Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-14
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Our High SchO0l.

ouE SCho0I.
EDITORS APPEAL-When we look through
the different departments of our laws we find
that their due administration in the cities and
towns In which we live concerns US a hun
dredfold more than all others. The protection
of life and property, the security of our
homes, the good or the bad influences which
guard or assail our families, mainly depend
upon the conduct of our home governments.
1t is here that education is of vital impor-
tance. Here it must be cherished, not only
by the local community, but In every home
aud by every fireslde. The argument, there
fore, as well as the spirit OF our republic de-
mand. that social and political duties shall be
put upon each man, which should be per-
formed with intelligence and fidelity. The
governing class evidently demands higher
education than the mere primary elements of
learning. Consider the vast utility of the
higher forms of learning In the multifarious
relations OF the people to one another. Gov
ernor Seymour, In late speech, said: 'lf
you should strip from our workshops all that
learning has devised or discovered, the
wheels of profitable industry would instantly
stop. Strike out of existence all that our
high schools have done to aid all pursuits,
and dark cloud would overshadow our
land" Destroy the intelligence they have
dltfused among all classes, and all forms of
property would shrink in value. How ab-
surd, then, is the charge that wrong is done
to labor or to property where diffusion of
learning is upheld In some degree at the
public cost. Says Governor Seymour: ''There
can be no more dangerous teachers than
those who would subject knowledge to the
rules which govern our dealings in material
things" Well it is that men of experience
and wisdom should speak out In vindication
of the value of our higher system of educa-
ton In connection with our public schools.
Each denomination IN Memphis is striving to
provide high school within its own limits.
Bat, alas, poor Memphis, at this time of all
others, proposes to abolish hers-at once her
pride and ornament. KY.
SchOol-Teachers,
EDITORS APPEAL-Tne school board pro-
poses to cut down salaries, and, as usual with
men managed bodies, shows great favoritism
TO its own sex. The cutting down comes
hardest On the hardest workers, because these
workers are women. The great body of
teachers in the public schools are women; a
few, some two or three of the head teachers
are men, the rest all women. Thus it will
be seen those who rule in the public schools
are men, while those who do the real work,
the hard work, the work for which the
schools are instituted, namely: instruct chill
dren, are utterly without voice and power in
the management of schools, because they are
In doublessense these women are
in subject condition-suhject as women to
men, subject as employees to employer. In
The report issued by the United States gov
eminent on the schools throughout the
Union, the commissioner gives it as his opin-
on, and as the growing opinion OF every
that women make better teach
ers than men. In view of this fact, and of
The further fact that the free schools were es-
ablished for the sole business of furnishing
teachers for children, why should any other
Ill, : l..
he real business, an accessory to the fact of
be set up as of more importance,
md command higher pay than teaching?
For instance, the committee which claims to
nave given mature elaboration to the mat
er of cutting salaries, recommend that the
itty-six women who do the real work for
which the schools were instituted, be reduced
loliars per month, while the secretary,
whose business is not half so arduous or half
o important, is to continue to receive one
hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents |
yer month for the eight months the schools
re run. Is this fair? Is it wise? The SUI
Is to receive one hundred and
ighty-seven dollars and fifty cents per
month. Can any one believe the work of |
uperintendent equals the work of three |
women teachers? The secretary is paid as
much as two women teachers, the superin- |
endent as much as three. Competent Judges |
f teachers work say they would take the |
ecretary's or superintendent position at |
mailer salary in preference to a tea hers
lace. There IS no justice in this sort of sex |
avorltism; it is not to the credit of school |
cards that they continue to practice it. The |
NV regulating our State schools has a clause
asserted expressly to discountenance and do
way with sex favoritism, and as long as our
ity school board claims ITS pro rata of the |
tate funds to run the city schools, it should |
eel IN honor bound to carry out the letter
nd spirit of the State law in the expenditure
the States money, and stop showing par
atty to men in the matter of pay.
E. M.
Pure Ice-Cream and Sherbets.
EDITORS APPEAL-Is it not astonishing
lat dealer in this city advertises that he is
lie only one in Memphis that keeps pure
cam, when it is well known that Specht &
Walter were the first five years ago) to bring
1re cream from Kentucky to this market,
ad have kept pure cream ever since; and
lat the senior member of that firm made
lerbets for King Louis Philippe, of France,
efore any other sherbet manufacturer In this
ty was born? If pure ice-cream and sher-
ets have not been sold at 81 Madison for the
ist FIVE years, then am mistaken.
OLD MEMPHIAN.