The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-24
Economy in the Public Schools.

Economy in the Public Schools.
About once each year, when the whirligig
of time brings around the election Of new
school board in this city, candidates swell up
with huge ideas of economy, and all sorts Of
extravagaat promises are made to the elec-
tors of immense reductions in school taxation,
while at the same time the efficiency of the
public schools shall remain unimpaired. AT
ter the election, however, when the time
comes to put their promises into practice, the
new directors are confused to find, how
thoughtlessly pre-electional promises are apt
to be made. Thus on Tuesday evening, when
the board met to arrange the programme for
the coming year, and when, therefore, exactly
the time had come for the economists to show
how the thing was to be done, not only the
public, but doubtless the directors them
selves. were surprised to find how much
easier it was not to do it. The comedy COM
menced by arranging teachers and salaries
tor the first ward, represented by leader of
the economists. OF course here we should
have striking exemplifcation OF the ideas
which the director had been preaching for the
hast haalfdozen ofycars. To the surprise of the
unsophisticated, however, the director from
that ward could see no possibility of econo.
missing cent in his ward and the old salaries
tor the coming year were voted in that ward
except that the pay Of the janitor was mised
$50. The second ward came up, represented
by director who had made no clap-trap
promises about economy. Here the salary of
the principal, against the earnest protest of
the director, was reduced 500, although the
present principal had resigned on account Of
the insufficiency of the salary, and the people
had raised 500 extra by private contribution
to retain her. In the third ward, also repre-.
sented by non-economist, the principals SAL
airy was cut down $3.50; and then, in all
the other wards, represented by the SECOND
mlsts,' the same number of teachers and the
same salaries paid during the last year were
liked, except that in the 4th ward, represented
by the head center Of the economists. it was
intimated that an addition of 5000 to the sal.
airy of the principal would be asked for. It
was the old story of the patriotism of Artemus
Ward, who was willing to ''sacrifice all his
wife's relations on the altar of his country.'
The economists went in 'heavy" for economy
everywhere except in their own respective
wards Indeed, whitfield down to point, all
this casing and blowing about economy has
ended in very small potato fight against
principal Clark, Of the high school, and the
fancy school house in the second ward. II
Is excessively small business The standing
OF Mr.. Clark as a teacher in the estimation and
confidence of our people Is such that 1t would
be dangerous to assal him directly, yet he has
few enemies, arising from his mpracticabili.
ty for being made q tool of, and the attack
upon him is made therefore, through petty
annoyances, and his salary.
OF course, the board knew that Mr. Clark
will not work for $125O, when other places,
with less labor, are open to him at $500 and
$500 year. Last year the attack was made
on him by taking away his assistant, the re-
suit of which was, that halt the recitations
in the high school had to be made to other
pupils, presenting the riculous spectacle Of
pupils in the high school being taught by
persons who would not be regarded as quail.
fed to teach the lowest rooms of the other
schools! There Is not another high school in
city of 5000 people or over in the state
where the principal gets less than $500, and
in most cities, like Aurora, Joliet, Blooming.
ton, &c, his salary is $4,000 to $4,000. OF
course Mr.. Clark will not stay at the salary
offered, and it Is no more than right and prop.
er that our citizens should exactly understand
that all this blowing about economy in our
schools has from the start meant this and
nothing more-the getting rid, by few sore.
heads OF Mr.. Clark as principal of the high
| school.
Awkward Business,
The KuKlux investigating committee at