The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-24
EXPERTS ARE NOT AGREED
EVEN PRINCIPALS DIFFER IN
OPINION ON1sCHQoL PUZZLES

Hours They Left the Questions of
Salary Reductions or Shortening
the School Year Without Pos
itive Indarsement of Either Plan
An Votes Were Close.
st. Paul public public schools wrestled
with the school question yesterday
afternoon, at the Central high school,
endeavoring to hit upon some plan
which might be suggested or recon-
mended to the school board as a solu-
ton Of the problem.
Both the proposed reduction Of the
force, and auxiliary branches Of the
schools, and the more recent PROPOSE
ton to curtail the school year, We're
talked over at length.
Resolutions were passed calling for
the appointment of committee of four
to confer with the board and assist
them In any way which might be in
their power in maintaining the present
high standard of the st. Paul public
schools.
Supt Curtis. in opening the
meeting, stated that few Of the citi-
zens of st. Paul realized to what ex-
tent the schools had been impaired by
the deficit in the maintenance fund
which they were compelled to meet
Mr.. Curtis thought. If public senti-
ment could be educated and enlight-
ened to the true state Of affairs, the
discrepancy could be remedied. 1t was
not within the province Of the teachers
to stir up the people, yet 1t was per-
fectly legitimate for them to express
their views on the question. The
weight which they might have would
depend entirely upon the way in which
their views were presented to the prop
er authorities.
Henry S. Baker moved that the res
olution, which was presented and laid
on the table at the last meeting, be
taken from the table.
J. c. Bryant was accredited with
authorship of the resolution, and stated
that he did not introduce it. There
seemed to be some difference of opin-
ion, and a lively discussion was Gre
ated.
Mr.. Curtis said the resolution was
not put in writing, but was to the eff
feet that it was the sense Of the prin-
cipals that the present standard of eff
ficiency of the st. Paul public schools
be continued until the maintenance
fund was exhausted.
H. S. Baker moved that another res
olution of the same wording be intro
duced. The motion prevailed.
This brought the matter Of choice
between a reduction in salaries or
shortening the school year squarely be-
fore the principals, and lively discus
sion ensued.
Miss E. McGroty inquired if any one
knew just when the fund would be ex-
hausted There was no considerable
degree of certainty on this point, and
the question went unanswered.
George Weitbrecht thought the prin-
cipals were competent to give an ex-
preston Of sentiment on the question.
If any one knew the needs of the
schools, it must be the teachers. "Thte
teachers know more about the schools
than the school board / mean no dis
credit to the school board. The diff
Guilty which has been in the way is to
get sufficient funds. The only way to
overcome the difficulty is to get larger
appropriation. The resolution is
matter right home to the people of ST.
Paul. If they know that 1.-THE schools
are to close May /, or such a date next
year, they will go before the legislature
and ask for aHlarger appropriation,
since the council has declared that the
increasing OF the appropriation would
be purely a legislative function"
Assistant Superintendent J. D. Bond
said the only trouble with that plan
would be to suit all cities. Since no
special legislation could had, a law
general in effect would have to be
passed.
Miss Lennon said that Mr.. Bell had
stated that the Bell charter could be
made to raise more money.
]. c. Bryant said the school inspectors
understood the situation full well, and
he had every confidence that the school
board would bring matters to a salts
factory adjustment.
Mr.. Bryant did not think the puin-
cipals should step beyond the board,
but stand at their respective places and
do their duty to the best of their abil-
ity.
Charles E. Flitner was In favor of
the motion, except where it dictated TO
the board. He called attention to the
predicament of the Minneapolis schools,
and thought that all the principals
should be united in their effort to avoid
any such a disgrace here. He was not
in favor of shortening the school year.
Principal Smith said: Those who
have read The Sunday G o b and it's
excellent work in promoting school SEN
timent will know what the Chicago
people have done for the schools. First
they have enlisted the sympathy Of
many wealthy taxpayers, and, second
ly. they have secured a favorable pub
lie opinion.
I ldA aCVy IIl1SIFl -UG Increased TO
mills, which would give us an album
dance of money with which to run the
schools and not antagonize Duluth and
Minneapolis
j. G. Donnelly was opposed to the
resolution. 1t would not take the city
long to secure enough funds to run the
schools, if the assessor did his duty
Mr.. Donnelly asserted that 80 per cent
of the business men of the city made
IF
their personal property.
Miss Hand said she thought It per
fectly- proper that the principals should
discuss the school question DR. Harper,
president of the Chicago university, as
a member of the Chicago commission
which renovated the Chicago public
schools, addressed a letter to every
principal in Chicago asking for views
on current matters of school interest.
Principal Smith moved as q substi-
tute that a committee of four be ap-
pointed to advise with the school board
on matters pertaining to the welfare
of the schools. The motion was lost
by one vote.
Mr.. Bond moved that the teachers
cooperate with the school board and
the citizens Of St. Paul In any effort
to keep the schools running the full
term. Mr.. Smiths motion calling Tor
the appointment of a committee to
carry out IN act the intent of Mr..
Bond s motion was again put, and this
time carried by one majority.
B.alding Permits.
The building inspector yesterday issued
permit for the tearing away of the present
front of bnilding on East Third street,