The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-08
RALEIGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE CAPITAL CITY PAYS S1,490 FOR P0
LICE AND 81, 300 FOR TEACHERS.
A Well Timed Protest Against Backward
Step in the Public School Work Taken
by The Board of Aldermen.

ny Ule OOdIu VI hluSlVlISH'
To the Editor: New life has recent
ly been infused into the cause of educa-
ton in North Carolina. Almost every
day the papers tell of a township sub
scribing for a longer school term. We
are beginning to see ourselves as others
see us, land it looks as if the people
are determined to make the sight more
agreeable to North CarolinianS and
more attractive to outsiders.
1t is a shock then to the educational
optimst to learn that the first back
ward step is taken in Raleigh. Instead
of frightening our school term, it is to
be shortened and that too by the Board
of Aldermen.
The city charter makes it the duty of
the Aldermen to erect school houses.
In view of the crowded condition of our
schools, to which Mr.. Howell has re-
peatedly called the public's attention,
many have hoped the Aldermen would
make an appropriation for new build
ings and more teachers. Instead, comes
the order to the school board that they
Shall pay 1920 per annum for the Use
of the Centennial building. Mr. ROsen-
thai tells us the only way to meet this
debt is to close the schools three or four
weeks earlier.
Two years ago, Mr.. Howell, in his re-
port for 90 and '96, showed that Raj
eigh then had a shorter school term,
more crowded school rooms, and low
err curriculum than any of our neighbour
ing towns. That year the schools We're
taught thirty-twO weeks. In the School
Supplement, Mr. Howell shows each
week that the schools are more crowded
to-day than they have ever been. This
wear they will have been taught thirty
or thirty one weeks. AS to the curricu-
lum. it has probably not been raised.
The capital city should lead the State
in educational matters. but she lays and
will continue to drop back unless our
citizens determine to keep abreast with
tho foremost in the march of progress.
Good schools are the most potent fac
tor in the prosperity of n city or State.
No one denies that the wealth and dmflu-
ence Of Boston are due to her public
schools. She is said to be the richest
city in the world in proportion to pop
ulation. The highest condition of pOpu-
lar education which the world to-day
shows is found in Boston and her vicin-
ity.
1t was in consequence of her public
schools that Massachusetts could and
did in 1890 tax herself SS.O0O000 pay
ing % per head for her 100000 school
children.
Raleigh has within the past year
made rapid strides in the matter Of
street improvements. Much money has
been spent and much more will be spent
in identifying our business and fashion
able thOroughfares. But would not par
ents. even those whose real estate will
he enhanced in value prefer to see the
gnarled old trees stand a few years
longer in the middle of narrow muddy
streets if thereby their children might
be kept i'm comfortable schools forty
weeks in the year?
Streets, good or bad. filed with idle
boys and girls. growing TO manhood and
womanho0d in ignorance are broad
roads to that stately pile i'll West RAJ
eigh. called the penitentiary.
The monthly payroll of the chief of
Police is 81 400. That of the public
school teachers is $1,000. 1t costs more
to look after the law breakers than it
does to teach the children not to break
the law The former force must be iu-
creased as the latter is decreased.
Apart from the injustice to the child
and to the future citizen, there is an
other light in which this premature
school closing should be considered. 1t
looks like breaking faith with the teach
ers. women who serve the highest wei
fare of the people Of Raleigh.
The writer is not familiar with the
nature of the contract made with the
teachers. Possibly they We're not engag-
ed for thirty-four weeks. Possibly they
are employed by the month and have
no legal right to complain if they are
dismissed after four weeks service, hut
when they began the session they I'M
derstood that they We're TO have work
for eight and one half months They
made their calculations accordingly. To
the writer's knowledge. more than one
of these ladies have entered upon bust
ness obligations based upon this expecta-
ton.
Except the Superintendent and the
principals, the best paid teachers get
$40 per month. This grade of teacher
for the present year will receive $500,
provided she has lost no time. They are
locked if they are absent a day from
any cause, even for illness or for death
in the family. They are permitted to
work but seven and half months, but
they must meet expenses for twelve
months, not for themselves only, but.
in the majority of cases, they are the
break-winners for the old folks or or
the little ones. The loss of $40 is not
heavy upon those who have government
salaries or healthy bank accounts but
it is a grievOus loss the public school
teacher. Board in Raleigh costs about
S1S per month and these teachers from
their salaries must make this amount
good each month of TIE twelve, whether
they live at home or in a boarding
house. They must dress as well as the
hest bred lady mother of their pupils
In their summer vacation they are OK
pected to attend a Normal school.
Though they are State officers, they do
not ask or receive railroad passes. They
must have books and periodical litcra-
ture and these are not free to them
Her average monthly salary fol
this year will be $25. Deduct expense
Of board and her remuneration amounts
TO but little more than the cooks. who
get their board and FIVE or six dollars