The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-04-20

books. The class was formed Latin, and
Greek were taught one term, then
stopped. The money paid for those
books and the teacher which included
many dollar obtained by hard day labor
was literally thrown away; for even if
the languages had been taught
Thoroughly they would nave been of no
earthly Use to anybody; but to stop after
having taught hardly the rudiments OF
them shows either short sightedness or
carlessness on the part of The directors.
The teaching OF dead languages having
proved a failure, and the board being de-
termined to have something attractive. 1t
was decided that telegraphy was certainly
essential to 50 common school educa-
tion." The wires were stretched from
ono school house to the other, and to
other places in the city: teacher
was sent for, tclcgraphy was taught one
term, then shared the tate OF its prede.
cessor, and, today, the telegraph poles
along Walnut street stand as monuments
TO the extravaganza and folly of our for
mer board of directors.
Soon after the teaching of tecgraplIy
had ceased, because ii was denounced as
violation of law, our directors affirmed
that German belonged to "a common
school education" As before, parents
were called upon to furnish their children
with books. Prof. Frick, a poor, intelli-
gent, and good man, was sent for, the
class was formed and German taught one
term. Prot. Frick was not notified that
his services would not be required for the
second term. until within one day of it
commencement, thus having refused
situation elsewhere, he was left without
means of support.
The next term came, and with it a new
sensation. sin order to possess a com
mon school education every body must be
a shorthand reporter" was the solemn
verdict of our wise directors. Again
parents had to furnish money for books
a teacher was procured the class was
formed and photography was begun and
still continues: but venture to predict
that the end of this term means the end
Of the class in photography. So it
should, tor it has no business in our
schools, and should never have been be-
gun. We may then however. expect
new, tor the brains of our d.
rectors seem to be in process OF evolu-
ton.
A notice appeared in the BULLETIN q
few days ago to the effect that Miss
Aubrey had left town and that one of
Prot. Alvord's assistants had taken her
place. II the high school can dispense
with one teacher, why could it not be-
fore Miss Aubrey's departure The fact
that 1t does so now proves that there was
a large yearly expense which might have
been saved.
Years ago. when times were better
money easier obtained, and services CON-
manded higher price, our principals re.
ceived for their services Sl,sOO per an
mum; but now, when there Is general
stagnatiOn of business, when one bank
ruptcy is followed by another, when the
laborer must work for much less than he
usedt,, get. Na.' then take bi1a II
ole in one year mpn
'-icn we are almost borne
|'u.,wn with railroad and other taxes, our
principal must have 5000 per annum,
which means: nine months Of actual
service at S2GG GG per month, or ISIS
days at So - per day. or lbs hours at
81 II per hour, which, together with the
salaries of assistants, make one room cost
nearly $1,000 per annum. This
room had an average attendance OF about
fifty scholars, making each scholar cost
500 ~ for every nine months.
know that at the late election OF d.
rectOrs, the real state Of affairs was not
known by many, and one or the other
side proiitcd by this ignorance. state
these things now tor the information of
the public. Let them demand a correc
ton.
In conclusion would ask was it
right to engage Prof. Alvord in prefer.
cncc to that gentleman from Carbondalc,
thus giving away three thousand dollars
per annum, which might have bee n
saved: Was it right to teach, contrary
to law. Latin, Greek, biography, Ger
man and photography, thereby necessi-
tating the purchasing of books by par
ents, and the spending of large sums of
the school fund by the directors, from
which not the slightest benefit was de-
rived by the pupils.
Was 1t right to pay salary to SUPER
iluous teacher in the high school? After
having sent for Prof. Prick, and wrong.
fully begun.the teaching of German, was
1t right to hold him to his engagement
until one day of the commenc-
ment of his second term, then
suddenly, and, to him, unexpectedly
discharge him, leaving him without any
means OF support:
Is 1t right to pay SO IL per hour tor
services which require for their perform
ance only six hours Of the day, and which
necessitatc neither great mental nor
physical cxer,ion--services which in
times OF prosperity commanded only
81 GO per hour.
These questions are respectfully SUBJ
mitted, and whether the answers to them
should be affirmative or NEGATIVE. IL left
for each reader to decide. For my part
! feel justified In saying that our school
funds have been most in;ud;oioue,y usod