The San Francisco call., 1897-01-26

open, and that they can legally collect for
the full twelve months.
Those who are most earnest in the plan
suggested state hat patriotism and the
love OF their profession are not the least
important features of the movement Be-
sides, to have such long enforced vaca-
ton would do much to destroy the dis
clpllne OF the schools. Among those
! foremost In the movement is A. L. Mann.
principal of the Denman School, and he is
ably supported by the vice-principal, Mrs.
| E. M. Baumgardner. When the Board OF
! Education meets to-day they will present
the following communication:
SAN Francisco, Jan. %, 1897.
To the Hon. Board of Edlcation-G ENTLEMEN:
The teachers of the Denman School respect
fully request your honorable body not to close
the public schools of the City and County of
San Francisco for month, any length of
time on account OF a shortage of funds We
think that 1t would be q great injury to the
pupils under our charge to omit any portion of
the studies or discipline for the scholastic
year.
AS to compensation for our services, if you
should be compelled to withhold any part OF
our annual salary we are quite confident that
the people OF this City, acting through you
and the Honorable Board OF Supervisors as
they have frequently done on similar occa-
sions of this kind, will take care that our past
dues shall be fully repaid in the shortest time
possible.
Quite number of the fifteen teachers
in that school will sign the communica-
! tion, but Mr.. Mann stated that he wasknot
in position to speak for all, as he had
not been able to discuss the subject with
every one. In speaking of the situation
! he said: 1--WE have been through this
same thing before and we have never
lost very much. We need not fear IN this
instance, for the people, the press and the
politicians vii. not see the teachers lose
| dollar. Furthermore, / will say for N.Y.
self and my e-principal that we have a
| sincere feeling that we would rather teach
for month for nothing than see the
schools close-for the children's sake and
for the honor of the profession
Professor Charles Murphy, the head of
| the department OF political science at the
Polytechnic High School, said:
THE suggestion l would make to ex-
tricate ourselves from the itficuIty would
be to continue the schools and let the
teachers wait for their salaries, even if
they had to depend on the liberality of
the Board of Supervisors in the tax lew
for the next fiscal year.
"The closing of the schools will not
remedy the evil 1t is doing a great in
justice to bar the doors at a critical period
during the latter half of the school year.
From conversations with numerous teach
ers am OF the opinion that very large
majority favor the continuance of the
| work even at the sacrifice of their salaries.
as has been the case in the past"
Similar views are entertained by Miss
! Phelomena Nolan, the principal OF the
| Washington Night School. She has dis
cussed the situation with the teachers of
that school, and says they agree to the
proposition. AS many of the pupils who
attend that institution are children who
labor IN the daytime, adults who are en-
devoring to secure an education, and MANY
people OF foreign birth, the confusion of a
long enforced vacation would do more
harm than can be estimated.
w. n. Bush, principal Of the Polytech-
mic High School, spoke of the matter in a
rather conservative manner He said
that II the other teachers are required to
donate their services for month he would
do likewise, but he is of the opinion that
IL is case of law and not contribution.
Ii he understands the situation the teach
ers are engaged for twelve months. yaca-
ton or no vacation, and that if there is no
money IN the regular fund for their paw
ment they will be paid out of the first ae-
emulation in the Treasurer's general
fund.
Miss Georgie Morse is emphatically op-
posed to giving her services for nothing
and said: ''Why should /? Who will nav
my board bill while | am performing a
service for the people? We are Obliged to
1resS, Duy snoes, gloves ana pay carfare.
Bot few teachers have been able to save
much money for a rainy day, and those
who have not saved will be obliged to
borrow money at per cent interest while
working for nothing. If it is close the
schools or work for charity / prefer to
close the schools so that / can go to the
country, where living is cheaper and
where one can wear out some of ones old
dresses" Miss Morse said several other
equally breezy things relative to big city
getting into such tx ss to make such
affairs possible, but added in conclusion
that II the City would promise to pay
some time she would be willing to work,
even If she had to borrow money and
stand the interest herself.
Auditor Broderick, after q careful con-