Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21
sUNDAY..N NOVEMBER u, 1897.
THE sCHOOLs-wHAT NOW.

Assuming that the action Oh the COM
mon Council is final upon the question
OF an extra appropriation for schools
what should now be done?
Shall the schools be closed for ten days
longer than usual at the approaching
Christmas holidays and the work OF the
pupils be delayed to that extent, or snail
principals and teachers volunteer their
services TO make up the time that other
wise would be lost?
While we hold that Richmond has no
more right to expect her teachers than
her street-cleaning men to render ''volun-
tary" service, we trust the teachers
will consider the injury that pro-
longed break in the session would do,
and will make the necessary sacrifice to
prevent it.
IL is q serious matter when we consider
that ten days are TO be Topped of
term where ten or eleven thousand chill
dren are affected. 1t means to this great
number that the standard must be low
cred for this session. or that during the
remainder Of the term the children are
10 be driven ahead in their studies at
a murderous pace.
Since the Common Council would not
concur with the Board of Aldermen in
voting the extra 5000. and since there
seems no hope that the Common Council
will reconsider its determination, we are
face to face with a difficulty which only
the public spirit and self sacrifice of the
public-school teachers can avert This,
we trust they will do. They will
be giving their services without compen-
sation. but it will be gift TO the youth
OF the city. and 1t will be an example
OF civic spirit that is not overcommon
here Let not the school session be ire
trenched"; let it be OF the usual length,
and the people will kindly remember the
teachers. Yes; the day may come when
the city's means may enable 1t to return
gift for gift.
While the Dispatch questions the wis
dom of the minority Of the Common
Council, and while it much fears that
this so-called ECONOMY" may prove to
be a boomerang. as 1t were, we have
naught 10 say in condemnation of the
victorious minority. We cannot hold
them up as enemies Of the public schools,
for that they are not. we are sure. That
would be putting them in a false light.
Their opposition. we believe. proceeded
from quite different motive, and a
most conscientious one.
And now we would say to our non
resident readers who may not fully I'M
aerstand this question, that Richmond
Is not broke" and that she has no idea
of Gripping her public schools. In pur-
tuance OF the policy of retrenchment
lately adopted here the School Boards
appropriation was diminished by the
Council this year. AS 20 what the School
Board said 1t could do with the reduced
sum. there Is disagreement In gentle
mems recollections. However, the School
: Board some weeks ago reported that
after all of it's economizing an extra APP
preparation Of 5000 was Indispensable "a
enable the schools TO run for the full
term. Then the Board OF Aldermen, by
The necessary two-thieds vote. agreed TO
appropriate that amount, but the propo-
Eitlon failed in the Common Council. the
vote there having been ayes. Is; noes, Z
not two thirds of all the members in
nc affirmative. as the city charter re-
51lTes.
And 50 now nothing but the public
spirit OF the principals and teach
ers stands between us and school SEES
sion out OF the heart Of which con
siderable slice must be taken.