 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 12, 1892 TEACHERS SELECTED Wednesday evening all the school trustees, together with Secretary W.J. Scott, met at the office of Trustee Peck, and a business session, pure and simple, it was. Prof. Wm. Gay was chosen superintendent at a salary of $1400 per hear. Miss S. Pappenhagen, principal of the high school at $70 per month. The Superintendent will have charge of one room, and will thus dispense with one teacher. The following principals were chosen, salary $60 per month: Miss A.S. Arnold, Miss L. Dowler, Mrs. A.R. Malcom, Miss Dula Harris and Miss Eva Knaur. Prof. E.S. Walton, principal of the colored schools, salary $55 per month. Miss I. Walker, teacher, $60 per month, and Miss Minnie Marsh, $55. The salary of all regular teachers was placed at $45 per month, and following is a list of those selected: Misses Ida Shreeves, Sallie Lindsey, Inez Cartwright, Mattie Patrick, Hattie Williams, Stella Close, Mollie Hendricks, Ottie Knaur, Callie Redwood, Jennie Jackson, Annie Curtis, Etta Dickerson, Lottie Picton, Retta Younger, Blanche Buck, Fannie Johnson and Bessie Leecraft. The colored teachers are Prof. E.H. Terrell, E.C. Bragg and N.V. Stamps. Terrell gets $50 per month; others $40. It was also decided to close up the new First Ward school building in northeast Denison during the next year, and all children north of Main street and east of the Central track will go to the old First Ward building. Last year the cost of maintaining one room in that building was about $1000, and as the average attendance was only 30, the cost per pupil was in the neighborhood of $33. At that ratio it would bankrupt the city to maintain the public schools. The reduction in salaries was quite heavy, but in view of the $9000 deficiency the board could scarcely do otherwise. From some quarters there will, no doubt, be expressions of adverse criticism, but under the existing circumstances the trustees certainly did the prudent thing. No one wishes the public school service impaired; indeed, the all but universal sentiment is that they should be maintained at a high degree of efficiency. It is thought by some that the present rate of compensation will force the best teachers away from Denison. This is certainly fallacious, for the reason that the teachers are, nearly all, if not all, home people, and understand the situation. The reduction is the result of an absolute necessity, and no one regrets the emergency greater than the board. To maintain the credit of the city is an imperative necessity, and if this is sacrificed for anything or for any purpose, that very object would ultimately go down in the general upheaval. While the schools are of vast importance, there are other things needing attention and care. The council inaugurated the era of practical economy in the administration of city affairs, and the school board has wisely followed suit. Prof. Wm. Gray, the new superintendent, has been connected with the National Commercial College since the beginning of that school, and although he is not personally known to all the patrons of the Denison public schools, he is eminently qualified to fill the position. He has the endorsement of many of Denison's oldest and very best citizens, and inasmuch as Prof. Somerville did not express a desire to remain the board of trustees did that which they considered best for the public, and so far as the Gazetteer has been able to test the sentiment of the people everybody endorses the selection. The necessity for the reduction of salaries is regretted by all, but, the necessity for the reduction, and the reduction itself, is 2 entirely separate and distinct things. Denison is to be congratulated on having a school board of practical, business men who have the good of the whole community at heart and who have the courage to exercise their judgment when occasion demands. The lot of the teacher is not strewn with roses, nor is it free from toil and care, and that good salaries should be paid no one will dispute. Yet it should be remembered that Denison teachers are usually paid with a promise. The promise of the city is good, but it does not pass as currency. Bills of credit may become bills of discredit, and it is indeed a strange individual who favors such a condition. The plan or idea of increasing the school tax will not receive the shadow of an endorsement. Last year it was 28-1/2 cents per $100, and a further raise at this time would be an imposition.  Burleson School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |