Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-28
THE MORE TEACHERS TIE SHORTER
TuE SESSION.


THE SESSION.
The school board decided last night to
continae the salaries Of tesehers-on
papsr-at the former standard, giving as
q reason that the session may have to be
shortened several months. and that it is
uncertain when the pay will be forth.
coming. This seems to be an admission
that It would be proper 10 reduce salaries
If the money was in the treasury to pay
np monthly, and to continue the session
ten months in the year. We would re-
gret veEy much to see 3 reduction Of sal
triss, IS the teachers are already on
tmalI pay and more than earn what they
receive. But the wisdom Of promising
She salaries paid formerly when nobody
knows where the money is to come from
seems about as wise as maintaining a
fancy appendsgs to the school system in
The shape Of a high school from which
graduates are discharged annually with
diplomas under their arms and mistaken
ideas in their heads. II the school sys-
TEN Of Memphis is to be broken down
and destroyed it can be accomplished
sooner and surer by continuing this m
necessary and i%sneiiuI attachment than
nuy other plan. The teachers are to be
cut down TO six mOnths for the sake Of
running q high school in connection
with a system already overstrained aHd
inadequate. Here is the report sub
United by the finance committee:
Your committee, appointed to consider
teachers salaries, beg leave 70 report
that We have considered the subject with
our present financial condition, and
would recommend that all salaries re-
maiu the same as for the past year. Our
reason for this is because we have re-
quired all teachers and employees OF the
schools to enter into a contract 10 do
faithful service for the board without
having one dollar to pay them, and not
knowing with any certainty when we will
have it. We have also made them agree
that the board may shorten the session
at any time thought best. This not oRly
places the teachers in a position they
may suffer loss and Inconvenience by
not receiving their salaries for some con-
siderable time, but they also take the risk
of being employed only FIVE or elk
months during the year. If we should
add to this a reduction of salaries it
would look like injustice if not positive
oppression.
This means that a short session is to
be in part compensated by high pay and
a high school. Beautiful graduates will
be turned out after passing through a
curriculum OF six months a year. Teach.
ers will have a fine vacation, too, OF six
months. We do not want to see their
salaries or the sessions cut down, but
The namber Of teachers may be dimin.
ished by dispensing with the high
school a~ppendage, and the rent OIL
one or two buildings and other expense,
connected Herewith. The LEDGER,
views upon this subject are well known
and are shared By q large majority o
abe tax-paying people. They believe
with US that the State should give ever,
child a good r%udimentary education, bu
when it comes to the ornaments
branches and to diplomas, paid for GU
of the general fund, the masses d
not approve such a policy. 1t i
neither beneficial nor equitable. Tn
State can not and should not Civ
every boy a collegiate education. 1t i
not requisite for success or usefulness i
lie. Some could not take it il offered
Others would never turn it to any pre,
tical account. Those WHO have tn
Adaptsbility and the ambition usual
work their way through, whether aide
or not. Let common schools be sui
tanned as such, but net as colleges {
academies.
WHILE the Republicans claim thu
na,as H. - a