Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-01-04
CITY Government.
MONA,

MONDAY, Jan /.
communication was received from the
Mayor on behalf of Abel Kimban, referred TO
committee on finance, who reported in favor
of hiring the money and liquidating the claim
and the report was accepted.
Petition of J. L. spofford and sS others IN
relation to clearing the side walks Of snow, was
referred to the committee on highways. &c.
Petition of Jere Robinson for compensation
for destruction of the Old South Meeti1o
House, was referred to the committee on f.
nance.
Committee OH finance made a report trans
ferring $1,000 from appropriation for extraor-
binary expenses to that Of city watch. Adopt
ed
An order directing the Experimenting
School Committee to make their report on, and
in full to the first Monday in March was passed
in concurrence.
Orders were passed in concurrence, direct
ing the Mayor to petition the Legislature for
an Act authorizing the city to compel citizens
to clear the sidewalks from snow and ice; and
also for an amendment to the City Charter, au-
President pro. tenn.
The following order was introduced by Mr..
Gil man, in presenting which. he went some
what at length into the reasons for the move
ment. disclaimng all disposition to cast CEN
sure upon the Committee any of the teach
There deep and settled conviction
in the minds of many Of our people that the
discipline of the schools is sadly at fault; that
while physiology is taught as a study, it is
daily violated in practice that while the gov
eminent of the country has abolished the cat in
the navy, may be permitted to doubt the
propriety of retaining the co,chide in our
schools that eorporeal punishments should
be last resort and never be inflicted with
dangerous severity, and that no rule of our
schools should be so arbitrary to overlook
the self-respect of the scholar, or to require
him to do an act mean and base in his own es-
!imation. Mr.. G. said that the prevailing i'm
pressions of community relative to mal-prac-
tees in our school discipline either right
or wrong-6 wrong,th the proper remedies should
be promptly applied ; if right, the teachera
SIlO"iu W 'lINlOdNtu " q Ieielul Spectrum "a
the whole matter by tie Committee in either
case, therefore, the order was right and proper,
and no reasonable person, certainly no inno-
cent person. should complain of its introduce
ton, or Of the demand il made for inquiry.
The order passed the Council unanimously;
was referred by the Aldermen to the joint
standing committee on schools and school
houses, which reference was non concurred in
by the Council, they insisting and subsequent
ly adhering unanimously to the vote giving it
passage:
Ordered. That the experimenting School
Committee be respectfully requested to exam
inc carefully into the subject Of discipline as
now administered in our Common Schools; to
| ascertain whether physical or moral appliances
are chiefly relied upon correctives; to
certain il the corporal infections are always in
harmony with, or often in violation of, the
laws of physiology and health, with view to
a correction of errors, if they are found to ex-
ist 10 ascertain whether the instruments used
to produce corporal pain always safe in
the hands Of young and comparatively mex
\ perienced teachers such as a humane parent
would tolerate in his family and if found to
be unsafe, or untitled TO the uses to which they
are applied, to cause their speedy Punishment
from the school rooms, and finally to ascertain
whether the moral discipline of our schools is
in all cases compatible with the self-respect Of
the pupil, and his good standing with his fell
low pupils.