The Morning herald., 1875-12-18
TIE BOARD OF EDUCATION
70 MANY TAXPAYERS.

TO MANY TAXPAYERS.
EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD -
Permit me- to say that Taxpayer" and
Many Taxpayers" are in error about the
time for which the teachers In tho public
schools of this city are paid. They are
paid for only eleven school months of four
weeks each, In year. For several years
they have received no pay for eight weeks
of the summer vacation. If these state
ments are doubted, ,anssexAmination of the
pay rolls will show the facts to be as stated.
Another statement made unwittingly by
MANY Taxpayers" is this : "They (the
teachers) also work five days in the week,
and but six hours in the day." Few can
teach well without daily special prepare
tion. A teachers knowledge must be kept
in constant repair. 1t is the duty of every
teacher to be student. While school is In
season, the teachers attention should be
given entirely to tho pupils. In order that
this may be done, large amount of rou-
tine work pnat be done outside Of school
hours. The care OF tho text books, the
writing up of the school records, the exami-
nation Of the exercises written by the pu-
pills, and the preparation of written ques-
tions and black board work, constitute part
of this routine work. $50
Those who even by implication sanction
the idea that teachers work can be done
during the hours that the schools are re-
quirsd to be kept open, are helping to hurt
harm to the schools.
TsAozzs.
ANOTHER TEACHER SPEAKS. n.
EDITOR MORNING HERALp:-In your
issue of yesterday read a communication,
signed "Miny Taxpayers" insanswer to
letter published on Thursday last from
Taxpayer" regretting that that writer
had not gone little further and stated to
I theigood people of Wilmington how their
money, Is expended. This is right, Mr..
Editor; how honesty, consistency, and fair
ness is always lauded will perhaps never
he fully appreciated. But still I wish to
make q few remarks in answer to MANY
Taxpayers - now he expressly states that
the money of the people goes to the support
of the Public Schools. Where else would
the writer have it go7 Does he want a gas
lamp at his front gates Has he petitioned
to Council for on., and been refused!
think not; there is no such instance on
record in the action of City Council. Then
goes on to say that It is the wish Of many of
the Board Of fEdueat4pns to have teachers
teach but five hours a day. That assertion
is partly true and partly false. Having
read the proceedings of the School Board,
would respectfully inform "Many Tax
payers, that during the short days only was
The school sessions to be limited to five hours
Yet, even If such was to become . perm.
ameut law, five hours day would be
plenty to condne growing child toa close
room besides the majority of those who
attend the public schools are expected to
prepare their lessons at home so as to
bc ready to render perfect recitation
when they arrive at school. None of our
Academies have longer than o five hours,
session, and If " Many Taxpayer" was not
like a large class of people whom l have
frequently heard eyelaim III be glad
when my children are old enough to 60 to
school" he could p.rhaps lake $ome pleas
ure in having them vt homc, and not sup.
pose it the teachers duty both to train the
mind and body Of the child. .g.y
The writer alluded to, III speaking of the
proposed shorter session says e. Some
Of our members are IN favor of reducing the
time of labor, but no reduction of salary"
What ! would the gentlemen deduct from
salary that does not, in most instances, ex-
eeed $35 per month. Let him, just for
little while, in his imagination, be q, teach
er, working month after month for the
above stipend. How would he feel Would
lie. not think that the State of Delaware was
the meanest he had ever heard Of. just
think of it Thirty-fiye dollars month
fora teacher In public school in largo
city, which has already begun to boast OF
it's excellent system of education. Well the
system may bear Boosting Of, but hardly the
salary that system pays.
"Many Tsx-Payers;" proceeds to speak
of the mismanagent of the peoples monev
When he did 80, why didn't he, say son>.
thing about the Pay Roll Of the Cool sprlug
Reservoir" Was that money thai could not
he accounted for paid ont by the Board OF
Education Did any of the poor men who
worked at the new Basin gGt it Space for
bids the writer of this to say more at pres
ent, except in conclusion to request Many
Taxpayers," when The wants to speak of
acknowledgement, look over the proceedings
df Council as well as those of the School
Board. l ANOTHER TEACHER.
FROM A TAXPAYER.
Error MORNING HERALD:--ln reply to
the communication Of Teacher, In your is
sue of yesterday, the writer would say that
as regards expressing the poor, there was
no intention of 80 doing But as there are
great many In this city who are not school
teachers, and possibly just as worthy, (and
have as good an education,) who would
gladly accept situation at the salary, less
the deduction alluded to, who cannot get
he position, that "Teachcr' must not be so
vain US to think the world would not
move on just the same II they were not
teaching and as there are various other
ways Of earning livelihood and no law In
the State compelling one to teach school
that we know Of. They, of course, would
be at liberty to resign if tho suggestion
should be acted upon by the Board OF Edu-
I cation. HlL TAX PAYER.
.U TOO MUCH LIGHT.
EDITOR OF HERALD:-Twenty three
nights of each month, the City lamps are