The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-26
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Simple justice to q most deserving and
iaborious class OF public servants demands
that the present Legislature shall not adjourn
without adopting some measure for the relief
|, Of the public school teachers Of this city. 1t
lyast be apparent to all that, unless some
better provision for their remuneration
than now exists is made, the public school
system Of this city, upon the scale it is now
projected, must be entirely abandoned. In
short, 1t is absolutely impossible for the
teachers OF these schools to live on the mis-
cradle pittance they are now in receipt of.
1t would certainly be great calamity for
the already inadequate school facilities af.
forded this people to be at all curtailed, and
We trust most sincerely that the Legislature
will exhaust every possible expedient in order
10 avert this misfortune. It is very certain
that the present establishment cannot be sus-
tanned on the proportion OF the school fund
allotted to this city, yet from New Orleans is
derived not less than two-thirds of the entire
public school fund OF the State. The
Justice OF the present apportionment it is not
necessary to discuss. In any event the sum
realized from the two mills tax Is altogether
insufficient for the educational establishment
az 1t now exists throughout the State. Our
schools cannot be sustained without money.
The people will not willingly consent to the
closing Of their public schools, yet, If they
are to be maintained, some provision must be
made for the payment OF the teachers en-
ployed in them. IL 1t is found impossible
TO do this, to pay these public
servitors wages they can live on. then, good
iaith to them necessarily involves a curtail-
ment OF school expenses, and a confinement
OF their work to such portions OF the year
and such kind Of instruction as can be paid
lor by the limited means at command for the
payment OF salaries and other expenses. As
we have said. such remedy would be calam-
itous indeed, and should be avoided IL posi-
bic. 1t is certainly, though, a very grievous
wrong to employ teachers at fixed salaries.
and to require Of them responsible and unre-
hitting labors, involving them in expenses
they would not otherwise incur and making
such demands upon their time as to leave
them no possibility Of engaging in other
profitable labor, when there is no possible as
surance OF paying them. This is the grossest
possible injustice, and it is absolutely inde-
fensible.
The only honest and manly course Ia to cav
to these people, 1--WE C unit pay YOU therefore
We will not employ you" We believe, how
ever, were this question taken hold of by the
Legislature In the proper spirit that no such
humiliating confession would be necessary
There are now not less than $50 teachers
employed In these various schools, large
proportion Of whom rely. absolutely, on their
salaries for the means Of supporting them
selves, and, In many instances, helpless fami-
lies besides. BY reason OF their constant en-
ployment they are deprived OF seeking other
means Of livelihood. They are at constant
expense. and the car fare In going to and
nom their schools Is alone considerable
Item OF expense. The failure to fulfill
the contracts made with these people
necessarily involves the greatest hardships
ana Is wrong, utterly wrong. One instance
mas occurred under our own observation where
= ady was compelled to remain away from
M school for several consecutive days sim
ply because she had not the car fare to take
aer there and back home, and the distance
vas too great to walk. Her salary was $50 a
month, commanding from fifteen to twenty |
i've cents at the brokers' shops, and her car |
are was twenty cents cash per day. There
san De no complaint on the score of the eco
Eonical disbursement Of the fund; the ex- !