Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-31
TO DIRECTORS AND TEACHERS OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

PUBLIC SCHOeLS,
.r4s e. -H 10 son 90
/ Not being able, with tase utmost dill
| gence, to see in person aud advise with
all the directors and teachers of the
county, as often as may sometimes be
necessary, take this netkod of c1lling
attention to a few suggestions. The
scholastic year will end with August
81, 1874. Whatever funds ere then un-
expended by any one CT the seventeen
districts, will go back to the county
trustee for redistribution. But, with
an amount provided by ths State and
county, jointly, not more tkan sufficient
to continue the schools for months in
this scholastic year, the whole sum
should be expended in every district,
aud so as to leave nothing fer re-distri-
button. The estimate for four months
is based on the supp0sitiOn that the State
has provided one dollar and seventy
five cents per capita to the scholastic
population, as shown bE the census.
This, by the one mill taz, and the iE-
terest on the school fund, hes been esti-
mated at one dollar and eighty-seven
and half cents, by the State superin-
tendent, who now informs me that o
falling of In the assessment, as COM
pared with bis estimates, will reduce
the receipts below the aEneunt he at
first indicated. To this the ec1nty court
has added a half mill tex, which viii
give, say seventy cents more; the popu
lation being twenty three thousand
eight hundred and ten and the property
assessed for Shelby county, being up
ward of forty millions. Thus the
amount provided by law viii, in this
county, reach two dOllsrs and forty-fve
cents to the scholastic head, or four dol
lars and ninety cents to the pupil, on
the supposition of fifty per cent. atten-
dance on the schools. End, being all
collected punctually, would be sufficient
to sustain the schools four months, pay
ing contingent expenses, and teachers
receiving an average of Sfty dollars per
month. Directors will please verify the
statements by their own calculations.
But in consequence of reduction in as
sessments and other causes, not COM
pensated by the tax on polls, etc, in
stead of stating the sum provided as
two dollars and forty-fve cents, Ihave
generally given two dollars and twenty
five cents as safer estimate. This, l
find teachers universally willing to
take for their salaries-thst is to say,
the two-thirds of the same likely to be
collected before June, and tC hold their
orders for the balance until the taxes are
collected, and the trustee is able to paw
them. They are better than county
warrants, because the county is in debt,
and this fund being separated, can be
drawn upon for no other purposes; they
will be as good on the clerk and trustee
as on the trustee.
In view of these facts it seems safe to
continue the schools four months; and
this especially, when the law requires
the county court to increase the fund
sufficiently to continue them five. This
will either be done, as 1 am advised, at
the April term, or the matter will be
submitted to the people.
1t is all-imPortant, and directors will
be regarded as derelict IN the perform
ance of their unpaid, but valued and
honorable duty, il schools are delayed
in any instance, so that ive months
shah not remain of the scholastic year,
after their cOmmencements, in which to
continue them. Every school should be
continued the same length Of time.
am happy to say that few, if any, in
stances of delays OF this character are
now possible.
1t is also in my view important and
within the spirit and meaning of the
law, not only that schools'','shall be es-
tablished and continued for the required
time, but also that they shall be so To-
Gated as to give to every part of each
district equal advantages. In whatever
neighborhOOd there is sufficient schelas-
tic population, of either color, reasonably
to call for a kschool, a scbcol should be
provided, including houses and furni-
ture, and what may be necessary, as in
other cases. Over this matter the su-
perintendent has no power, except to
advise. He has, however, no hesitation
in saying, that in case of neglect or re-
fusal by board of directors to establish
a school in any part of q district where
there are sufficient scholars, a compul-
sorry remedy may be found by any in
terested citizen on suitable application
to the courts.
In order to meet either the public ap-
probation, or that of their own con-
sciences, all school officials must act !
with perfect fidelity and equity toward |
all colors, and particularly toward the |
poor, for whom more especially the law
was intended to provide. If there are
any errors of this kind, it is rot too late |
TO rectify them.
1t has been found convenient to draw
for the pay of teachers on the county |
lIuSlCCS III ldNOI vi anu lTEdS-
urer, and assign the orders ever to the |
teachers, thus making them the agents !
of the district treasurers to draw mon |
eys. A more strict pursuance Of the let
ter of the law is regarded as incumbent, !
and / direct attention 70 TIE following |
sections for that purpose. The duties of |
school directors are declared to be as fol- |
lows:
SECTION 10. To draw upon the county |
trustee in favor of the treasurer of the
district for any school money in the |
hands of the trustee, for distribution in |
his district.
SECTION IL. To draw upon the trea-
suer Of the district for the nay of teach
ers and school expenses, authorized by
law, such accounts to be paid in the
order in which they sre allowed, the
treasurer to record the date ot auditing |
each.
By omitting a strict observance of
these directions, it has happened that
some teachers with late orders have OBJ
tanned advantage over Others with prior
orders, and who were entitled to be first
paid, and such accounts are rot paid sin
the order in which they are allowed
even if the record of auditing is properly
kept. The plan pursued is inconvenient
TO the trustee, and has operated injus-
tice which this provision Of the law was
to prevent.
All teachers registers should be fire.
quently inspected, and it is hoped they !
will be ready in good order and ample
time for the report of the county super
intendent, which will be required to be
made to the state superintendent. A
As general rule, it is pleasant to Say
that the teachers engaged are faithful,
and amply competent for the instruc-
ton of such as are under their charge
and the government and progress of
the schools excellent. Not less than a
thousand lpupils in Shelby county
who were ingnorant OF the alphabet
six months ago now beginning to /
read, and many are reading sentences
and paragraphs so as to be well under
stood. If intelligence can be made the
mother of virtue, we have taken first
step toward it, which, it may be hoped,
viii not prove in vain. Even tax-pay-
ers, willing to educate the children of
the State rather than suffer the results
of crime, will be satisfied with this kind
of progress, and confess that a tax
which with thousands will be made to
ham toms Of fhorcOnHa in