Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-01
SHALL THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ESCS.
PENDED!

This question may excite surprise aud
doubt whether il is seriously mt but il is
really one that must be speedily met. We
learn that the teachers of the Public Schools,
who are now three months unpaid. finding
that there v no Immediate prospect of receIv-
lng their dues, have determined, unless relief
Is speedily afforded them, to suspend their
work and undertake to get livelihood in some
other way. They propose to hold a meeting
next week and take joint action to this end and
then, at the expiration Of a brief notice, vacate
their positions, one and all
For long period, in consequence of ssdead-
locks" and other hindrances, they have failed
TO receive their pay, small as II is, with suf-
fcient regularity 10 enable them 10 depend
upon IL for support. They have been reduced
TO the most mortfying shifts to obtain means
20 support themselves and families: and not
unfrequently they have been obliged to bor
row money at a ruinous shave to enable
Them TO supply pressing wants. The difficult
ties OF their situation have now reached a eli
max. and they have concluded that the shortest
way out of them is the course Indicated above.
This, then, is the situation; and if means are
not found to pay them, it seems inevitable that
the schools must De suspended at the end of the
present school year, If not sooner Attention
10 the INN ediate wants of the teachers, to avert
such calamity as the close or interruptiou of
the public schools, must of course be given: but
At the same time there should be adeouate
legislation to reach the bottom of these difficul
ties, and apply a remedy. II will be necessary
TO increase the school fund 10 make il ADEQUATE
70 support the teachers, erect new buildings
and for other pressing requirements. The
general school fund must be kept separate from
the building fund, and these funds in turn en-.
tirely distinct from all other funds The prac.
nce Of drawing from one fund for the and of
another, where the emergency is more pressing
has frequently been rendered necessary by the
lnadeq uacy of appropriations: but ii is entirely
vicious, and the sooner ii is abandoned the hot.
ter. Most especially should the fund for the
payment of the salaries of the teachers be So
guarded that 1t can never be encroached upon.
no matter how pressing may be the municipal
need IN other directions. Our present corpo-
rate authorities are not especially blameable in
this matter o. borrowing from Peter to paw
Paul; the system of ekIng out one fund from
another Is of long standing, but il is time it was
done away with, and .every tub be placed
upon its own bottom"
win an adequate tax for the support of the
public schools, (leyied upon all who reap the
benefits, whether citizens or not) with the
school funds kept sacred to their purpose. and
n final settlement OF the tangled up question of
the cOlored school balances, we NAV hone To
see our public school system established ON a
basis that shall afford us some credit as a city.
and enable the teachers to give their undivided
attention to their duties- embarrassed by the
question how 10 keep the wolf away from the
door.