The San Francisco call., 1897-09-24
He Says Rxtravagant Boards
Should Be Checked by
the Law.
TEACHERS ELECTED BY A "PULL. "
The Combination in the Board Held
Responsible for Defects in the
Department.


ster poured hot shot into the camp of the
School Directors yesterday through the
medium of his annual report which was
filed with the Board of Supervisors.
Mr.. Webster does not mince words in
speaking OF the financial doings of the
School Board, nor does he evade the issue
when treating of the manner in which
teachers are elected and their positions in
the department manipulated.
He says plainly that ii the Directors do
no. conduct the affairs of the department
within the appropriation allowed by the
Board of Supervisors they have violated
their oaths of office and should be brought
before the courts and the bar of public
opinion.
The document is q volumlnous one. 60
ing into all the details Of The workings OF
the department and making many valua-
bic suggestions regarding the future con-
duct Of the schools.
Speaking of the finances of the depart
ment the report reads:
study of the finances of the department
reveals extravaganza and mismanagement
On July /, 1896, mere was Il surplus from
revenue OF Sal ,277 %.
The revenue during the fiscal year Just
closed per finauc a statement con ntained in
this report, WAS 81 ,l99 PA 50, a total Income
Il I.
the purpose OF a site and Tor the construction
OF a building for the Mission High School,
leaving 81 ,040, 492 OF for opera ting expenses
repairs ana Improvements. 1t viii be OBJ
served, however, from statements OF eXpendl-
lures, tha 81, ,157 $50 81 was spent, leaving a
deficit OF $l16, 5SS "A.
This denct caused by unchecked waste
ana extraytg1nce, especially by the commit
tee on supplies and the committee on build
ings and grounds OF the board that retired in
January, 1897. How were excessive expend-
n a.,
aries, so that the law providing that debts
contracted during previous year shall be
paid ont OF the revenues OF a subsequent fs-
cal year might be evaded, and the deficit be
charged 10 teachers salaries and not 10 its
true cause. This clever scheme, the opera
tion OF which can be made 10 cloak shameful
extravaganza
The practice of depriYing teachers OF their
prompt pay is at once pernicious leading to
extravagance, and unjust TO teachers.
1t is Il rank injustice to teachers that SIG
5j8 "a lie charged as deficit in their salaries
in the budget OF the coming year, when it
really covers an eXtraYagant expenditure Of
money for supplies, repairs and labor
1t might be well Tor the Board OF Super
Ysors, in fixing the revenue for pubic
schools for the coming fiscal year, to specify
for what appropriations are made-lhat is TO
allow fixed amount for salaries, for rents
for books, for lights, etc and if at the end oil
the year the Board OF Education exceeds these
limits to bring il before the bar of a court
and public opinion for violating their oath OF
office aid disregarding the one,twelfth act.
Then Mr.. Webster touches on the sub
ject of teachers in the following words:
While the average daily attendance OF pupils
has increased but twenty three, the Board OF
EDUCATION has added forty seven teach
ers to the payroll of the depart
ment - two teachers Tor each additional
pupil Rarely does the board assem-
BILE for regular business without electing
a few teachers into the department The
election of teachers in great majority of
cases is unnecessary. 1t indicates either
political or corrupt administration OF public
school affairs.
There arc from eight to twelve teachers on
the unassigned list who are paid the salaries
of regular teachers. These teachers toge lher
with ten substitutes would be able to meet all
calls caused by the absence of teachers There
are, however, thirty-six substitutes on the
elementary list, thirty Of whom are paid $3.50
per annum twelve on the evening school list.
eight OF whom are paid $50 per month; six on
the High School list not under pay.
Numerous appointments to the evening
schools are contemplated. JudiciOus cassifi-
cation wonld avoid the necessity Tor addi-
tional teachers, but this would not satisfy q
combination OF School Directors hungry for
places.
The result is rapid increase in the number
OF teachers and expenses wholly out OF proper
ton to The number o. pupils. With an in
crease Of 1929 i'll the enrolment and twenty
three in the daily average attendance the
pense OF instruction during the past wear has
! increased S3S, ,74S, and the entire expenses OF
the depar tment are S70,509 in excess of those
of the previous year.
The worst feature of our school administra-
tion is the me thod employed in the election of
teachers 1t is utterly antagonfstic to scholar
ship and department discipline. 1t is merely
the application OF personal patronage" and
"spoils system"
com binaton of eight or nine School Direc-
tors distribute the patronage. When places
are TO be filled on the substitute list those Di-
rectors whose turn" il is to appoint secretly
hand the name OF those whom they desire
appointed TO a member of the committee
These appointees are charged up to the Direc-
tors and then elected in the de partment. The
public dc not know who is res ponsible for The
election OF any one, and the Directors them-
selves are ignorant of the qualifications of
the appointed teacher and of the motives in
ducipg the appointment
An appointment is given to Director and
1t Is his 10 dispose OF as he sees fit The sc &C.
ton OF the best applicants is well nigh i'm pos
slble. Young women, with little or no expert
ence aud with scant education, have, by rea-
son of Il political pull the advantage over
talented, accomplished and experienced
teachers
Not only in the appointment of teachers
but i'll the discipline of the department are
the demoralizing effects of politics felt Good
principals ana teachers. keenly sens tive TO
the bsneful and humiliating results of seek
ing political aid in the defense of their rights
and the dignity of their positions, are obliged
to importune their influential friends ior pro-
lection, while some teachers even make a
business OF studying politics to promote their
personal ambition in the department and 10
enjoy immunity from wholesome regulations.