The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-01
PUBLIC SCHOOL SOANDALS-JERSEY
CITY AND NEW ORLEANS.

city in the country that has been burdeneo
with School Board, whose favoritism and
negligence has excited the deepest concern
among the citizens. Jersey City is investiga-
ting the mode of procedure of the members OF
its School Board, whose conduct has re-
suited in serious detriment to the cause OF
education in that city. The charges against
that board are extravaganza, favoritism and
negligence, and, strange to say, have been
preferred by one of their own body, Mr. Hol-
Inns, who, becoming disguised with the actions
of the board, made clean expose of the
entire affair, and is determined
to take the matter before the courts and the
people. The remaining members of the
board adopted every means in their power to
keep Mr.. Hollins quiet, and failing in this,
resorted to the strategy Of appointing an in
vestigating committee from among their num-
Der. This ruse was. however, readily seen
through by Mr.. Hollins, who utterly refused
to have anything to do with the action of that
committee, and laid the whole matter before
the public The affair has caused the great
est excitement in Jersey City, the citizens
having with marked unanimity determined to
uphold Mr.. Hollins and wipe out from Off
cial existence their unfaithful servants.
Reading the account of their actions in the
matter and their provocation, we cannot but
reflect upon our own School Board troubles
and compare the incapability of the two
boards, the degree of determination evil
denced by the citizens Of New Orleans and
Jersey City. No imn orality is alleged against
their board, no charges of venality or corrup-
ton are preferred against them, and no effort
to so conduct the schools as to make them SO
strongly obnoxious to the people is attributed
to them, and yet the people evidence their
determination to rid themselves of the officials
by the most prompt and efficient means pos
sible.
While doubtless their wrongs are great,
how much more so are ours, and II their &C.
ton is quick and decisive in the matter how
speedy and determined course should be
resorted to by the citizens of New Orleans
Among the members of the Jersey City School
Board was found one man who had the man
hood and the courage to stand up boldly
and denounce the action of the other mem
bers, who, although DESTROYS OF doing right
himself, allowed the rest to proceed in
whatsoever course they chose, but. full OF
honest indignation, he places himself before
the people as their champion and unearths
the shortcomings of their unworthy servants
But there is no one among the members OF
the New Orleans School Board who is SO
independent of party restrictions, and SO we'd
ded to outspoken honesty as to step boldly
forward and arraign the others. even when he
knows the wrongs are deep and the evidence
strong and conclusive. There seems to be
no one man so faithful an adherent to duty,
or SO fearless an advocate Of right, as to dare
to abandon the disreputable Board and lay
bare their outrageous actions, even though
thereby he could relieve himself of the
obloquy which must other wise attach to him
in common with the rest of the wrong
doors.
Mr. Hollins, by his bold arraignment OF the
Jersey City Board, has won the respect and
admiration of his fellow-citizens and relieved
himself of the disgrace which must surely
cling to the other members. In the New
Orleans Board there seems to be resolute
determination to defy the people with solid
ranks, and trust to luck and official favorit-
ism to avoid the consequences of their con-
duct. 1t remains to be seen how their tenaci'
ty to Office wsil be met by the citizens OF New