The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-12

! The Fourth Ward school Dis,nY, sails.
! MEETING OF TIKI BOARD or EDUCATIoN-REpo eT OF
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THs sPE, TAI
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE, ETC.
The Board Of Education held special meeting even
ing Andrew Green presiding in the absence Of the Pre-
sdent, who is now a European tour.
large amount Of trivial business being disposed of
the following report submitted by Commissioner
TUCKER the Chairman of the Finance Commttee but be
fore any action taken II motion to adjourn
made by Commissioner WARREN and carried by - TO o.
10 THE BOARD or EDuCAroS--
The FIJI ance Committee, 10 whom was referred the
rolls for teachers salaries In the schools OF the Fourth
ward, for the month Of May which signed by only
Inspector 10 examine into the Of the refusal OF
sale inspector to sign the same respectfully report that
they have caref Ally examined into the of such
fasal, and find the following TO be the facts
Firstly That on or about the 7h of May last the Board
OF School Officers Of the Fourth ward at meetIg OF said
Board at which appears from the record ten school
officers were present. Of the inspectors being absent
and there being vacancy IN said Board removed nine
teachers that AT such meeting Of the inspectors par
tcpated in the deliberations and voted the removals;
and promotions made to provide for the thus
created In the making Of all OF which the inspectors took
part.
Secondly. That by evidence before the committee, it
was proved that two OF the appointees rela
ves, one being sister and the other niece Of certain
OF the school officers which appointments in direct
violation Of article eight section thirty eight Of the by
laws Of this Board.
Thirdly That the notices of the appointments and pro-
motions filed In the clerks office Informal in the fol-
lowing partcularsIhey signed by the Chairman
and Secretary of the Board of Trustees required by
article eight, section thirtyeght OF the yaws In
instances the salaries filed mentioned said
catons The date Of the meeting at which said appoint.
ments and promotions were made Ia not certified
Your committee are convinced that removals and ap
poin,menis made by Board Of School Officers the in
spee,ors voting thereon in violation Of section ten OF
the law OF the state giving such power to the Board of
Trustees and also Of the thirty eighth section Of the by
laws Of this Board and that the appointment of rea
tions Of school officers is direct violation Of
In consideration Of the above facts the committee I. ink
that the inspector s entirely justified in refusing to sign
said rolls and they also OF the opinion that the
aforesaid removals Illegal the teachers said 10 have
been Dismissed entitled TO their salaries and that
those promoted in consideration OF such supposed
val should receive salary at the rates fixed previous to
the alleged dismssas The committee therefore
mend the adoption of the following resolution
Resolved, That the removals, appointments and pro-
motions made by the school officers tho Fourth ward,
on and after May 1850 and contained in the pay rolls
ferret to the Finance Committee Illegally made,
and that said pay rolls be sent to the Board OF Trustees Of
the Fourth ward for correction All Of which Is respect
fully submitted. WILLIAM TUCKER,
DAVID h GIIDERsILEvE Finance
JrIy, o, 1850. JAMES WATSON,
The report Of the special committee appointed to in
vestgate the for the recent wholesale dismissal
TO be submitted 10 the Board time had permitted The
report goes to review the testimony that has beeh
taken before the committee and their proceedings
they were appointed, and then concludes follow.
The commitee sincerely regret that the school officers
Of the Fourth ward should have withheld information
which they had in their power TO Offer, by sending
the minute book Of their local Board, and that their
teachers should have refused TO furnish the school
cords, which would have materially assisted the commit
tee in their investigation; while, with exceptions,
the school officers refused appear and give their test
mony the provides means OF enforcing the
attendance the committee forced to dispense with
sti facts enough have been elected to ,ubstantlate
the allegations against the school officers 10 the effect
that they acuated oy sectarian motives and a de-
sire 10 make places for their favores in the
which they adopted in dsmssng the teachers aforesaid
The evidence demonstrates to the satisfaction of your
Committee that there ground for charge Of inca
pacy against OF the Dismissed teachers The schools
departments and classes under their charge in
good condition surrounding circumstances would admit,
and the teachers dismissed superior in grade and
experience TO those appointed 10 MI their places While
II admitted tia; Of tho grammar departments
have fallen of In attendance to extent yet the state
mcnt Of Mr.. shine, that they declined during the year
1859 from go to seventy three (whe the records of this
Board show that the attendance Of thc-e depart
ments for 1858 respectively $50 and ninety seven,
aud 1859 1914 eighty one Is SO exaggerated AZ
10 do manifest injustice.
The committee are constrained TO believe thu, d de-
Is justly attributable 10 the dsseasons which
unfortunately exist among the school officers, and to
OF interest on their part in public education hao to any
other cause and that TIC dismissed teachers not
sponsibe therefor.
The committee further believe tina, the evidence before
them taken In connection with fact that the school
officers were unwilling to produce he books and papers,
which would subsantiac refu,c the allegations Of Mr.
Shine, will justify thom in saying that the charges made
by him not true, and ne that Of "makirg false
turns serious one. they assert this belief as an act
Of -tice ~ Mr.. Smith.
Your committee feel that this Board strong
y their dsspprobaon Of the adopted by
the Board OF School Officers 81 the Fourth ward In the mat
ter under consideration and that II Is due 10 public
who freely contribute this Of public
that this Board should all its power 10 prc
vent the repetition Of such act the removal o
faithful and competent teachers either sectarian
grounds for the purpose OF making place for avort
IL IL manifest that removals for either Of the above
will entirely ALLEVIATE public confidence aud result
In the total destruction OF school system. They,
therefore, recommend the Adoption of The following
buttons and amendment 10 the by-laws:-
Resolved, That this Bard heartily disspprove of The
action Of the Board OF School Ocers Of ths Fourth ward
in dismssing nine competent, and faithful teachers with
out any Just cause.
Resolved That article eight section thirty eight Of the
bylaws be amended by adding the following sub divi.
sion, which shall be known a. subdivsion fourteen t.
wit
Upon the dismissal Of teacher the Board Of Trustees
shall nle with the clerk a this Board copy reso
luton directing the same, and notify such teacher in
writing Of the of dismissal Said teacher shall
have the right appeal this Board within twenty
days after the service OF the notice aforesaid and sad
appeal shall be mmeda icly referred 10 tho Committee on
Appeals examine into the facts and Of
the case and report 70 this Board.
If the Board shall deeiie that there good
for such dismiss A. then the teacher dismissed shall
entitled to ,he position aud salary be sb~ had the
time Of dismissal, with pay as IL no dismissal had taken
place.
Resolved That I've section nineteen be amen fed
by adding "Committee on Aprcas,' said comraittee
Of Ave, and TO be appointed by tho President
AL OF whi;h Ia respectfully submitted
WV TUCKER,
W. y EAGER. in,
Special Committee on Fourth Ward Removals.