The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-07-05
OUR SCHOOLS.
SOME SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS
The Relation of the City Government ia
the School system Legislation
Looking Toward the Inn
provement Thereof.

DALLAS, July A. Editor HERALD.l- I'll
The introduction into the City
Council of bill designed as
san ordinance to provide for con-
ducting and managing the public
free schools of the city," and to super
eede the present law, is fit occasion for
the people to examine into the question.
The schools belong to the people, are
supported by their money, and are de-
signed for the education of their chill
dren. They should, therefore, be brought
as near to them and be as much endeared
20 them as possible. Otherwise we cannot
expect the people to cherish and sustain
Them. 1t is not in human nature to do
so. How, then, stands the case under
dhe present law, passed on the 9th of
August, 1877, and the only one we have
had since the city took control of her
schools in April of that year? In theory
the schools were to be under the control
of the City Council, but that body, in the
law referred to, largely places them in
The control of one man-that is, whoever
may happen, from time to time, to be
Mayor, an office selected for entirely diff
ferent purposes and without the slight
est regard to his fitness in regard
to educational matters. Has Dallas had a
Mayor since the war who would pretend
to have the needful experience and
peculiar fitness for these important
duties. With one exception, perhaps
the people would not so consider it, and
This is no reflection on those gentlemen
or their fitness for the office of Mayor in
its legitimate functions by no means.
To begin, as it is and has been ever
since the city took charge Of its schools,
the Mayor is chairman Of the school
committee of the Council. The Mayor,
by the law, is an appendage of the Coun-
Gil only as its presiding officer, with a
casting vote i'll case of tie, and there
fore, is not member of that body
i'm its law-making sense, and,
hence, should be on no committee
1t is contrary to the reason of the case
and to universal practice in legislative
bodies. But in this case the Mayor. by
some rule, is not only per Sc Chairman
OF the Committee on Schools, but actu-
ally appoints the other members of the
same committee. This is one-man
power. Under this law of 1879, the
Mayor first dominates the trustees to
manage the schools, and secondly the
examiners of teachers, as to their quail
dications. The trustees can only employ
teachers who "hold certificates of COM
potency issued by the Mayor, upon the
report of the examiners" Section eight
provides, "That anyone desiring to
beach i'll any of the public schools
in the city, shall present n
certificate, satisfactory to the Mayor,
that he or she is person of good moral
character and of correct exemplary
habits. The Mayor shall, thereupon,
unless satisfied that some good cause
exists for rejecting such certificate, con-
Tene the Examiners and direct an eX-
mi n nf In la. - a.
examiners that the applicant is compe-
tent, the Mayor shall cause the same to
be filed and shall issue a certificate of
competency. This shall be valid for the
current year, and may be renewed with
out examination, for another year, bv
the Mayor, if he be satisfied, etc.
Teachers get their pay or warrants
drawn by the Secretary, rs vouchers
from the Board of Trustees, approved by
the Mayor. The foregoing provisions of
the present law speak for themselves.
The proposition now before the Coun-
Gil has for its initial base the separation
of the city schools from the direct man
ngement of either the Mayor or Council
leaving those functionaries to attend Il
those duties for which they are elected
by the people. Secondly, to place the
management of the schools in a boarC
of directors, one from each ward, to b,
elected by the people with reference Il
their qualifications for that speciality
positions of high honor without pay
and wholly disconnected with and indie
pendent of those combinations, persona
aims or schemes always liable to appear
an the election and administration of the
city government proper. These dircc
representatives of the people, thu,
chosen in the main by the parents of tn,
children to be benefited, are clothed
with the entire direction, management
and protection of our school interests
subject to the laws of the State and tn,
city on the subject. The other proyi
sions of the bill are in harmony with tn,
fundamental idea, and abundantlv guar
antee the selection of competent anC
worthy teachers, male and female
The discharge of any for proper cause
the wise control and advancement of tn,
children, and generally an efficient man
agement of the schools with healthfu
progress stamped i'm every successiv,
measure. In Il word, the schools ar
placed in the road OF progress which ha
been successfully traveledin other town
and States. Not only so, but they ar
divorced from local or general politics
and, as far as possible, guarded agains
The Vaccinations of favoritisn
and selfishness, and sought I,
be rendered public blessings
Each member of the City Council has
printed copy of the bill, and none NOR
than the author of it is anxious for an,
suggestions or amendments to render |
more perfect. Indeed il has been draw
in that spirit, the author deriving mate
rial aid from gentlemen of enlarged OK
perience, liberal views and sincere dc
yotion to the cause of public education
for the children of Dallas. Most rs
suredly Dallas should not longer re
main behind our sister towns like Waco
Denton and sherman, on this subiec
affecting the iiresides of every house
hold in Dallas in the years to come sue
cessively upon us.