Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-15
INFRINGEMENT IN THE SCHOOL
BOARD.

eye OF tn6 puOAS. wv hS'Ch on" ~ III
the LEDGER before. But there it is, aud
the facts justify it. We are ready to give
sous Of the members Of the Board, and
we hope a majority Of them, credit for
an earnest desire to adapt the school
system TO a strictly economical and bus
ines-lke basis, while there are those in
our midst who would gladly see the
schools suspended for a time in order to
make good the reckless and false asser-
ton that the new city charter was in
tended to destroy the city schools. The
Board held its monthly meeting last
night and a highly important report was
submitted by the committee on retrench'
ment. They are coming to a full resh-
cation Of the situation and proposing
some practical steps toward meeting 1t.
Even Colonel Folkes signed the report,
and we can imagine that it gave
him as much reluctance as it did
nine.tenths of the audience to listen
to his speech at the 0pers,H House the
O.her night. They estimate that they
will receive for school purposes from all
sources this year about $4,000, and
show by a clear statement how the
schools can be run on that amount.
This is nothing more than contemplated
BY the originators Of the city charter,
and the committee demonstrates that it
can be done without detriment to the
system. Then who was right, those who
were looking 10 the protection Of the
people against extravaganza, or that
loud class who cracked their whips and
threatened all manner CT i'll conse-
quences to anyone who laid unholy
hands on the school riDg2 We are will
ing that the people should answer when
all the facts are known. The changes
proposed are mainly to give up the Pop
lar and Third street schools; to have but
two districts for grammar grades OF
white schools, one north and one south;
the first three primary grades to be
placed on the half day system; the
session to comprise nine months;
the high schools to be abolished and
a male and female normal school, with a
three years course, established under
one principal and located at the Market
street school building; there to be buttwo
principals in the grammar districts, n
teacher in each school building to have
charge in the absence ofa principal, and
Mr.. Picketts salary to be reduced
$27OO. The corps is thus reduced to
four principals and ten teachers, and
SOM reduction is made in all, or nearly
all, salaries and expenses. This might
have been done years ago and saved the
people Of Memphis probably 500, 900,
without in the least detracting from the
usefulness and efficiency Of the city
schools. Whenever the School Board
manages its affairs as carefully as sue
cessful business men attend TO their PR
vate concerns there will cease to be
c use OF complaint. The estimate Of
the committee shows reduction Of $780,
OOe for the year 1894 and $4,000 for
the year $lS1+75, The reduction should
have commenced sooner, but better late
than never; and although the change Is
only under compulsion and with many
protests, we believe the Board has made a
start in the direction Of retrenehment
and reform and will find it pleasant to
walk therein. The report was not
adopted; it was merely read, and the
Board adjourned to meet Thursday night
Some Of the suggestions Of the commit
tee strike Us as eminently practical ant
in accordance, as it happens, with posi-
tions assumed by the LEDGER man.
months ago. But perhaps some Of the PEG
pie would like to know why Mr.. Picket.
salary is to be reduced only ten per cent
and the prime pals twenty and twenty
five per cent. The reductions should b
mlde on a sliding scale, beginning wit
the highest: Mr.. Pickets, forty per cent
the principals, twenty and twenty.6v,
leaving the teachers, who do all Ii
work, Just as they are. This would q,
Mr.. Picket $500, or 5000 per month f
nine months. The teachers, who wor'
receive only s72O for nine months an
are locked for every fraction of a dl
lost, while the superintendent is dOck'
nothing for lost time. Be gets the mon
and the credit is claimed for him. +
voritism is no name for this sort OF gli
jag injustice.
THE honorable Barbour Lewis havil