Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-15
SCHOOL BOARD.

The Board t. Invesfigate All
Charges Against superintendent
fiehett, Principal Barn am and
All Others.
Last night the School Visitors met in
solemn couclave to consider school mat
tiers which have been so stirred up by the
LEDGER and those availing themselves
of its columns to expose the extrava-
CANT expenditures of the Board and the
delinquencies of superintendents and
principals. School Visitor Trezevant
offered the following resolutions, which,
after souse discussion, we're adopted:
Whereas, 1t has been asserted in the
public prints of the city and thereby
provoking much discussion and inquiry
as to the management of the mphis
city school; and, whereas, this board re-
cognizes the right OF the citizens and
taxpayers 10 comment upon the said
management, and to be informed as to
the same; therefore be it
Resolved, That committee OF three
Of this board be appointed, which three
are directed to appoint FIVE intelligent
citizens OF Memphis TO unite with them
to inquire into the general management
Of the schools, and particularly as to the
following points, to wit:
First-The management and conduct
OF the colored schools.
Second-Whether or not it is expedi-
ent to reduce the number of principals,
and the number that can be dispensed
with.
Third-Whether or not each school
contains the number Of pupils required
under the regulations, and If not, to the
propriety and practicability ofconsolidat-
ing such reduced schools and thus re-
duce the number OF teachers in the en-
ploy Of this board.
Fourth-As to the expediency of re-
dncing the extent and course of study,
and whether or not the high school can
be dispensed with.
Fifth-As to the various asserted
charges made against the superintend-
ent.
Sixth-To ascertain the cost OF main
tanning the schools.
Seventh-That charges against any
principal, teacher or superintendent are
hereby invited.
Eighth-That this committee are re-
quested to make these investigations,
and report 30 special meeting OF this
board Friday evening next
The chair appointed Messrs. Treze-
want, Hosea Townsend and A. u. Frank
land the committee.
The Board evidently yielded to pub
lie opinion, that thing so omnipotent
in this land, when the above resolutions
we're adopted, and this was right, as the
School Visitors are the servants Of the
people, aEd not their masters. Now
that the committee OF investigation has
been appointed, we hope the long
mooted question as TO the competency OF
superintendent Pickett will be thor
oughly siftedI also the charges made
against Principal Bsrnum, OF the
Clay street negro schools, IS
well as all other charges
made and suggestions embraced in the
the resolutions above mentioned. The
School Board will at last End out that
the tax-ridden people Of Memphis are
opposed 10 the increase Of the Superin-
tendents salary to $4,000 and his cleo
tiOn FOR two years. in violation Of all
precedent that they are opposed to that
9Th and expensive wheel to ihe sshool
wagon called the principal Of the
school" whose duty is principally to
draw a big salary, While the real work is
done BY the teachers; that they are op.
posed TO the expensive system Of teach
ing the higher classical and
ornamental branches 10 the public /
schools, for the reasons that such |
is a departure from the true prin.
eiples Of free school education. and that
only the few and rich can avail hem