Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-22

Mr., Pickett's Flank Move on the
school Board aud the sharp way
he "Headod'i the Taxpayers Of
Memphis.
To the Editor Of the Ledger:
Your readers will remember, hew, in
obedience to the behests of the people,
as made known through the LEDGER, the
Board made some very c~ommendable
efforts in the way of ret~rshohRsnt, one
of the best being the abolition of the Of
fee Of school superintendent. A school
principal was a parsonage paid $l20 to
$3.50 per month for doing little or moth
ing, save walking through the teachers
rooms Overseeing" Ii was supposed
necessary to place one principal, or
overseer, over every six or seven women
teachers. Nothing can be palmer than
the fact thatif the women teachers we've
fit for their business, they needed no
overseeing; or if they needed it, it was
the superintendents business to do it.
Under the new arrangement one teacher
in each building, called head teacher.
performs the few duties formerly devolv
ing on the $3.50 principal. The teachers
assure me they do not miss the princi-
pal-he was as useless as q fith-wheeL.
Another move faSde by the Board toward
r%etrenchment proves not only a failure,
but a backward move involving useless
expenditure. The people Of Memphis
clsmored at Mr.. Pickett's $1,000 salary
and we're especially indignant at the way
it had been raised B. his personal friends.
The Board, wishing 70 stop the elamor,
reduced the salary 10 $500. but, at the
same tine, acting On Mr. Picketts sug-
gestion, attached to the superintendency
two sub-assistsnts to help Mr.. Pickett in
bis supervision Of the schools. These
two sab-superinteudents Mr.. Pickett
calls District Principals" We must
suppose by giving them this title Mr..
Pickett made the Board believe his
young and able assistants we're to do
some sort Of work not belonging to the
superintendent department. 1t is now
pretty well understood By every one 10
the least conversant with school affairs,
that the two ladies called District Princi.
pals do. 10 fact and reality, perform the
duties Of the superintendent, while the
socalled superintendent, Mr.. Pickett,
plays the ornamental part Of figure
head. Thus it will be seen that, before
Mr.. Picketts salary was cut down
from $1,000 10 $500, the school
superi1tendency cost the people $685.
per month; since the reduction il
costs them $5l8 per month, viz: $40
per month for the two sub-superintend.
ents and $2T8 for the head superin-
tendeBt (Mr Pickett. which is S3O8 per
month more than we paid Colonel Leath
or any former superintendent. However
unfit 70 direct the education Of youth,
whatever bad grammar and worse En-.
glish Mr.. Pickett may perpetrate, Of one
thing we feel assured: be is a No. !
~liekster, sharp and shrewd enough TO
wind around his fingers great innocent
minded men like the School Boards
President. II wal rather a sharp stroke
Of strategy when Pickett induced the
Doctor to become the instrument Of bis
spite and wreak bis (Picketts d ven.
geance on the offending school msrms.
1t is now a well known fact THAT Pickett
as the negroes say, was took with q
violent dislike toward two or three
teachers, known 10 be the best and most
experienced in their department in the
schools. Pickett was determined 70
GUST these teachers, bot wanted Dr..
Mitchell to face the Indignation and incur
the odium which he we'll knew such
an act would cause. TO this end
last June, when the teachers for
this scholastic year had 10 be elected
Pickett hid in bis house too ill'
to assist in the selection Of the teachers.
Such was that committees fearful state.
ment through the newspapers. II is now
a well established fact that Pickett did
make the selection, and that he shirked
the responsibility because he knew he
wa leaving out the best teachers through
spite. That Pickett made the selection
l state on the testimony Of Miss Conway.
Of Colonel Townsendan nd Colonel Folkes'
Is this sort of trickster the man to edn.
cate our ehildren2 What confidence can
We have in persons who attempt 10
delude us2 The man who will hide In
be house and pretend be has not done a
thing he has done, is not to be trusted in
anything. Such a man will be faithful
only 70 bic Own selfish interests.
E. A. NJ.
So