Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-01
Our b schools.

LIS tHbg Cdl lutm Oufh, luUugu we
are, at times, sorely troubled as to
recognize whether they really belong
to us or to some one else. We are in
clined to think they belong to the
state-no, not to the state either, ex-
aetly, but to the party in power; or,
speaking more directly, to those per-
sonages known as directors; for it
seems at times as If they have the
power to give or take away as best
pleases their own sovereign majesties.
1t is a serious matter Of question
whether education by private sub
scription, as formerly prevailed, or ed
ucation by the state, as is now the
custom, is the better. But as to
whether private education, or public
education as is now p%racticed, and, as
is frequently the case, warped from
the purpose and intent of the law, is
the better, there can be no question.
This will be apparent TO any one who
will take the trouble to think a little.
Formerly the people elected by vol
untary ballot several substantial citi-
zens who were identified with the
community who were in sympathy
with their wants and who made it
their duty to look after the school in
their community, see to its wants, and
the wants Of the people, the proper
treatment Of children,et etc. Now the d.
rectors are most frequently situated
outside of the neighborhood over
which they preside, knowing little of
the peoples wants, and, as frequently
happens, caring still less. They are
selected, not because they are
among US, not because Of their in
tegrity or learning, but because of
their influence, because they are pow
ertul among their kind, because they
belong to the party in power. 1t is
surprising then that men that can
neither read nor write, men without
principle or honor, men whose selfish
ness or party bias will cause them to
turn out some poor devil Of a school
teacher, and put in one Of their kin
or some one to whom they owe a
favor. 1t used to be that the people
could quietly meet and elect such a
teacher as they desired, pay him ac-
cording to his worth, and start or stop
the school at their pleasure. But
now the people need give themselves
no trouble, the directors will start the
school when it suits their own con.
%venience; they will give them a
teacher, too, one about whom the
people never heard till to day, per
haps. Is he competent Is he
yirtuous? Is be honest? Never mind.
that's not your business; the,directors
will see to that-though they NAV
lack ever so much Of being intelligent
or honest themselves. Go home, l
say and give yourselves no further
trouble about the matter, the direc.
tors will see that the school
is conducted to their liking. and
not to yours. If any trouble
occurs the directors will attend to il.
they will cause to be whipped or OK,
PEELED any pupil they please, wen lift
be their own darling child. Besides
the teacher is responsible to the di,
rectors with whom he contracts. and
not to you. You won't send vour
children TO school at all, you saw?
Very well; he will draw his salary
whether he has a scholar or not. 81
! say again, 60 home; leave II To- their
majesties, the directors. In the DAYS
OF yore teachers were ENCOURAGED TO
study and advance, well knowing the
greater the ability, the better the nav
A teacher could then get his consent
to making teaching a study, a profess
sion; could become more proficient
every day, and thus earn a living Far
himself and family. But now he Il
not encouraged to study, knowingthat
bis wages are fixed, and that the most
trihing teacher in the land tbai
sways the switch over a lot of dirty
negroes, and who can scarce read In.
t~elligeltly, receives as much pay as
ne whose education has cost him
hundreds of dollars, will receive for
teaching the children Of the most an.
lightened country. Consequently. no
one who expects to advance in the
world ever thinks Of making school.