The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-24
PARENT SPEAKS FOR SCHOOLS
And Protests Against Making
Ieachers the Victims of Repub-
Hcan 'sRetrenchmentv

And Protests Against Maxine
Teachers the Victims of Repub.
Hcan "RetrenchmentY
To The st. Paul Globe:
From the time that Timothy Reardon an
nounced that our public schools were "sink-
noles OF ln1Gufty," they have been an object
VI unJust criticism by ignorant politicians
VINO con1onnd clay modelling with mud pies
anu nature study with bugs These gentle
iiien' VINO believe that stock raising should be
more carefully and scientifically conduct.d
IMAM tie training of children have advccsted
the croWding of sixty pupils into one room
uhoer one teacher. an unreasonable reduc
ton OF teachers salaries and the cuttine
I on OF necessary school supplies. in order
tnat the administration could make a credit
able (D showing just before election. Soma
OF them have believed that reading. writing
anu arlthmetie were taught in the kinder
saIten; and that. by beginning SO early, the
chiidren could complete liberal education in
the elghth grade, thus making the high
schools unnecessary
Tne teachers after having suffered a re-
oaclion In salaries for three consecutive
years. while reductions made in other depart
ments were restored, are beginning to lose
neart, and no one can wonder at their dis
couragement.
AT first the teachers seemed inclined 10
submit cheerfully to a reasonable reduction
expecting, OF course, that conditions would
soon change for the better. But Ter being
made the principal means of retrencbment
Tor three years. with a prospect for another
cut next year, they are righteously indignant
while many of the best teachers have had
opportunities to accept good positions ell e.
"here' ana number have already gone such
step usually entails great sacrifice Of
; init
: Inc outlook soon changes for the better. many
more will go. and the public schools of St
Paul will no longer occupy the high uIace
they now hold among the schools of this
. country
The teachers feel that they have been m ade
to suffer for the mistakes Of others and foo.
the bills that ought to have been paid by
those who contracted them The mora
that should have gone to pay reasonable
salaries to those who have chosen to spend
the best years of their lives in the noble nro-
fesion of teaching was turned into other
channels, and the teachers have no recou. s,
except to enter a strong protest against such
gross injustice.
wren Mayor Doran was elected the Re
punliean party resolved to make a great
record for retrenchment which thew nro
posed to erect on the ruins of what thew
called mast municipal corruption.
LIE republican party now points wl.hrrtd .,
"onuoiiu VI so-Calleu record or economy
put tne present administration can only b3ast
OF cutting down the poor teachers while the
salaries OF the city officials remain the Same
The Republican administration is aIso re-
sponsible for the defeat OF the bill intro
duced, in the last legislature which would
nave brought relief to the public schools. and
our present predicament could have been
thus avoided.
Now lie. us see how this kind of economy
helps the city. Matters of this kind should
be considered on the basis of active inter
6SCS, Of
real estate boom.
The majority of the citizens of S.. Paul
are people of moderate means. The labor
element. that is ever on the alert for The
maintenance of good wages, would advo-
because 1t would be in accordance wi h his
principles of their organization.
The man who owns moderate home would
rather be taxed an extra dollar or two nj
it would net exceed this than see the schools
impaired and the best teachers leave Ha
knows that good schools add to the ya,ua
of houses and lots, and his children ar,
better off with such opportunities The active
business man always argues that good wage,
stimulate trade. and he would advocate a
selfish standpoint. BY the active business
man We do not mean the real estate dealer
VINO gambled once teo often. Such a man
gives employment to no one, but Is clogg ny
the wheels CT progress by trying to prevent
his real estate from going into the bands
Of those who are able to pay the taxes.
TEfs false economy is absolutely in the
interests or accumulated wealth. Millions of
dollars worth of St Paul real esta, is owned
by CAPITALISTS. many OF whom are outside of
1ne CITY. we ought to be thankful for the
opportunity to tax such property for the
proper maintenance of our schools.
A Parent and School Patron.
st. Paul, April &c.