly COM
petent corps of teachers, being crowned with,
success 50 complete as in the present in
stance. We hazard nothing in saying that,
not only is the present corps infinitely
uperior to that which was organized during
| the years Of military rule, but it will compare
favorably with any. that have preceded it.
| And this is only natural. Under the mill
| tary regime, qualifications Of an intellectual
order were entirely subordinated to those of
a political kind. The range Of choice, owing
/ to the tests which were introduced, was very
limited; and the ability or willingness to stand
those tests was considered far more import
ant than the ability to teach. Now, on the
contrary, capacity and attainments are con-
suited, and the range of selection being ex-
tended, it is comparatively easy to procure
competent instructors. A mere consideration
Of the circumstances under which the schools
were conducted during the war would be
sufficient to convince any one that under such
a regime the standard of qualification on the
part of the teachers must have deprecated;
and. III fact this radical defect IN the organi-
zation which was bedueathed to us by the
war, together with fear, on the part Of the
directors, Of doing injustice to really meri-
torious persons who might happen to be in
place, has been the chief obstacle to a
thoroughly efficient reorganization of our
public schools.
Mr., Goldmann's complaint that the direc-
tors have G removed competent teachers in
the schools, who had proved their qualifca-
| lions during the last, three years, and whose
moral character stood high, and elected per
sons incompetent, is based on an erroneous
estimate of the rights of the incumbents and
the duties Of the directors, and mistaken in
formation as to the facts. A three years
tenure of office. even accompanied by proof
Of proper qualification, does not give to any
teacher vested right in his place, tits for
the directors to form a Judgment as to the
propriety Of continuing to enploy him and,
consequently, they possess the power of
.eleeting new teachers every year. Those
who aresnot reelected have no right to COM
plain. They know that they hold their situa-
tons4at the will Of the directors, and the
directors are responsible only to the public
for the manner in which they discharge the
trasticonfided to them. We believe I
We know that they have endeayared faithfully
70 discharge this trust. But if tenure of
otfiee gives a vested right, those who had held +
positions for three or more years before the I
war, and5had proved themselves to be compe-
tent, had certainly a claim superior to those
whose incumbency was only recent and was
acquired without any serious competition.
/ But we assert that incompetent persons
have not been chosen by the present directors.
On the contrary, we are convinced that the
qualifications Of the newly chosen teachers
are, on the average, far higher than the quail
tications of those who failedto be reelected |
of course, it was natural that there should be
disapp pointment among the defeated candi-
dates, especially as they had been taught to
believe thaS three years possession would be
q good offset against any intellectual or edu-
cational de6eiency; but it is simply absurd
to make their complaints the Foundation Of a
proceeding SO anomalous and unjust, as that
proposed BY Mr. Goldmann, The school
directors are presumed to know their
business and 1t is nonsensical 10 ask the
council to interfere in it. Mr. Goldman was
director last yaar. He is an assistant alder [
man now, but he'aeerns toforget that he is no
longer director AT all events he appears
to eonfouna ina strange and remarkable man
ner The functions Of the two positions
s s 81 b
RaeHA, BECKER d Odd it ever oecur 70 YOU,
ladies', that those elegant and magnificent cloaks
basques and mantillas exhibited by Messra. Roeha
Beccker,6 ,6i Co., in their shaw windows and sales.
rooms lot l47 Canal street. were manufactured by
themselves Perhaps not. Yet such is the fact,
to great extent. Many Of these costly garments
were imported, it is true, but the most costly ones
there exhibited were gotten ap in the establish
ment where they are offered for sale. These EN-.
brace every pattern and style now in vogue,
either in3the North or South, Jtmust be apparent
g al that fra having such facilities caa manu-
iactare 70 order any garment lady may desire to
1aye and suchi the ease in this instance Select
he goods, name the style. and in few hours lust
he article you desire will be furnished at an ex
eedingy low price; at least 80 say several ladies
TAo have patroniSed this enterpesing house. i
1here is no reason why as dne and fashionable /
garments cannot be made here as any where else, /
md hessrs Rocha, Becker s Co. VIII vet CON
'fase the people Of this fact, if they have not t
1ready done So just make note Of that pro i
,heqy.