Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-09
OUR SCHOOLS.
P.OCeedlUgs Of the Board Of School Wis.
itOrs Last Night-The Superin.
tendent's Regular Month
ly Report.
hajOrit! and Minority RepOr S in Regard
TO the Question Of Continuing
The Normal SchOoI-Etc.

| rtHOWs' building.
Present-President r. W. Mitchell
Messrs. Kelly, RaDdle, Robbins AIRING
ton, w. p. Mitchell, Churchill, Wiegi3
Irezevan', Goodman, Carey, Spears
Heath, Townsend s I'd Fowlkes.
The minutes OF the April mestiRG
~ere read and approved.
Superintendent Pickett presented the
fol owing report:
1.-The number on the rolls sor the be.
| ginning OF the presont month exhibits 3
total OF Ze32, being a slight increase
over the last month. The health of both
teachers Snd pupils is unfsually good,
aud the eperss and progress OF the
| schools general ly worthy OF commends-
ton. l desire the appointment Of cora-
mlttee, having power to act, upon COM
mencemeDt exercises and exhibitions
generally
Mr.. Anderson moved that the supar-
intendenps report be referred to COM
mittee Of three.
Mr.. FOwlkes suggested that the re-.
port be divided, 50 as 10 refer only to
that portion that Hr. Anderson wished
investigated. and that the suggestion
for the appointment o. a committee on
exercises be adopted.
Mr.. FOwlkes's amendment was adopt
ed.
Messrs. Anderson, Fowlks aud Heath
WeIe appointed 70 consider the report.
Messrs. Robbins, Arlington and
spears were appointed a committee on
commencement exercises.
Mr.. Townsend, from committee on
teachers, recon- mended that the nera-
6ers OF the normal school classes be paid
Tor the time they were employed as
teachers. Report adopted.
A communication signed ITax-Pav-
er," making some charges against
principal, was referred to, and a motion
was adop5ed declaring it the intention
OF the board to ignore any cOnlmunica-
ton not signed with the proper name Of
its author.
The finance committee reported al
bills paid to first Of May, and balance
OF three thousand and seventy-eiRht
collars and ten cents on hand. Report
adopted.
Mr.. Anderson, from the committee on
rules and regulations, recommended
the changing Of rule 50 as to have va
cancies filed by the president OF the
board, superintendent Of schools end
chairman Of the committee on e6ucs-
ton pref renee to be given to graduates
OF tue nigh school when their qualifica-
tiO.s are equal to those Of other appIi-
c3nts, and all appointments to be ap-
proved or rejected Oy vote OF the board.
Adopted.
Mr.. Fowlkes, chairman OF the COM
mite to whom was referred the subject
Of abolishing the normal schools, report
ed as follows:
To the Board OF Education Memphis City
Schools:
Your committee, to whom was referred, at
your last meeting, the resolution relative to
the propriety or necessity Of abOlIshing your
nigh school, beg leave, respectfully, to SO bmit
the following report; We deem such action
Two members of your committee had the
honor OF serving on a special committee, one
year ago, charged, in general with the rsdu3.
ton OF expenses il the management OF our
schools, and specially with the duty Of bring
ing the expenditures within the limits of the
reduced revenue at the control OF your board.
At that time the matter now under consider
alton was fully discussed. aud the result of
the labors OF tnat com mmtttee, IN part, was the
establishment of the present normal scnoOl.
Your present committee has carefully and de-
nberately considered this matter, and gone
pretty much over the same ground OF
discussion, aud are deeply Impressed
with the importance OF maintaining this
school. Our city cannot afford 10 be Without
ii. Ninety out Of every hundred cities OF any
public sc lools are established, have such
school, known either by the name of normal
or high school. We cannot hope to compete
with other cities in the matter OF immigra.
ton, If we are tot carry The burden OF an in
adequate public school system. Our normal
school is now conducted largely below the cost
ofsimilar schools in other cities; and, while
furnishing the most attractiN and remuueIa-
tive feature in your public scnOol system, il
costs nearly or quite one-thltd less tnan the
schools OF any other grade under your control.
