Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-16
One Hundred Dollars a MOnth-The
Other Teachers Cut Down to ak
ty Dollars per Month.
The High Schools TO be Retained for the
Present Until Committee Can Re-
port misunderstanding Dis
cussion on Report OF the
Finance Committee.


On motion of Mr.. Raudle, Mr. L. H. Estes
was called to the chair.
On the roll being called a quorum was
found present. The minutes of the previous
meeting were read and approved.
Mr.. Rhett stated that as there was but a
mere majority Of the board present, and the
matters coming up being ofqreat Importance,
ne moved that the board adjourn until next
Monday evening.
The motion was Withdrawn temporarily so
that the report of the finance committee could
be read. Several members came in and the
motion to adjourn was withdrawn.
Altogether, fifteen members out of the
twenty beng present, President w. A
Goodman, having appeared, took the chair.
1t was agreed that the recommendations OF
the finance committee be taken up sepa-
rately.
REDUCTIONS OF SALARIES.
The superintendent salary of $500 per
annum was agreed to, Superintendent Ieath
having made tie suggestion and asking for
the reduction.
Janitors' salaries, nine men for eight
months at S12 per month, and four men for
four months at Sl2 per month. Agreed to by
the board.
HEAD TEACHERS SALARIES.
Seven head teachers at $50 per month
each. They receive 500 per month at
presently
The motion to non concur was lost by vote
of 10 to s.
Mr.. Dent moved to make the salary of the
head teachers 800 per month each. The
motion was adopted by a vote of nine to
seven. This did not include Mr.. Lott, head
teacher of the Monroe street colored schools,
who works under contract for sixty dollars
per month, and has charge of three rooms.
1t was resolved that the head teachers not
I,oSG alO - 10. 81
rooms should not receive 800 per month.
TEACHERS SALARIES.
Fifty teachers at sixty dollars per month
each. Mr.. Rhett moved to fix the salaries of
teachers as they have been heretofore, that is,
nine teachers at $50 per month, and forty
three teachers at $72 per month. He favored
paying these salaries as heretofore, and when
the money is exhausted close the schools and
let the responsibility rest where it belongs,
with the people and with the county court
that refused to levy the additional five cents
tax.
Mr.. Folkes advocated the same views;
He flVQred carrying out the schools in all
their efficiency until all the money was ex-
hausted, and then close the schools and ap-
peal to the legislature for relief. Public SEN
timent will sustain the schools
Mr.. Rambaut favored running the schools
as long as possible and cutting down expenses
so as to run tlem for eight months. In all
branches of business salaries have been cut
down. We have not the money and cannot
pay IT. The idea Of running the schools only
three or four months at high salaries is not
the business way of doing things. He be-
Ieved in paying high salaries when they
were able, but when they were not able he
believed In re'renchment and running the
sc lools for eight months. The finance COM
mttee had presented an estimate of receipts
n bn f,un -, /.
practical suggestions.
DR.. Saunders, chairman of the finance COM
mittee, advocated the adoption of the report.
The legislature does not meet until January,
and it is doubtful that any relief can be Sc
cured then. The county court has already re-
fused to add five cents to the tax, and the
rate of taxation has already been fixed for
the year. The county court, which meets In
April next, can only be appealed to, but then
it Is too late for relief
Mr.. Folkes favored running the schools
at the present rate, and whenever the last
dollar is gone, then close the schools, and let
the responsibility rest where it belongs-with
the p ople and the county court.
Mr.. Estes said it that plan was carried out,
to close the schools whenever the last dollar
is gone, you cannot get the teachers to make
any such contract; but If you state to them
that you vii pay certain amount, and keep
the schools open for eight months, then the
teachers will agree to the proposition, be-
cause tdey will know what they are doing
Mr.. Duffy said he favored cutting down the
head teachers to $50 and the other teachers
to $50 per month, but now that the board had
raised the salaries Of head teachers to 800
per month, he opposed cutting down the
other teachers to $50 per month.
Mr.. Dent favored abolishing the high
school to save all the other schools and keep
hem gong as long as possible
Mr.. keely SAID there were too many ''ifs''
md lands" in the discussion. He did not
believe in paying high salaries and leave the
children without education. He believed in
Icing the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der. Now that the red tape head teachers
cutting down the salaries of the ffty-six
eachers. He believed in doing business &C.
,ordIng to your means.
President Goodman stated that Superin-
endent Leath favored cutting down salaries
n order to meet the emergency. If the high
chools had to go, he favored running the
'ther schools as long as possible, even If
heaper and lower grade of teachers had to
,e employed. He believed, however, in en-
,loying good principals and paying them
,ood salaries. The superintendent, he said,-
bought the present manner of grading sala-
les unjust, by advancing the pay each year.
1aDy of the teachers who had been several |
ears IL the schools were not as good as others |
gho come into the schools long atterward |
lie believed that increased pay should follow |
merit and ability, and not the number of |
ears service. Superintendent Leath also |
aid shat the teachers were willing |
D accept twenty per cent. reduction
n SALARIES. President Goodman favored |
DOPING the report of the finance committee,
ney had been running into debt, and it Is
me TO retrench. He did not believe that
ne board had the right to go into debt reck
'ssly, or to run the schools at high rate
nd then stop them suddenly and IN this
tanner leave the children starving for educa-
on. The board had no right, in his opin-
m, to deliberately go into debt without
moving now it can be paid. We had better
n trying to do all that they could for the
llldren than trying to do all for the teach
IS. They were trustees for the funds put in
lelr hands and for the children, but not for
he teachers.
Mr.. Iglauer opposed going into an expense
lie teachers received $50 per month last year,
Id the few who received $72 can this year
We on $50 as well as the others.
MORE NOTIONS.
Mr.. Dents motion was called up, to make
e salaries the same as last year under the
esent regulations. namely, $50 the first
ar, $50 the second year, and $72 in after
ans.
Mr.. Randle said he signed the report OF
e finance committee, but since that time he
Id changed his views materially. He now
vored paying the head teachers 800 per
onth, because they could not dispense with
Oh teachers, ard those teachers would not
rye for any less amount; but he favored
ting down the salaries of all the subordi-
tie teachers, because plenty of subordinate |
achers could be obtained
Mr. K, ely did not believe that the seven
ad teachers should control the board as
IS suggested by Mr.. Folkes He believed
cutting down the head teachers, like
hers, and giving the children all the school !
z possible. Probably these head teachers
e not satisfied now, and may want higher
iaries. ,
DR.. Saunders said there are thirty or forty
plications from teachers in the schools to ,
re these high school positions, should the
esent head teachers step down and out. :
THE FINAL VOTE. {
Mr.. lglauer moved as a substitute to Mr.. l
mt motion, that the report of the commit
! OF finance cutting down the salaries of I
ichers to $50 per month be adopted. The
'tion was adopted by vote of eleven to c
:, and the salaries were fixed at $40 ner I