The New York herald., 1874-11-15
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

The Threat OF the Board to Cut Down
Teachers' salaries-Indignant Protest
Of an Old School OMcer-A Plea for the
Hard Worked Instructors.
1t - probably not necessary to enter into any
elaborate argument to prove that the perpetuty
of this Republic IS dependent upon the education
OF the masses That as the young idea Is taught
to shoot 1t will bang away, and II the butts are
awry or In bad light the shooting viii be bad
When we stop to consider that our own ease ana
comfort IN Old age, should we live to reach the
patriarcnal PERIOD depend largely upon the proper
formation OF the present growing mind, we are
forced to the conviction that education In It's
relation to young America Is q live subject. Such
We say has always been the conviction OF our
rulers, bus 1t has remained for that eminent body
OF the present, whom we look upon as the
Board Of Education to-day, to destroy
that satisfactory illusion. The Board
OF Apportonment having upon . careful examina-
ton Of the estimates submitted to them seen nt
to cut down the appropriation asked for by the
Educational Board, the latter propose TO make up
the difference by
CUTTING DOWN THE ERs SALARIES.
Now It Is quite certain the Board OF Apportion.
ment never contemplated anything OF the kind,
and Its revision OF the estimates never scaled the
salaries. 1t Is very clear that there were other
OBJECTS OF expenditure than the teachers salaries
In the mind or the Board OF Apportionment when
It cut down this appropriation, and 1t may be
safely assumed that the Board Of Education IN st-
tempting this reduction nave not only
misinterpreted the purpose OF the Board
above them. out perverted its Intention.
That such proposed action on the part OF the
Board OF Education has not met the approval OF
school oficers generally there 10 abundant evi.
dence In proof OF which we cite the expression
81 4, .xyA
tricss, an associate OF James ". Gerard and Mr..
Kelly, recently deceased, Hosea B. Perkins. Mr..
Perkins. we may say, Is
AN EMIyKNTLr USEFUL CITIZEN
In his devotion to the cause OF public instruction,
and with the seidevotion Of one estranged from
the world IN his efforts to forward this great
cause he ieels himself, although OF retiring dis
position. urged at times to battle for the rights
Of the growing youth OF the country In the
Department OF Education. Mr. Perkins has been
an inspector OF schools for over twelve years. and
therefore knows whereof ne speaks. He main.
ta.ns that our pubic school system Is the best IN
the world, citing In support Of that assertion that
It has been SO admitted to be by the most distn-
gulshed visitors OF our country and Europe who
have taken the trouble to examine it. Mr.. Per-
klns, an ordinarily quiet gentleman OF the knick-
eroocker type, even bursts into eloquent periods
here and calls II
upon which the noble structure Of our Republic Is
iouDded. Mr.. Perkins Is very happy IN THIS figure,
intelligence being the basis Of human liberty. He
mas, however, fault to fnd with the details OF
school management. He thinks that
THE FEMALE TEACHERS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY
PAID,
and he puts their grievance on that head in this
way. Ayoung lady before entering upon tho du-
ues o. teacher, that is procuring eernncase,
must nave nave spent so many years In careful and
close study Ia order TO pass the examination at
the Normal School. These are years that nave
brought no return to her in the way OF income,
consequently supposlng her co De dependent upon
her own cxertlons Tor living, as most OF our
teachers, male and female are, the paltry sum OF
5000 per annum, winch she at first receives, less
than $40 per week, and has little hope Of increas
Ing l0r some time, IS but poor reward.
Add 10 mat the fact that her scholars some.
times come from the vest nests OF disease.
carrying with them at times the most
fatal pestilential odors, and that in the grand
equauly Oh the pubc school room sne canno6 dis
tngulsn one pupIl from another tn ner teaching.
ana we nave daily act or sclf-sacrfce such as
few women outside or this service are called upon
70 render, except IN the case OF those VINO nave
c0nsecrated themselves TO God ana charity alone.
Mt. Perkins also thought that " was
FL UROsS outrage
10 attempt reduction or the salaries OF the prn
c.pax only at most $4,000 per year; eomprisinu