The average number OF pupils in attendance
on the normal school, monthly, during the
year now drawing TO close, has been ll6, at a
monthly cost of $3.50, or S2i2O for the session
OF nine months-R cost Of So . per month
for each pupil against 50, the lowest
price, per month, charged by private schools
claiming TO afford equal educational fscilitles.
In other words, the taxpayer has his children
educated in The higher branches for SO 81 per
year at the public schools, while a private
school for the same time would cost MIN SIS
a saving in the ll6 pupils of SIS per year for the
same advantages. We say the taxpayer gets
this benefit, for the reason that he can get
full and ample return for the taxes by him
pad. Without your high school the citizen
upon whom the burden of the school-tax
falls can be compensated only while his chill
dren are in attendance upon the primary or
grammar schools; when their children have
passed through their lower grades ana are
prepared 10 enter the higher walks of study
the tax payer has TO furnish this opportunity
at heavy expense 10 tuition fees
10 a private school, Now If he could
be exempt from the school tax when
ever his nece essities or tastes demanded q
higher education, it would be well enough;
but his school tax gees on as before. He psysa
double taxa tax to maintain schools for
which he no longer has need, and a tax in the
shape of tuition fees for that which the pub
lie schools no longer afford. Your public
sc chOols, IN order to become deeply rooted in
the affections Of the people, without which
its utility and existence Is alike leopard ZedI
must be made acceptable TO the tax payer,
and this can only be accomplished by fur
nshinR him QUid pro quo in the shape of d.
ucational facilit' es suited TO his own wants,
embracing all the studies usually taught in
rirst-claSs private schools. However generous
aud unselish may be the sentiment that pro-
claims the sole end and object of public
schools to be the fishing OF educational
advantages TO the poorer cl5sses only; in other
words, giving to those who are unable TO pro-
cure II for themselves, Dement'S which you
cannot share in common with them, IL IS
nevertheless, an idea fraught with evil-sn
idea which, II IL ever becomes prevalent, Will
greatly impair the usefulness OF your schools,
If IL does not eventually destroy them. Such
an Idea would turn our public schools into an
eleemosynary concern, charitable institu-
ton, 10 Oe maintained as a lBZarettO for the
cure OF the Grimm propensitleS of the poor,
the tax payer receiving as compensation for
the burdens OF sustaining such an institu-
ton the difference between its costs and that
of maintaining the same class in the poor
house or the penitentlaIy. 1t may be said
that this is an eXSggeration, but IL Is the only
l gicsl conclusion 10 the premises as.um-
ed by the advocates of the three
rs. Let IL be understood that our
public school affords educational
poor Only, and only the poor will attend. The
pride Of tho0e Of moderate means, End even
OF the poor themselves, will soon drive away
a large number Of This ClgSs, who viii thus be
deprived even OF the advantages Of an &C
Quaintance with the three "r :" so all-suffi-
ciCnt in the estimation oi some. Let atUsnd-
Rnce on yOUr public schools once become
badge OF pauperism, aud your schools Tere
bet'sr closet. AESume, Tor the SAX O! aTgu-
ment, that this is too dark a pic uTe, none can
deny that the abolition OF our high school we
call IL high, instead Of normal, Tor the pur-
poses Of this Ter0rD would drive from the
SUI pOrt. .of our public schools many taX-pay-
els who are patrons OF the primary and gam
higher branches would naturally prefer TO ley
the foundation for such course
OF study under the direction Of
those Who are TO guile their more
advanced lRbOrs-heuce they go the private
school at which all branches are Taught, from
the highest to the lowest. Agsin, thlnk Of
the incentive 70 clogs application, di igente,
and Industry, alike In a mental and moral
point Of siew, which the poor but worthy pu-
pil, in the lower grades, male and fem ale, n as
In the distinction and honor - be won in the
higher branches OF study, 10 which his or her
aim Is directed; the proud emtnence OF the
them onward and upward. Who would de-
prive these children, WantOnly OF this boon .
Many OF the poor girls in your sCnColS look
forward 10 qualifying In mselyes fOI teach
els, whereby they can earn au honorable and
comfortable suppoTt, and for the attainment OF
which they are alone dependent on the public
schools. How csn their lauosble ambition De
grs tified save through the instrumentallty OF
your normal school? Your public school sys-