Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-14
DR.. mItehslI's Report to the school
BOnrd.

To the Editor Of the Ledger:
This production should rot be per.
mitted to pass without due notice. The
FIRST sentence is exactly the reverse Of
what it should be, il facts and figures
are to be relied on. DR.. Mitchell says:
"The increased attendance upon our
city schools during the last scholastic
year gives evidence that the schools
have been growing in efficiency and in
the confidence and affection Of the pub
lic."
In the face of this remarkable state
ment we present a few figures: When
Colonel Leath was superintendent in
1871 the average number belonging TO
the white schools was 2464; Superin
tendent Picket, white attendance in the
year 1884, 2092 Here we have a fall.
ing off Of 1872. When the schools passed
under Pieketts management from
Slaughter in 1873 the attendance was
22T4. superintendent Pickett this year
gives the number Of white children at
1877, 0 decrease of ll5 from last year
and 465 from the number Colonel Leath
had.
This continual decrease In attendance
is what DR.. Mitchell %curiously calls
increase. In this comparison | have &C.
cepted Superintendent Picketts own
estimate Of the schools as they now
stand, although | have reason to know
bis accuracy cannot be relied on. Some
time ago the Appeal contained a state
ment emanating from Pickett as TO the
aourishing condition Of the schools,
which bias proved to be greatly exagge.
rated. The testipony of teachers as
given to me prove there is Q great de.
crease in attendance.
All over our city private schools are
~springing up, and are filling up also
People are poor and times are hard, but
those who set a high value on the cul-
ture Of their children prefer sending to
pay schools; they are afraid to intrust
their boys and girls 10 the system Mr..
Pickett has introduced. Mr.. Pickett
very naturally wishes to conceal this de-
cay creeping oyer orr schools, because
be knows it ia caused By the distrust
people teel toward him and their disgust
at the malice he exhibited toward Ger.
tain teachers long tried and trusted
DR.. Mitchell says be is proud Of the in
creased attendance"-it does not re-
quiro much to make him proud. Under
Colonel Leath the cost per pupil was
Sl9 So; under Pickett, $50 70 Is DR.
Mitchell also proud Of this increased
COST DR.. Aitchells method of argu-
ment is ss curious as his settlement OF
facts. Wishing the tax payers 20 keep
up the male high schools, the doctor be-
gins by telling US that be IL satisfied
that the grammar grade ia the proper
limit upon the public obligation to pro.
vide free education. Then be goes on,
giving reasons why people should pass
the proper limit" aud support high
schools by q general tsy. He tells us;
las Q general rule the soma OF poor
people must stop with the grammar
grade, because their parents need their
labor and cannot sgord to keep them any
longer at study. II is apparent (goes on
the doctor) that the wealthy people are
most interested in having male high
schools and would derive most benefit
from them; wealthy peoples sons can b.
prepared fof college more cheaply IN The
public high schools than elsewhere.
This sort Of argument seoms TO count
largely on the mi Of rich men and
the stupidity OF poor. Even should the
rich desire the imposition Of a genera
tax that their sens night get Latin auC
Greek cheap, will the hard working no
chanic, the market peddler, the brioklayer
the poor widow, owning each ono littlt
piece Of earth with a shelter called home
will such as these like TO pay a tax t
keep up schools for the benefit Of ricE
man pgen should they meanly wish t,
educate their uqns ~ other peoples ex
pensef
DR., Mitchells English Is twin bretheI
TO Pickett's. Here is a sentence, thu
muddiness Of which only Pickett coulC
rival,
The great advantages to the State al
well as TO the pSpils, Of education
brought within the reach Of every child
being recognized, some would regard III,
coDelueiop ap reasonable that the morl