Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-21
Punl,e se..eel pIa,,er..

was charged in the LEDeER that Superin'
tendent Pickett and Principal Barnnm,
of the Clay street school, having friend
(Mr. Wood whom they wished to serve
at the public expense, made place for
him at a salary Of $50 per month by
giving him class of twelve or thirteen
pupils in Mrs. Thompson's room in the
Clay street school, Mrs. Thompson at
the time having less actual attendance
than the minimum. These facts were
mentioned as specimens of the favoritism
practiced at public expense. To cover
up this, a few days after, about Sth of
December, enough pupils we're with
drawn from other schools in the build
ing and crammed into Mrs. Thompson's
4 room to increase the number to ninety
or more, and she was directed by Mr..
Barnum to register them as if they
appeared from the LIST of December.
These pupils we're placed there without
regard to grading in the face OF the
approaching January examination. well
knowing they could not be properly
advanced and that the teachers rOputa.
ton would thereby unjustly suffer- but
the prime object seems to have
been to rebut the statement referred
to in the LEDGER and to humbug
the public; for we fud that, after Mrs.
Thompson's school had been thus raised
to ninety or more, and the pupils and
teachers in the other schools of the
building put upon theirSps and Us for
the occasion, Judge Pierce and Gen. W.
]. Smith, School Visitors, invite to the
school several well known gentlemen of
Memphis, and playing usher, conduct
them through the different schools in the
building, with the expectation of elicit |
ing from them the usual stereotyped
complimentary report, which one may
hear by attending the meetings of the
School Board. Passing through Mrs.
Thompson's room, the attention Of these
invited gentlemen was directed to the
number of pupils, with the remark, you
see the statements in the LEDGER we're
erroneous" Now, if Judge Pierce and
General Smith did not know of this
trick of examining" they are not sharp
enough for School Visitors, and if they
did know it, then they are particeps
criminis, and are unworthy the position.
This visit occurred on the llth of De-
ccmber. Some Of the gentlemen made
another visit on the Monday following,
looked further into matters, and the ex-
pected report was not made. Upon ex-
animation it was found the LEDGER |
statement was substantially correct, !
though there may have been some
slight inaccuracies. Wood, who |
seems to be an honest man, and
against whom no complaint is made,
when questioned, though feeling that
his place and pay we're jeopardized, &C.
knowledged the fact that until the cram
ming took place. on December 9Th. he
had only taught class Of thirteen-nine
in one room and four in another-and |
said be would maui rails for a living be-
fore he would tell lie to cover it up.
These statements are made on infor.
nation which | believe to be correct, and
are made that the people may see how
the schools are managed attheir expense
10 the interest Of favorites of rings. An.
other matter, Of which / am informed,
deserves notice. The Linden street
school numbers, all told Of actual attend
ance, less than $50 pupils. To accom-
modate certain influential people, TWEEN
ty-eight Of the pupils are withdrawn and
put under another teacher in a separate
building in that district These people
are large taxpayers and naturally feel |
that they are entitled to some advantages;
but when you commence faYoritism |
there is no limit to is abuse, and the law
should be vigorously administered as
long as it is on the statute book. Favor |
itism, extravaganza aud abuse Of high |
powers seemed 70 have marked the course |
Of this independent close corporation |
placed above the people as masters, and |
there is no remedy short Of its utter ex. |
termination, root and branch. Commit |
tees Of investigation may cleanse and /
cure up some Of the sores and ugly |
places, but the cancer has taken deep
root. and nothing but the legislative knife |
Of repeal can eradicate IT, Thunder IL |
then, with the voice of Niagara, into the |
ears of your legislators-repeall repeal
But do not, people Of Memphis, stop
with the school board-turn the Peneus
Of your wrath into the Augean stable of
your city and county governments and |
Hood them till there is not an uncleau |
spot left. Then with your pruning knife |
IN hand, begin on the courts and Jury |
system, and lop of, mercilessly, the by
ORA head Of extravaganza, abolish all |
useless courts and Offices, and bring the |
clerks salaries down to something like |
that OF the JUICES. If am correctlyin.
| formed Mr.. FARMLAND voted 10 make Mr.. |
Pickett salary 5000, and voted 10 make |
him superintendent saying there was
not man in Memphis competent for the |
place Now, when the School Board get
over their affected contempt for anonv.
nous scribblers, and relax their dignity
sufficiently 10 inform the public whether
the salary was not fixed at $4,000 after Il /
was certainly ascertained that Mr.. Pick !
EFT could.be elected; lin other words, was
The salary not fixed at $1,000 with the |
view Of giving Mr.. Pickett the place); |
! whether Mr.. Pickett had not received |