Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-12

IUbLto oChOOLS--Ine regular monthly meeting
of the Board of Trustees was held ON "Wednesday
w. Davis, chairman, and Messrs. Bennett, Polk,
Bacon, Lord, Magruder, Bates, Hanson, At Lee,
and Pearson
The minutes Of the proceedings Of the last meet
ing wore read and approved.
Mr.. At Lee presented q report from the COM
mittee on books, Ia relation TO Shurtlefs Govern
mental Instructor in which ID was stated that the
work presents a clear, welLaranged, and compre-
hensive synopsis Of our form Of government not
only in its national features but also As 70 its DO.
nestle relations. The Constitution OF the United
States Is distinctly set FORTH and In such manner
as 10 engage the attention OF the pupil, and 70 be-
come fixed In his memory. The work is useful to
the adult as well as to the youth, and the commit
tee unanimously recommend its adoption as the
textbook upon the subject OF constitutional law
for the public schools of this city"
The report Of the committee was unanimously
concurTed in by the Board
A letter from Miss Lowe, teacher of Primary
School No. 2, First District recommending the
continuance on the list Of authorized books Of
Adams's Primary Arithmetic, was read
On motion Of Mr. At Lee, Adalns's Arithmetic
was ordered TO be continued on the list
On motion Of MIR. At Lee, the Sub Board of the
Third District We're allowed further time to prepare
areport in relation to the condition OF the district
school building.
Mr.. Bennett made an oral report from the Sub
Board Of the First District in relation to the room
In which Primary School No. 8 is taught
On motion Of Mr.. Magruder, a committee, con-
sisting Of one from each Of the First and Second
Districts, was appointed to inquire into the expe-
diency Of renting the basement OF the Church of
the Ascension, and empowered to make the neces-
sary arrangements in relation thereto.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Bennett and Lord.
The Secretary read the report Of the committee
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tend to the interests Of the public schools before
the District committees of the two Houses of Con-
gress, and recommend the adoption Of such mea-
sures as would carry out the recommendation of
the Secretary Of the Interior, to wit: that the
public lots within the city of Washington be trans
ferred by the government to the Corporation, and
the proceeds of the same, from time to time, be
applied to purposes of education, and also to OBJ
tain from Congress grant of public land, or such
other aid as would enable the city to extend and
perfect the system of public school instruction.
Adetaled statement was presented the several
interviews Of the committee with the District com
mittees, the Commissioner of Public Buildings the
Mayor of the City, and many members OF Congress-
The committee also laid before the Board
printed memorial, which had been presented by
General Cass to the Senate, in which had been set
forth the claims of the Public Schools to favorable
consideration. 4s8s Has@tf
Mr.. Magruder stated, at the suggestion Of the
Superintendent that it was his wish that all thepu-
pills ofthe Public Schools should visit the Fair and
ifany had been hitherto prevented from attending,
from whatever cause, they were still at liberty to
witness the exhibition
On motion of Mr.. AtLee, the report was ordered
to be entered on the journal, and the acknowledge
ments of the Board to be given to Gen. Cass Gen.
Dawson, and Messrs. Hamilton and Barnard, whose
names were specially mentioned in the report, for
the interest which they had manifested for the pro-
motion of popular education in the District and
the facilities which they had afforded to the COM
mittee in their labors. ~
On motion of Mr.. At Lee, the secretary was d.
rected to return the thanks Of the Board to the
Superintendent, and Board of Managers of the
Fair Of the Metropolitan Mechanics Institute, for
their berality in admitting the Public Schools, and
for the instruction and entertainment which had
thereby been afforded to the pupils.
Mr.. Hanson moved that copy of the printed
memorial of the Board, which was recently laid
before Congress, be presented to the Mayor Of the
city and the two Boards of the City Council.
Mr.. Hanson, from committee appointed at the
last meeting, presented written report, showing
the necessity ofaddtional furniture, maps, and
globes in certain schools in the third district; which,
for the present. was. ordered TO lie on the table.
Mr.. Wendell's bill for printing was ordered to
be paid.
On motion of Mr.. Pearson, the Secretary was
directed to make an application in behalf Of the
Board, TO the Councils for permission to sell such
old school furniture as may not be wanted for the
use of the public schools and to apply the pro-
ceeds for the benefit of the schools.
On motion of Mr.. AT Lee, committee, consist
ing Of the Secretary and one frem each district
appointed, to report at the next meeting plan for
the distribution of premiums at the next annual
examination Of the public schools.
The Chair appointed Messrs. At Lee, Hanson,
Dickinson, and Magruder.
Remarks were also made by Messrs. Pearson
and Magruder, who were present and assisted at
the late examination Of candidates.
A long conversation followed, in which most Of
the Trustees participated in respect to the quaica
tons required for teachers of public schools the
necessity of elevating the standard of discipline
and instruction in the schools, and the principles
by which members Of the Board would be gov
erned hereafter In the election of teachers For
the purpose Of ascertaning correctly the names of
those ladies' and gentlemen who desire TO be con-
sidered as candidates hereafter, to gil vacancies
as they occur in the corps Of teachers, and cor
recting the list the Secretary directed TO give
public notice that the committee on examination
win meet all such persons as may please TO attend
in the Aldermens' room, City Hall, on the last Sat
urday Of this month at o'clock, p NJ, whether
they have passed the examination required by the
rules Of the Board, or otherwise.
The election Of assistant teacher in the second
district school was postponed till the next meeting
of the Board
The usual monthly reports of the teachers, of
which summary will hereafter be given, were
filed, and then the Board adjourned.
CoMPLErE SETo BARREL MAcHrSEs-The stave
cutting machine exhibited at she Fair, by G. b
Hutchinson, Co., Of Auburn, New York, is at
tracing great attention among the visiters there
Its construction is very ingenious, and its perform
ance truly astonishing. A murderous looking
knife, about Eve feet long, and shaped somewhat
like quarter segment of a large stove-pipe, hung
by It's centre, Is constantly playing up and down,
and at the same time Is made to move back and
forth ehdwise, thus giving to the edge of the knife
apeculiar drawing motion or stroke. Large blocks
of wood, previously softened by steaming, are
placed on bed-plate, past the edge of which the
knife shears in its descent, and kept pressed up
against guages at proper distance in front, so
that every stroke takes offs stave followed aud
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