Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-15


the o Sd Fellows building. But one or
two of the members were absent, and
these are absent from the city. The
minutes Of the last meeting were read
by Visitor Trezevant, secretary pro tenn,
and he also read letter from Colonel
James It. Leath, dated at White Cliff
springs, and accepting the position OF
school superintendent, to which he had
been elected by the board. On being
called upon, Superintendent Leath read
the following report:
sUPERINTENDENT's REPORT.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT;
MEMPHIS, August IA, 1861
To the honorable Board of Education:
GENTLEMEN-It affords me pleasure
to he able in person TO tender you my
sincere thanks for the honorable and
responsible position / row occupy IN re-
Iation to your honorable body and the
public schools Of Memphis. Ii my
services as superintendent prove accept
able to the board, and result in the in
crease OF public interest in the schools, 1
shall feel compensated far beyond the
pecuniary reward attendir g the ONCE OF
SUPERINTENDENT. AS we are rapidly ap-
prosching the beginning OF the new
scholastic year, l deem it eminently
proper, in accordance with section NC.
q Of the rules and regulations as to the
duties of superintendent, to suggest such
measures as in my judgment will con-
duce TO the improvement of the city
schools. 1t has been specially an
nounced by the highest authority in our
city, that Memphis is in that state OF
financial embarrassment expressed by
the word bankruptcy" II so, it GER
tainly becomes the duty of the various
of the city who draw
their pd6uLun VitB from the peck
cts Of tie taxr-ayers, to consu
economy in all their transactions
Our citizens are the most tax burdened
and mandamus.ridden people, perhaps,
in the world. would be glad, therefore,
to see the Memphis board OF education
manifest all the sympathy in their pow
er toward those unfortunate citizens by
running the schools:on as economic a
basis as possible consistent with their
utility. In the interest of economy then,
l beg leave to suggest the entire suspen-
sion of the high school department of
the city schools. This will save several
thousand dollars, q portion of which
might be well spent in the common
school department, in developing its
greater usefulness, thus putting your
money where it will do the most gotd.
/ is well known that the common school
system as originally organized, never
high school curriculum.
The city of Boston, in the days OF her
wealth and power, founded
high schools in connection with her COM
mon schools, and her example was imi
tated by other cities all over the land
which were less able to afford this ex.
psnsive luxury in education. All this
was before the present period Of enor-
NOUS State and municipal Indebtedness
and consequent taxation. Now there is
q widespread feeling, from Maine
TO California, that this species
[ f characterization in common school
education should be dispensed with.
Should the bard be unwilling to defer
to my suggestions in this respect, and
determine on g continuation OF the high
schools, then l recommend the employ
ment Of the best liugual and scientific
talent that can be commanded, for when
languages and sciences are imperfectly
taught, it amounts to criminal waste
of time and money. II the board would
suspend the iDgual department o! the
high schools, aud continue the scientific
course, rs the most useful, it would save
sufficient money to purchase respectable
and other dppaTdt for
more thorough and practical instruction
in the scientific department. A peraist.
epce in the keeping up Of male and
female high school will absorb so much
Of your educational revenue that you
will have to combine the offices OF head
tescher and priG cipal in each scholastic
building. II would be better for the
schools to have an independent princi-
pal for each school building; but in the
interest OF economy recommend the
union of principal and head-teacher IN
one and the same person. also recon-
mend that the peripatetic or itinerant
system of appointing one person rs
principal over several school buildings
be Dispensed with, for the rea-
son that the schools under such
8 princip9lship are too apt to be
neglected and made qustely drilled. In
view of the srdu0Us and diversified Ia
bOrs which devolve on superintendent,
beg permission of the board to employ
an assistant superintendent at my own
expense, and designate w. II. FOute,
Esq AS my assistant, and ask your hon.
oraDle body to recognize him as such.
Mr.. Foute has been teacher in our pub
lie schools for three years, with high
and reputable standing. l think him
highly competent for the position, or
would not select him. 1t is to be clearly
that the board is to be held
harmless by me from any pecuniary la
bility by virtue Of this arrangement.
submitted,
J. T. LEATH, Superintendent.
The report was received, and 1t WAS
moved by Dr.. Arlington to place the
same in the hands Of committee of
five for the purpose OF considering the
contained therein. The COM
mittee to be: MessIs. Goodman, Ram
bsut, Trszsvant, Goodwin and Anderson.
Visitor Robbins opposed the motion
as supplementary, he thinking that
the chair should have the power to APP
point said committee.
Visitor Anderson favored the motion,
he believing it perfectly parliamentary
and proper.
Tue motion was put and it resulted In
its being carried, SO far as the amend
ment to refer to q special committee
was concerned. The resolution as q
whole was also adopted.
On motion OF Visitor Anderson, Pres
ident Mitchell was added to the special
The purchasing committee reported
and referred to the auditing committee,
OF which latter committee the chair
man, Visitor Rsmbaut, made a report on
fioances, etc. The report of The audit
ing com mittee was received, ard the
bills and accounts audited were ordered
paid.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE,
Your finance committee beg leave TO
report an approximate estimate Of the
probable resources and expenditures Of
this board for the ensuing year:
From county trustee, including the in
terest on the State school 900
From Peabody fund. 800
90, 'OO
PROBABLE EXPENSES.
Pay roll and Secretal 800
Fuel 200
minimum. ............... 400
insurance IOO
Rents account 1900
Repair OOl
Expense account, 400
Total. ....... S49,IsO
Probable reefs over probable expenses. Sc, $50
These estimates are bssed on our re.
seipts and expenditures for The past