The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-18
CORRUPTION IN SCHOOLS.

If there is any one branch of our indus trial life. other than religion. which should be kept entirely free from politics, 1t Is our public school system. Especial ly should it be kept free from that kind of politics which lives on bribery and corruption, and as an example of what we mean we make a somewhat lengthy extract from an article in recent issue of The Outlook, detailing some of the conditions existing in Philadelphia. The writer Is referred to as Principal of one of the greatest schools of New York City, and. writing from Philadelphia, he says:
 Here is the very worst example of the shameful treatment of teachers. The con- ditionS described to me are pttiful and ex- ecrable. The school boards are managed on the most braZen political lines. Promo tions are bought. A principalship costs from $200 to Sl 200. A teacher who refuses to comply with the political demands has her place declared 'vacapt' on any trumpedup charges. All the teachers. men and women, have just been assessed by the city machine. l have one of the assessment notices before ne. It reads: Since meetings must be held and circu- lars relating to the party issues printed and mailed to party voters, and the ex- panse of necessary clerk hire, postage, etc.. must be paid. we are compelled to ask the necessary funds to sustain our efforts in polling the full votes of tine city and defraying the proper and legiti- mate expenses of the campaign" In blue pencil in the corner IS the percentage of salary the teacher Is to pay. The circu- lar is signed, for H. Klemmer, Treasurer; David H. Lane, Chairman Finance Com mittee; James l.. Miles, President Cam paign Committee. Several told me that 50 per cent of the teachers had already paid up. The assessment is regular thing in some districts. But this is the first time 1t has been exacted of all men and women in the schools. Is it not a de- grading condition? The men discussed 1t under their breath. They dare not re- fuse What would you do?" they said Why. meet and agree not to notice 1t, replied. They can't turn you all out Too late,' they replied. We cant stick together we'll enough; too many are afraid" This is the worst condition ] know of New York n the corruptesl Tweed days is said never to have made the teachers pay. San Francisco did il once, but dear old Philadelphia, where the fathers used to meet in defiance oi l tyranny. is the teachers slave-driver among the cities"
 We have quoted this writer at some i length because he details conditions | which, let us hope, are not to be found in any other city of the Union. Philadel- phia, as all know who keep up with the | current events of the day, is one of the | most corrupt cities, both politically and | officially, in the country, and no one is surprised at any charge which may be made against the politicians or the ofl. cials who control it, but it was not SC generally known that the venality anG rascahty extended to and permeated the school system. In several of the large
 cities of the Union, and probably in 2
 number of the smaller ones buying office
 is the order of the day and people hay,
 ceased to expect anything else. Ther'
 ought to be some remedy for such
 disgraceful state of affairs but we d.
 not know what it is, unless 1t be a repeti
 ton of the experience of Sodom and Go
 morrah. A visitation of that kind seems
 the only sure and certain cure for sucl | wickedness