New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-15

It is generally understood that the
teachers Of the public schools Of the city
(including the Fifth and Sixth DISTRICTS
will have to look to the State apportion-
ments for their September pay. The city
| authorities, having sustained the schools
through the summer, consider their mis-
sion as filled. Their aid was predicated
upon the budget appropriation made for
present year III the month Of December
last But these annual budgets for the
public schools were contributed to, in
past years, by the State apportionments,
| which were annually paid into the city
treasury direct. IL aid Of the fund. The
| laws are now so construed that no contri-
button is made III aid of the city budget
by the State. While the city, undoubt-
edlv, was under the obligation, per the
budget, to see the schools safely bridged
| over, so as not to let them go
down, that Obligation terminates when it
appears that there is State money enough
to see the schools through to the end of
the year. Such is at present the case,
and the city having fulfilled its obligations
can have nothing more to do with the
subject, unless an alteration Of the char
ter or Of the school law is made by the next
Legislature.
This is of course subject to the excep-
ton Of repairing and keep from destruc-
ton the schoolLouses, which are city pro-
pelty and must be preserved.
The apportionment which has been
made to the parish Of Orleans, and which
is the only source teachers can look to for
their September pay, amounts to $40,
946 so. But it has been proposed to
divide this among the wards, and an
anomaly presents itself on account of the
fact that most Of the schools have been
organized without regard to ward lines.
1t is also difficult to see how the high
school teachers are to get their pay. They
are certainly entitled to it, but their case
is scarcely divisible by wal d lines. The
difficulty also presents it self that two
sections Of the school law give
absolute control of the schools
and possession of school properties
to the City School Board, which
would by such an appointment be left en-
tirely without means, although its treas
urer is legally qualified officer, under
bonds accepted and approved while per-
haps none of the rest are as yet; nor have
any laws or rules been prescribed as con-
ditions for their office. It seems there
fore like recognizing an imaginary system
not vet reorganized, instead Of real one in
positive existence, and which friends of edu-
cation generally desire not to see destroyed
but continued and handed down. Where
a law reads two ways, or is doubtful or
obscure ofinterpretation. and contains con-
iicting provisions, twill not do TO give too
arbitrary an enforcement to one opinion.
There must be some giving in on one side
as well as the other We shall be salts
fed if the teachers promptly and pune
tually get their due, ana are not subjected
to unnecessary dislnissals and changes.
IF they are continued at their duties, sub
iect, Of course, to removal ior professional
incompetencv, and # the school moneys
are carefully applied, as they have hereto
fore been, the friends OF the public schools
who desire their preservation viii be salts
fed, and We shall he. How It is to be
done is not the question; we leave that to
the proper authorities. But that it must
fe done is public demand of too much
importance TO be trihed with for single
moment, and the system, ward or city,
must conform 70 that end. We shall re-
vert to this subject again.