New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-06
THE RETRENCHMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL
EXPENSES.

| l.
EXPENSES.
| Taxpayer gives us, through the
columns of the Picayolae, some very ex
cellent and sensible suggestions on the
subject OF retrenching the expenses Of
education in the city. He files his pro-
test against:
l. The reduction in the number OF
teachers.
2. A reduction in the really small
salaries now paid.
In support of his first point, the writer
shows that it is not proper in this semi
tropical climate, to pack children SO closly
together in room as can be done with
impunity in more Northern city where
the bracing air invigorates both teacher
and pupil. He might have added to this
correct observation that in many cases in
this city, the directors have been compelled
to hire private houses for school purposes,
not at all suitable. Some of the rooms
are small, dark and ill ventilated and in
three or four places the FORTRESS rooms
have been taken for class rooms.
The objections to the second PROPOSE
ton are, in our judgment, quite as well
taken. 1t is an imposition of burden
upon the weaker sex worthy of an earlier
age Of the world.
So far, we are entirely in accord with
Taxpayer" He has described the symp-
toms exactly, but by inference lays the
blame on the wrong parties. The fault
lies with the people themselves, who have
only granted tax of two and half mills
on the dollar for school purposes, and in
trusted it's collection to the Council, who
have time and again asserted that 5000, OOO
a year was as much as they could afford
for the purpose. No energy in the
discharge Of the duty of collecting
the taxes was displayed by the
late Council, and the present has
done but little better. The School
Directors administered the scanty funds
doled out to them as economically as pos
sible, but the idea seems to have OBJ
tanned in certain quarters that if they
have saved one dollar by some exertion
they can save two by doubling the effort.
The directors have but little to do with
the finances Of the schools except to ap-
portion it among the creditors of the fund.
The bulk of it goes to the teachers,
though the items for rents, repairs sup
plies and furniture are necessarily large.
Latterly the Council has made made quate
provision for keeping the school buildings
owned by the city in repair, and the
School Board is compelled er necess itate
rel to spend money for the purpose. MIR.
Fitzenreiter, the late Administrator of
Public Buildings, was obliged to exceed
the limited appropriation allowed for the
purpose by nine hundred dollars, and
then stopped, discouraged at the magni-
tude of the work and the inadeeHaey of
his means to accomplish it.
The public evidently expect the School
Board to do with about $500, 900 what it
really requires $3.50, 1000 to perform. And
large proportion of the estimated sup
ply comes in the shape of delinq uent
roll, partly collectible in driblets and
partly lost altogether
Taxpayer" and all other friends of the
teachers may be sure that the present
board will give the teachers every dollar
Of the fund that can be collected for
school purposes except such as is i'm
peratively required for supplies, repairs
and rent. 1t impracticable to increase
the tax, but that already laid ought to be
collected. With that, however.
The School Board has nothing to do. Its
functions are limited to a judicious s. ex.
pendlture Of the money as it is placed at
heir disposal. Let the people and the |
az collectors do their whole duty. and
hen hold the directors to faithful per-
of theirs. With an ample pro-
VISION OF straw we will guarantee an |
.1-Y7r,