Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-20

Such Is the name Of an organization which
holds its meetings at the Court street
school.house, on the first and third Satur-
days Of each scholastic month. It's delib-
erations have not been blazoned forth to
the world, nor have its regular and special
meetings been advertised in the papers
of the city. The very existence Of such
an organization has almost been un-
known. II is not a secret society con-
sisting Of members banded together by
fearful oaths, but an association Of earn
est men and women, counciling and
taking council as to the best means to be
employed in developing the minds OF the
youth of our city. No political questions
are discussed, but topics Of vaster impor-
lance. The Association seeks to prepare
better and more virtuous race Of politi-
clans than we now have. II fights against
ignorance--that prolific mother OF vice
and misery; it acts upon the motto
knowledge is power" The fair sex
hold the balance Of power In this body
That is a sufficient recommendation for
it's good object. We are told that the
officers and members are generally there;
that the requisite number for the transac'
ton of business are always present The
Association, as now organized, consists
of thirty-eight members. The President
is Mr. Superintendent Mitchell; Secre-
tary, Mr.. r. N. Thweatt, teacher in the
Linden street school. The Executive
Committee, who control the business and
arrange the programme ofexercises, con-
sists of Miss j. M. Higbee, teacher of the
Female High School, on Court street;
Miss Juliet Cairns, teacher of the German
school, on Court street; Miss Annie O..
Reudlehuber, DR.. c. j. Hunter and Prof.
G. d. Braun, the last three teachers in
the Adams street school, The board of
censors is composed OF Miss Mary d.
Cairns, Miss Clara Conway and Mrs.
Jennie Teager. Last Saturday was the
day for the regular meeting. Besides
the regular number, we found in attend
ance Mr.. ]. 7. Leath, Mr.. Jno. johnson
Mr.. II. D. Cornell, as committee from
the Board of School Visitors, to confer
with the teachers in reference to the
teachers voluntarily making reduction
in their salaries from the first of the
present month. In addition to the above
named members of the Board, we noticed
Mr.. H. c. Slaughter, Mr.. l.. M. Wolcott
and Mr.. Frank Fealy, all members Of
the School Board. These gentlemen show
a commemorate spirit in leaving for few
hours their counting houses and offices to
look after the interest Of our free schools.
The regular business of the association
was proceeded with in an orderly and
parliamentary manner. The committee
to confer with the teachers, through Mr..
Leath, the chairman, stated that the
Board of School Visitors were DESTROYS
to keep the schools open until the close OF
the scholastic year in June, but the
finances of the Board were very low, and
it was doubtful whether the present rate
of salaries could be paid. Mr..
johnson also stated that, as one OF
the Board, he was not inclined to
increase the debt of the city schools
when there was so little prospect
of collection of taxes He, Mr.. john
son, stated that in his conference with
Mr.. McDavitt, Chairman of the Finance
Committee of the Board of Aldermen,
he had been promised an assessment of
one.fourth per cent. for school purposes,
when the assessment was about 1913, OO0,-
900; now, however, the assessment had
been cut down to 1913, 100000, and the tax
for school purposes had been fixed at two
tenths per cent, instead of one-fourth
per cent, as promised few days before
by the acting Mayor, Mr.. McDavitt. Such
an assessment would not realize sutii-
cient amount to carry on the schools and
pay the present Indebtedness. We would
regard the action of the Board of Alder
men as very unwise, if, by their action,
our schools are to be closed. After the
statement by the committee, the associa'
ton referred the matter to a committee
consisting of Miss Juliet Cairns, Dr. G.
]. Hunter and Prof. c. D. Braun, to re-
port reply, to be approved by the asso-
citation. From what we saw and heard,
we are inclined to think that the work OF
the Memphis City School Teachers As
sociation is worthy of all respect, and the
laborers in our. city schools are earnest
and jealous in their efforts to improve
our free school system. We hope to be
able to report the proceedings of the as
ISOLATION hereafter, and let our readers
know what our teachers are doing
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