The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-02
For the Schools.

knows that steps must be taken to
remedy the situation.
A few months ago a local news
paper made quite thorough investi-
CATION of the conditions in the
schools and found they were abomi-
nable.
Mayor Paine a few days ago sent
his superintendent of the public
health department on a tour of in
spection and he describes the schools
as overcrowded, insanitary, made
auate and totally unfit for the pupils
from a health and sanitary stand
point.
On the day that Or. Durrett ex-
posed conditions in the schools.
Mayor Paine announced that he IS
opposed to an increase in the tax
rate for the schools. but that he
might be induced to agree to a bond
issue for the erection of additional
schools.
On Sept. 1 of this year the board
OF education was overdrawn $780,
900. Mr.. Peres, president of the
board of education. and some of the
public spirited citizens stirred
around and borrowed enough money
to meet the deficit.
A conservative estimate places the
cost of operating the schools at ST.
100000 a year. Mayor Paine has as
sured the board of education that It
win receive $1.60O,OOO this year. Up
to the present time the board has
received only 100000. There is no
intimation as to when the remain
ing 100000 will be paid. 1t is not
certain that all of it will ever be paid.
The public utility corporations
have already gone into court and
proposed to fight their assessments.
and IL they are successful, not only
the revenue of the city. but the reve-
nue. of the schools will be materially
reduced.
Assuming, however, that the
schools receive annually $1,000 900
from the city. the overdraft next
September will be reduced to $780,
000 BY September 1892, operating
on the same basis as. at present,
there will be no overdraft and the
schools will be practically even. This
however contemplates no additional
expenses or expenditures. no advance
in salaries and no improvements.
BY 1924. the board of education
providing 1t continues to receive the
s1.e00,000 year. and grants no ad-
vance in salaries, makes no improve
ments and no more additional ex-
penditures. will have a balance of
100000.
We do not believe that the people
OF Memphis are in favor Of continu-
ing the schools on the present basis
or operating them under conditions
described by DR.. Durrett. At pres
ent there Is an average of 65 to 80
pupils in rooms where there should
schoolrooms. Dilapidated residences
are utilized as annexes to the school
buildings, and these are overcrowd-
ed, with bad ventilation and made
quate heating facilities.
Memphis needs a technical high
school, where grammar school and
vocational work go hand IN hand. A
technical high school. such as Mem
phis should have, will not cost less
than 100000.
There should be a negro high
school. There are but ten negro
schools in the city. and conditions in
them are even worse than in the
white schools. The board OF educa
ton should build a negro hiea
school costing not less than $500
900.
There are many Improvements that
should be made in the school build
ings. 1t will cost not less than $500
900 to make these improvements
Memphis is a growing city Its
school facilities are entirely made
quate. Provision must be made for
the continual development of the
schools. The scholastic population is
continually increasing. More teach
ers are required every year to take
care of the increasing attendance In
the present situation there is no
place for the teachers. just as there
is no provision for taking care of
the pupils.
We believe that expenses should |
be kept as low as possible There |
should be economy in the operation
of the schools. and every dollar
spent should produce a dollars
worth of benefit in return. The pro-
posal to increase the sGbool rate
from SO to 20 cents, and issue ST.
100000 in bonds for the extension of
the school system, is a matter that
should be brought to the attention
of the legislative delegation. which
we believe will consider it from the
standpoint of the duty the city owes
to those who receive their education
in the public schools.
Our own judgment is that IL a tax
rate of 10 cents and a bond issue of
100000 are necessary to relieve the
present congested and altogether de-
plorable situation in the schools. the
people will not object. They will
rather favor the expenditure. They
have stood for many expenditures
that possessed less merit.
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