Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-09
TIE VILLAGE DISTRICT.
An Attempt to pat the "Knif. OF Retrench
meme" "a. the Root of the free.

ia the high school room. The meeting was
called to order by DR.. Brckett, the chairman, and
the proceedings of the last meeting read by the
clerk, J. +. Pierce.
Mr. ID. /. Pike said be had proposition to
submit, IN case IA reduction III salaries of teachers
Is made. He would have 10 IT, ductlon that would
impair in any way the efficiency Of the
schools The Necessity for The prac-
tice of economy is absolute and unay liable.
lie disclaimed presenting any measure at the las.
meeting detrimental TO the interests OF the schools
/ lie wanted vote taken on his order, and he
should be satisfied whether II is voted up or down.
/ Boston and other places have reduced the salaries
OF teachers, - pei cent for all $1,000, and 10
per cent. on all under $1,000 He submitted the
I following
Voted, That the salaries Of the School Teach
crs IN this District ior the current school year be
/ fixed AS follow. Teacher Of high school, Sli00;
teacher of grammar school, $1,000 That one
sistant IA the high school be dispensed with, and
| the number of classes in that school be reduced
accord ngly that the salaries OF the teachers III
! intermediate and primary schools for the cur
rent the same as last ear, As Also the
compensation of the assistant IN the nigh school
and the assistants IN the grammar school; that
the services OF outside hired teachers IN music and
! eocutiOn be discontinued for the current year.
| W X. Smith, Esq, sad the sla utes of the State
| provide that the Supetnending School commit
| tee and agent shall fix the pay OF teachers This
power, IN the village district, is put 10 the hands
| of board Of Directors. Upon this understanding
| of the law the Directors have acted for the forty
years the district has been established. The NOV
| er might change his order and make 1t advisory.
| As ii member ot the board he should be glad 10
| receive Suggestions; how FAR he would carry
! them out would depend whether they agreed with
| his best judgment on the matters presented.
The largest meeting ever held III this district had
decided that the schools should be carried on AS
| in the past. And now, with a scanty few III at
tendance, composed largely of persons selected by
| those who had time TO 20 out and drum up re-
cruits, it is unfair to reverse this decision Those
| WHO have the greatest interests at stake are not
| here. The whole policy Is based upon the small
est aud meauest sort OF policy 1t viii amount TO
nothing, however, as II cannot overthrow the
| provisions Of the statutes Of the State.
Mr. Pike said the order was altogether in &C
| cordance with the school law Of 1893, and the
amendment of 1888. The people Of the district
vote the money-the directors expend it. If this
| i. not 50, better let US 90 home, and leave the
whole matter 10 the hands of the directors.
Judge Libbey thought the proposition would
| sound better to be mace advisory. BY law tue
directors have the power OF school committees aud
| agents, to hie teachers and hN their compensa-
| uon. They have no power TO raise money, but
must expend the money put INTO their hands by
| the district.
| Mr. Pike amended his order so as to instrdct
boa OF directors, &c.
| J. A. Homan Esq, said he had no desire to
come into hostile conflict with the board o. di-
| reCiols; We have common interest 10 these
schools. The people pay the Ills, and it is nat
| ura that they should feel interest, and the di
rector, are cuo,en to carry out the wishes of the
district. We should economic 10 every direction;
the taxes this year will be larger than last year.
| The proportion of Mr. Pike taken up sere-
atm The first TO fix the salary Of the high
| school teat her at SliOO.
| Mr. Smith moved to strike out SliO0, and in
| .eIt >ljO0.
| MI Elisha Akin, moved TO place it at $1,000 He
| had no axes TO grind he respected the teachers
| aud looked upon them as first class teachers. But
through sense of duty he felt called upon to urge
| the cutting down OF salaries. He then presented
| figures intending TO show that toe expenditures
| Tor schools were smaller in 1856, 1888, 1861 and
| 1868, when there was larger number OF schol-
| ans and Just as efficient schools. We payIn.
| twice high a. The same education can be secur-
| cd at other Institutions OF learning. Why this
| Increase of expenditures, when the tax payers of
| the district don't know where the money Is com
| my from to pay the taxes the coming year Why
should man who earns ) % per day be obliged
| to pay 500 day to mau to educate his child
rem;
| Mr.. smith remarked that if we are to be cited
10 the salaries OF the high school teachers of past
| years, MI. WsteThouse received $1,000 per year.
| O. ID. Baker, Esq, said that this matter
fully discussed at tue last meeting. and PROPOSE
tion about identical with that under consideration
| voted down. The meeting decided by a large
| vote that the schools should be carried on the
| same as last year This order is indirect blow
| at the appropriations, and he claimed that il was
| out OF order The directors are already obliged
| to curtsi expenditures under a reduction Of the
| sum originally asked for, and in view OF not re-
| ceived so much from the State as expected He
| gave figures showing the salaries OF teachers in
| Auburn, Bangor, and Portls nd, there being more
| teachers employed in those schools IN proportion
the scholars, and at higher salaries than are paid
| in Augusta. lie said, we cannot afford to be mig
| gardly towards our schools. 1t Is the tax payers
| and their children who are to be benefited by
| these schools and the men who get the most ben
eft from them are those whose taxes the
| smallest. The children of the man who pays one
dollar tax receives the same benefits as the child
| rem OF the man who pays one hundred dollars.
Tins proposition cuts off the benefits Of the schools
and involves an entire change of character of the
high school, and would overthrow the very object
| for which the school was established.
| Mr.. Holman said there is feeling Of FESTIVE
ness on account of the enormous cost Ot carrying
on these schools. The directors had put the cal
| culstions too high, with the expectation that they
| would be cut down by the district
| DR., Thompson said the efficiency OF our excel
lent schools is due in great measure to the super
vision OF the directors, and moved that the propo-
>iuon be referred to them. Not agreed to.
The question then required on the proposition
| to make the salary OF the high school teachers
| $500. Defeated. The salary was then fixed at
| Sli00
The salary of the grammar school teacher
fixed at Sl400, now.
| Voted, That one ASST tqnt 10 the grammar
| school be dispensed with.
The salaries of the teachers in 'e intermediate
| and primary schools were allowed to remain as
| before.
| W. X. Smith congratulated the district on the
| new hight that had apparently dawned upon the
| md OF the chief mover in the matter (pike). At
first he was for cutting down all now he would
spare a few and Mr.. Holman (the othet li.ht)
was IN favor of spaIing the grammar school teacn
er. Here the two great lights colIded. In re-
gard to cutting down the taxes, the propositions
| which bad passed would not lessen the taxes to
the extent of giving cent an hour to those who
had spent their time in discussing ii here this af
| ternoon. The "toiing mechanics" are not here,
they are busy at their tasks We have here the
bloated bondholders' and the men OF wealth. Add
| to these the chdess men, and those who have
been educated at the public expense, and now vote
| against liberal measures They have climbed up
| the ladder of fame, and now wish to kick the lad
der over that no one else may climb up to their
| elevated position.
The proposition to discontinue instruction in
| music was taken up
Charles Hewins, Esq, opposed the proposition
| There are many children III our public schools
who never hear the sounds Of music 10 their own
homes and God forbid that they should be denied
| this little privilege.
| MIR, Robertson plead for retaining music in the
schools. If all could the progress made by
| the scholars IN the art, he was sure that they
| would not vote against music.
| MIR. Holman claimed that the study of music
was not embraced in the idea of our common