The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-28
On the Public school Laws.

To the Editor OF the Herald:
AS the period is fast approaching when
contracts will have to be made with teachers
of the public schools, we beg leave through
the medium of your columns to state few
facts relative 10 one feature Of the existing
school laws OF Texas, and which 1t seems is
only partially known. If at all, by msjority
of the teachers and trustees throughout the
state. We refer to that nonsensical clause
in the law, which requires daily attendance
at school Of seven.y-fve per cent Of the
scholastic population of a community, and
In default Of which, teacher however COM
petent or conscientious he may be in the dis
charge Of his duty; or however fair and hon
orsble the contract may be between himself
and trustees, is illiberaily and unjusily
choused out of part Of his honest labor.
In no portion of the union, that We are
aware of, are teachers salaries as Insignificant
as here 10 Texas, and we contend, that in no
part of the world does the upright aud con-
scientious teacher come nearer 10 earning
every cent Of his poor piLtance than here;
therefore we have no hesitsncy in affirming
that law that subserves no honorable or
Just purpose, but on the contrary, does an
act of injustice TO an honorable and useful
class Of men, is Ubiquitous in the extreme,
aud Is one far ''more honored 10 the breach,
than 10 the observance"
Now, whilst we are absolutely opposed 10
the system of nepotism heretofore prevailing,
wherein the public school fund being looked
upon as species Of legitimate plumber, every
tyro In learning was foisted on some commu
nity; and whilst we are In favor of employing
none other than teachers Of standing, age
and experience in our public schools, we
would like some one Of the many opponents
OF the school law to state how either trustees
or teachers are 10 know when they are
making q Just or valid con rsct, when the
whole matter Is based upon mere contin-
gency.
There Is no one but must admit on exam.
lining that feature Of the law that II 10 on q
OAR with the most OF the legislation done al
!, Austin, and Is undoubtedly the result Of ig-
norance, carelessness and corruption, and
each or all Of them melted 10 action
BY the potent fumes Of bad whiskey.
As proof OF what we assert, we have only 10
refer TO the Galveston Weekly Journal Of the
Let inst. In an interview between a Journal
reporter and Colonel Mack, OF Collin county,
! 10 relation TO the locating Of the state uniyer-
r>liiy. Ia reply 70 tho interrogasory, what OBJ
lection have you to Aus,ini the colonel Is
reported MS saying, among many other
things, that II was the most corrupt city In
tho state, and that he did not believe that an
understanding of the habits Of the officials
would afford good example for imitation.
For insssnce,it would be rather demoralistng
for tho students II they were 10 SOC the sec
rotary OF the board OF education keeping a
jug Of whisky In his public Office for the
purpose of influencing Legislation 90 the
subject Of education, and where the officials
without shsmo or re,pect for public opinion,
havo worn the paths smooth from their
oticss 10 the bar rooms and dram shops OF
the city. That they are perfectly indifferent
to public education, and have no frat class
schools In the city.
Such, then, Il tho opinion of not a mer,
!, 10 okor on In Venice, but Of ono who has had
% ans chance 70 SEQ and know all about
tho vile and corrupt legislation carried on al
TIL capital 90 any man 10 the ststc. We are