New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-26
THE SCHOOL MEETING.

THE SCHOOL MEETING.
A small body of people, estimated al
considerably less than two hundred, met
each other at the Deutsche Companys
Hall the other night for the purpose OF
devising ways and means of settling the
school question independently OF the
State and city authorities. AS most OF the
men present are without constituents, and
consequently without influence, the move
ment falls something short of popular
demonstration. The presence at the
meeting and active participation of sew
eral ex-empoyes of the public schools as
recently organized gave the whole thing
the appearance of being merely an at
tempt on the part of the outs to become
ms, and of providing situations for those
whose services have been dispensed with
by the new board.
1t appears that two plans were submit
ted for future action. There was some
| dispute as to the merits of each, and no
trifing symptom of acrimony and discon-
tent. Finally neither plan was adopted,
| although they were heralded to the assem-
| bled deliberators as the productions of
two Of the most 'intelligent and expe-
| riencea teachers" in the city. The propo-
sitions were, however, referred to COM
mittee, composed of Messrs. Lusher,
Rogers, Kelly, Wilt and Tully, who are
expected to report at the next meeting.
which is appointed for Tuesday, the
thirty-frst instant.
The leading men in this movement have
had almost absolute control of the public
schools during the past four or five years,
with the city and State treasures to back
them up. They managed things so badly
that they spent all the money they
could get hold of, and finally re-
luctantly retired from positions they were
never fitted for, leaving unpaid some six
or seven months pay rolls of the teachers.
Having thus proved their incompetency,
they appear and take leading part in a
meeting that has for its object to address
the people for private contributions to or
ganize and maintain Independent schools,
separate from those established by law
Their ideas, if carried out, would COM
pleteiy involve the raising and expendi-
ture of very large sums of money. This
could only be raised bya voluntary tax.
One would suppose the people had suffi-
cheney of the luxury of tax-paying. We
have the United States taxes, which have
been materially augmented since 1861 4
the State tax, embracing five items, one of
which is for public schools; and the city
tax, Of which people are very much in the |
habit of complaining. These are forced |
contributions which can not be evaded. |
And no one will say that our voluntary |
taxes to support the numerous charitable
Institutions are trifing 1t is too much SO |
soon after the assessment of the Allen
monument tax, from which no
man, woman or child il Louisiana is to
De exempted, to propose one much greater
or the support of schools already provided
for by law.
Of course, all this will end in talk. No
money will ever be raised for the purpose.
No tax collectors will be necessary. There
Will be no demand for a superintendent
assistant superintendent, secretary, assist
mt secretary. rgeant-at-arms, door
Keeper, etc. The schools as at present
organized are quite satisfactory to the
mass of the people, who will endeavor to
AVE old abuses corrected as fast as pos
ible and new ones prevented. And this
viii be done, not by seeding, and setting
p rival concern after the manner of the
ate Confederacy, but under the law, by
be officers legally chosen and entrusted
nth such duties Like the last indigna-
ion meeting in Lafayette Square, this
onsultation of malcontents will end in
apor, aud the people will pursue their
ccupations as usual.