Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-02
OUR CITY

OF ldnQSs ana the u6llButS Ol 4lalAdu
skies and sunsets.
l
OUR CITY SCHOOLS.
THE free schools closed yesterday,
and will not be opened until the mid
die Of September. The APPEAL has
made as full reports of the various ex-
aminations and exhibitions, as the
pressure upon our columns would per-
NIT. We have attended many Of the
recent exercises, and we but express
the sentiment Of the entire cubic
when we say that there is no
city in this broad Union that can boast
of a better school system than that
with which Memphis is blessed. Much
praise is due to the able and efficient
superintendent, ]. I. Leath, for the
efficient and perfect organization OF
our school system. We learn, with
deep regret, that he has expressed his
determination to resign so soon as he
closes up his business. 1t is to be
hoped that the public, which Is alike
interested in the cause Of education,
viii prevail on Mr.. Leath to continue
in the position for which he is so pc
culiarIy adapted and which he
has filed with 50 mnch honor
to himself and satisfaction to the peo-
DIE. 1t was our intention to give a
sketch, and to pay a deserved cOmpli-
ment to each teacher by name; but we
can, at present, only speak in general
terms of cOmmendation. The life of a
teacher is an unthankful One-iOr
where there are so many varied tastes
to please. it is impossible to crafty all
But the teachers in the free schools Of
Memphis have been eminently sue
cessfuI in their labors. During the
aminations we have heard but little
complaint and much in cOmmenda-
ton, and each father or mother seemed
impressed with the happy belief that
the teacher of their children was the
best in the city. When a distinguished
writer said: "God be thanked for the
gift Of school teachers" he gave eX-
preston to a sentiment which ought
to find a home in every heart. But
how often it is that the love Of a
parent for an eling child causes him
do injustice to q teacher. Next
to the a~vocatiOn of a newspaper
editor, that Of school teacher is per
haps the most difficult, harassing and
perDlexing. We care not how eau
tfcus an editor may be, how great his
desire to do justice, how much space
he may give free Of charge in report
ing picnics, fairs, celebrations, con-
ventions and public meetings, he is
sure to offend somebody, and If
school teachers, with all their labor,
are unable to manage a spoiled child,
to make scholars out Of Ounces, they
are accused of partiality and the dis
gruntled mother rushes to the super
intendent just as the indignant reader
.rushes for the editor, to whose paper
he is not perhaps a subscriber. In
ninety-niue cases out of every hun
dred, where a difficulty occurs be-
tween teacher and pupil, the fault is
with the child; for the teacher has no
motive to commit injustice, and every
incentive to do right. A cruel and
unjust teacher has no business in a
school-room. And they are seldom
found there, for one session always
ends the career Of such teachers.
Parents should be slow to censure
teachers, for after their con-
tinued kindness and forbearsnce,
their unparalleled goodness and
tender compassion for the faults
and foIlies Of children, after striv-
ing by patience and perseverance
to mould the character in accordance
with the nOblest~ principles Of science
and learning-to blame 3 teacher after
all these struggles, is the serpent
tooth" that is sharper" than q
"tbapkIess child" The school house
is the nursery of all that is pure and
holy, and the teacher is entitled to
that position which is assigned to the
preacher, the hero, the statesman and
the patriot. No lOud-toned trumpet
sounds forth their praise; but they
should command the blessings, the
affections and the gratitude Of all.
They drag no miserable captives at
their chariot wheels; but "peaee hath
her victims no less renowned than
war" and the school teachers who
have filed the mind with knowledge,
and implanted seeds that will ripen.
into rich fruit, have built for them
| selves a monument more durable and
preferable than a pyramid made Of
skulls.
We congratulate the teachers on the
success Of their various examina-
lions, and the public on the
success of their Tree school system.
The closing exercises Of the
late session attracted unusual
interest, and twelve months from now
it will require one Of our theaters to
hold the crowd who will attend
our city schools. The next session, we
presume, from present indications,
will open under the most favorable
auspices. We should all watch its
progress with deep interest, for no
good citizen can feel Indifferent
to anything that concerns the educa-
ton Of his children. To read, in
other times, was the privilege of a
favored few in ours it is the right,
and is destined to become the posses
sion Of all. To tax the wealth of the
State for the universal diffusion of
knowledge, is the noblest Characters
tic Of the age in which we live. The
rich lessons Of history have too plain
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