The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-17
ANNUAL
SCHOOL
MEETING
Much Cry and Little Wool
the Result
All About Employing a City
Superintendent

schools, was manifested at the annual
meeting of the taxpayers Monday ev-
ening. The meeting was attended by
less than so of the 14OO legally quail
fed voters of the district. After two
hours discussion, the report of the |
board was adopted, when an item of
S19,810, which represented an estimate |
Of the salaries of the city superintend-
ent, principals and teachers, had been
stricken out. The annual report was
adopted.
The subject for the protracted dis
cusslon, that at times became heated,
was the recent action of the board in
electing at an annual salary of $1,000,
a city superintendent, who should
serve as the executive head of the
city schools, with a view to systema-
tizing the work and advancing the eff
ficiency of the schools. Members of
the board explained that, in electing a
city superintendent and other teachers
at a recent meeting, they were simply
complying with the requirements OF
the new school law, and that, under
the new arrangement, the only addi-
tional expense to the district would be
the difference between the salary OF a
substitute teacher, who had been reg
ularly employed (and sometimes two)
and that of a principal The directors
expressed the confident belief that the
results of the first years work under
the new arrangement would be such
as to Justify the slight financial out
lay. But the majority element In at
tendance seemed determined to dis
courage any proposed improvement in
the schools that would involve a dol
lars additional expense, and the re-
port was adopted with the exception
of the one item.
The result Of the action of the annu-
al meeting last evening, in rejecting
part of the report, is considered by
members of the board to be of no con
sequence, since the board fulfilled the
requirements of the law employed a
superintendent and teachers, and has
entered into contracts for the ensuing
year. Tilmon Ford, who Is among
those opposed to the employment of
city superintendent, except he shall
be actively engaged as a teachers, al
so. says the further consideration of
the action of the board in this relation
will be left with the board, as II will
be constituted with w. II. Byrd as
successor to the retiring chairman, II.
| A. Johnson.
Mr.. Ford began the discussion, find
ing fault with the estimate OF salaries,
for superintendent and principals, hav'
ing detected therein a slight increase
over that of year ago. He said he
understood the board had employed
a city superintendent who should
have nothing TO do but to run about
from one school building to another
and he was opposed to II. Yodel
taught a class and acted as superin
tendent, and the same should be ex
pected of the new man.
At this juncture a motion of G. z
Hughes, seconded by II. p. Boise, Jr.
was withdrawn, and the debate wal
resumed
Chairman Johnson said that con
tracts with the newly-eected member
OF the school faculty had been signe'
up. and nothing the meeting Nigh
d do would abrogate the action Of th'
b board. which was done as required b!
law. lie stated the increased expens
b to the district would be slight, Will
b the efficiency OF the schools would b
immeasurably promoted by the insta
lation OF the new system.
Prof. C. IL. Jones remarked that h
. had travelled all over the state, an
his observation was that nearly ever
town. many smaller than Salem, ha
a superintendent of schools, who ha
entire supervision Of the school worl
Failures on the part of pupils ar
not known where a competent supe
q lntendent is employed. The result
that surrounding towns, which hay
o superior schools. are attracting fam
lies that otherwise would have locate
y in Salem
% G. p. Hughes inquired why it wa
70 that in opposition to decisive yot
70 taken two years ago by the taxpayer
W against the saddling of any further e
70 pense on the district, the board hs
n deliberately elected supernumerai
20 teacher.
Is Director Chamberlain replied th
some Kindergarten work was require
10 among some OF the patrons OF the di
10 trlot as 60 the needs of the schools
~ Salem. He remarked that those wi
% were most prominent in opposition
'V retaining city superintendent h'
oo no children To send to school A Wis
'o to the schools by person OF any
oV telHgence was all that was reQuir
90 TO emphasize the need of an improN
% ment In the conduct of the schoo
% The members of the board felt IN
90 they had taken the best step In pl
90 crossing and advancing the best
oV terests OF the schools OF the city.
". r. Slater said competent tea'
ers were needed, rather than el