The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-23
Annual Report of President Jordan
Concise and Factoring Statement
of Their Condition.
What Has Been Done and What is
Arranged for tho Future.
Thorough Scholarship Diligently
Sought by Pupils and Teachers.
All Parties Fully Realize the Marked In
crossing Responsibility OF the Sit
uation-A Gratifying FL
nancial Statement.

Mr. Richard d. jordan, president Of the
board OF education, has submitted to the
board the following annual report:
To the Honorable Board ct Education OF the Mem
phis city schools
Gentlemcn-Thc close OF the scholastic
year, July |, 1883, adds one moro to the
history OF the public schools OF this city,
and this rotation in time, under the rules
OF the board, requires Of me, as your prcs-
dent, report rs to the educational aud
other proceedings touching the schools,
during the above named period, to be laid
before the public.
The report OF the superintendent, already
submitted, contains lul. information oi the
status and progress of the schools during
the past session. Tho report is one of in
tcrcst. 1t presents many practical recon-
mcnlations and useful suggestions which
received from the board myritcd rccogni.
ton, 1t being adopted ~ a whole.
1t is evident that thorough scholarship
in our schools Is diligently sought hy the
pupils, and this knowledge b. impaired by
a corps of instructors whose zeal and
worth, taken as a body, can seldom bee
found, much less eN,ulIcl This is a
source OF much satisfaction but s,,ll the
opinion prevails with the management
that there is decidedly room lor improve
mcnt with some composing this corps in
the execution OF THEN exalted work
The board rs You we'll know, have en-
dcayored in certain instances, to correct
this by assignment 10 duty elsewhere
rather than sever the relation OF cmployc
with those whom they believe are striving
to become efficient in the discharge OF their
chosen calling. We believe these changes
will have the desired result The report
Of the secretary nov on file, aud herewith
appended, taken from the records OF the
board, furnishes, item by item, the income
aud expenditure of the schools for the past
twelve months Thr income from all
sources, including private tuition, reaches
tn sum OF e1H,3ll2j, -i,u,iGO more than
the year ending 1867, while our total in
dcbtcdnc--, including current expenses 90
| July |. lNNS, amount, % SO, Spl53 Il b.
further shown that "a July ], 1857, We
owed S2i,3lGGi. This debt has been de-
creased -, 1Ji3G, leaving our indsbtcdncsH
at this time III, JS3 ~ II b. hardly Nee
cssary to add that this statement will Cotu-
mend itself, ~ II shows, notwithstanding
| our increased expense, a reduction Of the
public school debt.
~ was ANlf AAAAA AAAN''NA AtAA INAHN ~ AAlH
| board ut the beginning Of the year 30 erect
| two buildings, ono un Jefferson anil one
on Linden street AllHra careful consid.
| Grafton Oi tie matter Un all sides ior DAYS,
/ weeks aud oven months, in view IT the
condition OF the building called a school.
house on Linden street, notorious iur IT,
unltncs, iur such purpose, the -tti.lac.
| tory arrangements existing for thr Bethel
| building on Jefferson street aud the diili.
Guilty attending the accumulation Of suili.
cicnt money ior building purposes, the
board decided to build only one school.
house for the present, ani 10 erect that
on the Linden street school lot. This
building II now la course II erection, and
IL completion will be brought forward ~
rapidly 10 prudence AMI safety will per-
nit, not later, We trust, than March, 1889,
and when completed will bc not only USE
iul and ornamental, but = powerful adjunct
10 the cause of education Ia this city.
This building Is under contract 10 cost
S3j, 1880 all complete, excepting fur.
nacos, which cost S2,y6li total costs, SIS,
| 1880
The Linden street lot hls frontage Of
/ iG2 feet, with depth on FOntoioc street
when cxtrndcdJ OF 3l2 feet. The location
oi the building on this lot las been made
With o view 0i leaving sufficient noon On
/ the west and south for the opening at
/ ruflcy and ECh0ls and fDniutOc streets, as
proposed hy the city That iH a. Say. u
/ strip tor Pontntoc street on the south lux
/ ~ and juNjl2 iDT Turkey aud Echols
street on the west This b. very valuable
ground, and when thrown open ior public
Use will boz u great Improvement and con-
/ yenicncc ~ tho public, luf which ! have
/ no doubt the authorizes 0i the municipal.
/ iiy, with their usual generosity h. the pub.
/ lic schools, will pay handsome price.
| The proposed trade between the Ar
t"sinn Water company aud the board for
thc ! 10 feet II ground On Auction street
has been closed by delivery 0i the deed
aud payment 81 the purchase money ~
follows $500, Ono.ihifl cash and balance
la two equal payments ~ six and twelve
months, with Interest NJ u per cent from
date, secured by thc indIuymcnt oi I. J.
Latham, H. q. buyr, John johnson and
w. ;. Bruce. The funds and notes have
been placed In the hands II the treasurer
ot the board, anil applied a. the credit Ol
the building fund ~ heretofore ordered.
| do not know when u can be done, for
at present We are taxed 30 full capacity,
but there ought ~ be-, M soon NJ u b
practical and consistent With business
management, school buildings erected IN
the vicinity Of the buildings now used a,
schools on Broadway aud Winchester
streets, ~ those now IN use are totally unfit
Tor successful advancement OF the schools
held In them.
Every one connected with TIE schools,
from the board 10 The youngest teacher IN
service, must have marked the increasing
responsibility Of the situation. The schoO
buildings are crowded ~ overlooking, the
lab0fs aud, cOrrcspondinsly, the duties 81
each department giu increasing This
should be an inspiration 10 al engaged I,
redouble their efforts that success may h
attained Ia every branch Of the public scr
vice.
The members Of the board have hat
ample aud trying evidence 81 the incrcas
ing labors aud responsibilities Of their posi-
ton. Instead Of meeting monthly ~ Tor
mcrly, a very great part Ut ihc time durinI
this year they. have had a. meet Ncekll
and often daily. but whenever or what
ever the occasion these gentlemen hay'
responded With n Willingness that shows
devotion and iealty a. the cause ~ whicl
they are engaged that challenges compafi
son.
In conclusion, Il affords me ploasur