The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-15

outllheu LOT the memphis public school
system until after a survey is made I'M
der the direction OF the United States
bureau OF education. The board of ed
ucatlon, at its regular meeting Monday
nlght, made a written request to Or.
r r. Claxton, United States commits
sloner OF education, to outline such a
survey and select the corps Of experts
for that purpose.
The survey will begin on May Is and
last through the school term, which
ends on June 10. The findings Of the
experts will be printed in pamphlet
form BY about July Is. The school
board will then go into the problem Of
expenditure of the proceeds Of the sale
OF the $500, 900 bond issue recently au-
thorized by the legislature. One-half
OF this amount will be available this
year.
Practically every one of the 20 Mem
phls schools need, and is clamOring for,
relief from overcrowding and for other
improvements that will cost money.
Under the action of the board any re-
quest from patrons or other o~rganiza-
tions will 81 necessity be unavailing I'M
I'll the findings of the survey are made
public.
The board will be guided largely by
the findings of the survey, but their
recommendations will be accepted as
by no means final. Recommendations
to be made will in all probability cover
needs of the Memphis school system
for years to come as well as emergency
measures needed to combat the press
ing needs Of the present.
Survey Will Cost $4,000.
The school survey will cost the city
of Memphis $4,000. The school board
authorized the expenditure of that
amount Monday night. "The total cost
will be between $11 1000 and $12, 0Oo,'"
declared DR.. Claxton Monday night,
but the federal government, which
will use the Memphis reports as one of
ITS department bulletins, will defray
$4,000 Of the expense" he promised,
An official letter was directed to be
written requesting the survey. DR..
Claxton was emphatic in his request
that the board make 1t plain to the pa
irons and the public that the survey
was to be a general one and would
concern itself only, with problems of
health, vocational training, home eco
Monies, manual training, business
courses, general curriculum, primary
and high school work.
Efficiency of the teaching force as q
whole or as groups will be included, but
the personal efficiency of any single
teacher and whether she or he Should
hold her job or not" will not be a fea-
ture of the survey. All conditions as
laid down by DR.. Claxton were accepted
by the board.
The survey is expected to be accept
ed as final and clarity the school situa-
ton materially both as to courses Of
study and administration, as well as
problems of housing schools and i'm
provements on the physical property.
DR.. Claxton came to Memphis at the
invitation Of Hardwig Peres, president
Of the board. There has been for some
time q sentiment favoring a thorough
survey Of the school system and the de-
cision Of Monday night is hoped to set
tie 1t once and for all. TO have 1t
done by experts who in the past few
years have made a study of school
pFeblems and who have made surveys
in a score Of other big American cities
Is considered a wise move by members
Of the board, Members of the staff of
experts are now engaged in an investi-
cation Of the Alabama school system.
They will move on to Memphis as soon
as their work in that state is COM
pleted.
Bonds Soon Ready.
Marion Evans, attorney for the board,
reported that he had submitted the bill
providing for the $500. 900 bond issue to
Judge Thomson, the leading bond ex-
pert in New York city, and said a tele-
gram had just been received stating
the bill was valid and that the board
could proceed with printing the bonds
and negotiations for their sale without
any fear of legal entanglements. Mr..
Peres. president of the board, Is au-
thority for the statement that the bonds
will find a ready sale.
Delegations from Idlewild, Peabody,
Cummings and Lauderdale schools were
present and each wanted to be con-
sidered first in the expenditure of the
bonds. Their requests, of course, must
await the outcome Of the survey.
The board decided to acCede to the
request of the Anti-Tuberculosis So
ciety and allow the Open Air school on
North Fourth street to remain open
all summer. Mrs. Beasley explained
that the expense would be trifling to
the board and recited what splendid
work had been done during the typhoid
fever scare and thereafter. There was
no opposition to the request and 1t was
granted.
Teacher association Of the Central hiEt
school to hold dances periodically In the
gymnasium of that institution. The or
ganization pledged itself to maintain
order and prevent damages to the
property. Permission was also granted
for Mrs. Elizabeth Gardner to accom-
a the Central high school debating
team on their coming trip to Little
Rock to participate in a Joint debate
with the high school Of that. city, Plans
for a pageant to be STAGED by pupils
Of Central high school May l, Z ana
We're approved.
Raise of the pay of painters and car
penters at present working on Memphis
schools was voted to rs cents an hour
Upon the request Of Anthony Walsh
the question OF approving the appoint.
ment of Boyce House as special higf
school Instructor in journalism, to sue
coed Ellwood Lloyd, recently resigned
was referred to the teachers and text
book committee.