Evening star., 1868-05-07
LOCAL NEWS.
Meeting Of Pnsiic schos, Teacher

OF washington was held AZ i've O'Clock yester-
day afternoon in the Seaton school house, on
flfth street, opposite Wesley chapel. The OBJ
jeet Of the meeting was to take steps 10 in luce
inc corporation 10 pay salaries now due the
teachers for the months Of April and March
and % date. More than half the teachers of the
public schools of the city were present Mrssrs
Wilson, Tustn, and Woodward, Of the Board
OF Trustees, Mr. r. Mccartney, editor of the
ExpTesS, Mr.. N. Sardo, OF the Republican, Mr.
Lawrenson, OF the CAronicie, Alderman &. -
Noyes, and Prof Daniel, teacher Of music,
were also present.
MI. =. John Thomson, teacher of grammar
school in the First Ward, opened the meeting
oy stating ITS objects. and said the delay in paw
lI ing me teachers had come to that point which
conio not be borne any longer.
On motion, Mr.. j. w. Hunt was appointed
secretary Of the meeting
MI John L. Thompson regretted there was
not larger attendance of teachers present
ne object OF the meeting was a good one ano
the iacts should go to the public, and he sub
whereas the authorities have failed TO pro-
Woe for the maintenance Of the public school
system OF this city, and the trustees of the pu b.
nc schools are unable 10 pay the salaries Of their
teachers; and whereas this state OF things does
rot ar1se from temporary causes. and we do
not now perceive that we can oe paid the re-
specuVe amounts due To us within any reason
able time: Therefore, be II
Resoired, That we respectfully, but reluctant
ly, give notice 10 the Board OF Trustees that we
shall be compelled to suspend our labors unless
Resoired, That we her eby express 10 the Board
OF trustees our gratitude for their endeaVors TO
obtain the requisite funds 10 continue the sys-
TEN, and also for their efficient and kind aid in
the discharge OF our duties which has been Ven
10 us and to the school system gratuitously,
ald which has elevated our schools TO a
degree OF excellence that will compare ad van
tageously with systems of public instruction
much older and far better provided with the
means of success.
ResoIred further. That if we are compelled TO
ka
ald regret, and for no other reasons than that
no effective provision is made for the support
of our public schools, aud that unless our i'm
mediate employees-the Board of Trustees
are permitted TO have some control of the money
paid by the people expressly for the education
OF the children of our city there will probably
not De any dimlnution OF the evils against which
we to-day most earnestly protest.
Res0tred, That il is not the design of our ac-
tion to-day to assume an attitude of insubordi-
nation unfriendly TO any portion OF our city
government, and especially TO the Board of
Trustees TO whom are under so MANY obli-
cations, but il is our desire to inaugurate a
movement tending 20 place our school system
on q basis OF permanent success and greater
efficiency, and for this purpose we ask the co..
operation OF all good cltizens-the friends of
public education in the City Council and in
the Con gress of the United States
In reference to one of the resolutions Mr. T
SAID the Board OF Trustees were utterly power
less IN the control OF the funds: but the object
OF the resolution was To have a radical change
Il
control OF the money appropriated for the pay
me Mt of school achers.
Mr.. j. w. Hunt said that unless he could get
his pay, and that speedily, he would have to
tender his resignation as a teacher because he
cotld not pay his grocer baker or butchers
bills without money. He had been told that q
landlord has ordered lady teacher TO move
from his house unless she pa i'd her rent: and
he knew OF lady who was compelled TO pawn
her watch in order TO get the necessaries of
life. He had hopes the bill before the Coun-
m 1ax sod .lx.-
IN the hands of a committee of the Councils
and when they would report no one kuey
One thing he would not do-sell has bills AT a
home.
Mr.. Thompson said the presence Of a ma.
Jorlty OF the Board OF Trustees was an evil
dence of the good feeling of the board. and no
lady teacher need fear complaint from theru
1or any action they might take in this move
ment.
Mr.. Hunt said one of the Board of Trussaes
who was not present, told him the movement
was right, and TO go ahead, as hc was sick of
the dilly -dallying in the pay of the teachers
salaries.
Mr.. s. j. Thomson endorsed the resoIu,ions
heartily, and said the trustees and the people
OF Washington We're with the teachers IN their
Just demands. The resolutions Were respect
FULLY couched, and IL was with no spirit of
hostility TO any one, that the teachers now re-.
solve to obtain their inst dues He was sure
that the schools here compared fayorably with
those Of the North, not withs standing the ietec-
tive system here, and the onerous labors
plsced on teachers, many of them having 10
carry two school on their shoulders He be-
lleved IL wrong not to let the money be dis
bursed by the trustee, as they were the employ
ers OF the teachers. He did not believe the
Mayor OF the city would do an Intentional
wrong, nor any one else IN authority. and he
was glad resolution was engrafted attaching
no blame TO the city government, but there
was sorneting wrong, surely, and he endorsed
the resolution.
MIR. Woodward said the teachers could feel
where the shoe pinched, and have a right 10
express their sentiments IN regard to their
grievances. There would have been more
present, but Tor the reason that some Thought
II might look like an act of ns rdination, and
others were detained by home duties He
sympathized heartily with the teachers, and AZ
he had the money, or could raise it, he would
pay them AT once all due TO them, and more
too, for they Were poorly paid at best
Mr.. +. Mccartney thought no fair-minded
man 1l co9id take exception TO the resolutions.
II any objection could be made TO them n was
that they were not strong enough. The money
that was intended for the pay of the teachers
should not be merged into the general school
fund, but set aside for the teachers, and he
thought some action looking to that end would
be the proper course of the meeting
MIR. j. l.. Thompson said the course is 10
cease labor unless IL be paid for, and the remedy
is I'D the determination. He thought the parents
OF the pupils would not consent TO suffer the
inconveniences Of having the public schools
closed Tor many days; and the hearts of the
people Were with the teachers IN this matter
Mr.. Woodward sand the school tax in Car
Isle, Penn, was S1.0l on the hundred an q an
Pennsylvania generally il was $3.50 Here the
people have the collie if called upon TO paw 25
cents on the hundred for school y purposes He
would say, open and above board. that he
would vote for no man who was not a thorough
friend of the school system.
Miss Thomas, teacher in the I'd district gave
an eloquent picture OF the sufierings OF the
teachers, and of the heart-sickness experienced
from Intellectual attempts 10 sell their certifi-
Gates at discount TO obtain money TO buy
bread. She narrated her own experiences Ia
visiting city bankers and money lenders: fail
ing to induce them TO purchase her certificates
at any price. When reduced 10 her last penny
and with no source VI aid in prospect, she re
ceived temporary aid from the father of one of
her pupils, himself a laboring man. W no loaned
her $50 and sent her some provisions. For her
self, she endorsed the resolutions: She was a
free woman; lived in tree city, and was not
afraid TO express her sentiments.
Mr.. j. q. Wilson said he fully endorsed
the action OF the teachers Of the city. He was
heartily rejoiced when he saw a notice m the
EVENING STAR OF the meeting OF the teachers
he could not see how any objection could no
made 10 this meeting Of the trustees to redress
their grievances. He had hoped in the COM
mencement OF the year il would be brIsht one
for the schools, but he found he was mistaken-
To correct some misapprehensions il might be
necessary To state the condition of things The
Corporation had in the school bill voted SI2n.0O
LOT White schools and S6O,UOO for colored
scnoois, making $lsc,UO0. They had, however,
In the tax DILL voted only Is cents for general
sehool purposes, and the amount realized on
TINS tax had probably been paid out for SCHOOL !