New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-18

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The teachers 81 tie public schools in
this city have NOT besn paid since the
first Of September. They begin to feel
great distress in consequence. They
have given their time, their labor and
their talents to the public service, and are
deserving Of better treatment. y
The difficulties encountered in constru-
ing the school law of 1870 have, to some
extent, been the obstacles in the way Of q
satisfactory solution of the question. The
City Board has managed the public schools
from the day of their induction into Office
to the present time.e They have taken
care that the free institutions Of. learning
shall not be closed as is the case in many
of the country parishes. To secure this,
they have employed teachers and main
tanned a perfect organization of schools
and teachers. They have incurred neces-
sary expenses, which ought long ago to
have been paid.
The difference of opinion existing be-
tween the Board and the State Superinten-
dent is familiar to every intelligent reader.
He deems it to be his duty to divide the
duty of paying out the school fund among
fifteen different ward boards, few, if any
of which have any organization, and none
of which have perfectly qualified as
the law requires. As the city board takes
this view of the case, an application by the
President of the board has been made to
the State Superintendent for an appor-
tionment under the sections of the law
cited in the following correspondence:
PRESIDENT VAN NolDEN TO sUpERINTEND-
ENr CONWAY.
OYYlcs BOARD OF ScHooL DIRECTORS
CITY of New Orleans, ,
New Orleans, December 2, 1870.
Hon. Thomas ". Conway, Superintendent Public
DEAR SUBSECTION fifty three of the act
to regulate public education, reads as
follows:
.'That in the years 1870 and 1871, when
ever, in any parish, any or all Of the school
districts shall fail to levy a sufficient tax,
and make suitable provision for at least one
in the district, and for the pay
ment of teacher for at least two months,
or when in any or all Of said school districts
the district {wardl directors shall have
failed to qualify and enter upon the duties
of their offices before the first day Of Deccm
Der, in each OF either of said years, the
State Superintendent may, upon the report
of the parish (city) board Of school direc-
tor setting forth the facts above named,
direct the State Treasurer to withhold the
of the State school fund
from said district or districts, and direct
him to pay the same to the treasurer of the
parish board of school directors of such
parish, and such parish board shall proceed
to establish, and conduct, and maintain
public schools in such district or districts,
and may expend the funds from the State
or parish school taxes for that purpose"
The several school district boards Of the
city of New Orleans, having failed to com
ply with the provisions of the above quoted
section, the City Board of said city deem it
proper to call your attention to the fact,
and to request you to direct the payment of
the apportionment of the State school fund
for the city Of New Orleans to the City
Board. This to be done without in any way
OF manner impairing the rights of either or
any party to the several suits lately pending
before the Eighth District Court, and now on
appear u tue supreme COuFI u the Otdtt.
Permit me to add that the amount of the
will barely cover the sala-
ries of teachers and pOrtresses past due.
Many of them are in great need, and suffer
ing for the necessaries of life. The pay
ment of the money will send joy into hum
bred homes, and entitle you to the gratitude
of our large and faithful corps of teachers.
l remain, yours, very respectfully,
w. VAN EORDEN.
President Board Of School Directors, city Of
New Orleans.