The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-12
Board OF Rducation =.

Board OF Rducation.
The regular monthly meeting of the
Board ofEducation was held on Wednes-
day evening in the Chamber of the First
Branch of the City Council.
The President, Mr.. Mcclellan, being
absent, Mr.. Clohan was, on motion OF
DR.. Baird, called to the Chair.
Present-Messrs. Bickel, Boring Baird,
Clohan, Ewing, Hutchinson, Hall, Ian
caster, Launder, Stewart, Wheat and
Wilson.
The minutes of the previous regular
meeting, and of the two special meet
ings were read and approved.
The President, Mr.. Mcclellan, APP
peared and took the Chair.
The reports of Superintendent Will
liams for the month of May were re-
ceived and ordered to be filed. The fol-
lowing is brief abstract:
Enrolment of pupils fer the month
white, POLL; colored, "a; total, 2O65. Az
erage daily attendance-white, lT76;
colored, 46; total, 1922. Percentage OF
attendance on enrollment-white, 90;
colOred, 81.
Number of pupils in the several
branches of study: photography, 1858;
Reading, 1907; Penmanship, ll2l; Writ
ten Arithmetic, S35; Mental do, 9s4;
Geography, $40; Eng. Grammar, BOB;
Natural Philosophy, 81; History, l27;
Chemistry, 3; Botany, 3; Algebra, w;
Geometry, 20; Physical Geography, 5.
The special commtte appointed to
report with reference to the expediency
of purchasing lot adjoining the Web
ster School premises, belonging to An
drew Long, recommended the adoption
of resolution authorizing the purchase
of said lot at cost not exceeding 5000.
On motion of Mr. Boring, the report
of the Committee was laid upon the ia
Bile.
Mr.. Bickel stated that the committee
appointed for the purpose, had conclud-
ed bargain for the Haynes lot, adjoin-
ing the 1st Ward School premises, at
the price of $500, payable in eighteen
months with interest.
DR.. Baird thought that neither the
committee nor the Board had authority
to make such contract, and cited sec
ton 18th of the Wheeling School Law,
which provides that "The Board of Ed
ucation shall not. during any one year,
incur expenses that shall exceed the
amount of available funds received for
school purposes during that year"
After considerable discussion, it was
agreed, on motion of Mr.. Wheat, that
the Board give its note for the amount
named, payable twelve months from
the first day of July ensuing.
Dr. Baird made inquiry whether there
had been any action of the Board, re-
curing that excuses for absence of pu-
pills from school. shall contain tho word
necessary" He was of the opinion thai
an excuse which clearly goes to show
that the absence of pupil has been
necessary, whether it contain the word
or not, should be regarded as valid, and
the principal should be required to re-
ceive it. He stated that a teacher IN
the Fourth Ward School, had sent pu-
nil from school, because the word "nec-
essary" was not found in the excuse
sent by the parent, notwithstanding
that the wording of the excuse was net
such as clearly to imply that the alb
sence had been necessary"
The Superintendent, with leave, sta
ted that he had instructed all the teach
ers that excuses from parents for abb
sence of less than give days in any con-
secutive four weeks" must be regarded
as valid, provid ed the language is such
as to convey the idea that the absence
was necessary, and he was certain that
no such excuse had in any instance
been refused acceptance.
DIR. Baird aud Mr.. Clohan felt quite
certain that certain principals and
teachers had refused excuses, solely on
the ground that the word necessary
was not employed, the language other
wise indicating that the absence was
necessary.
The Superintendent was quite as con-
fident that the gentlemen were mis-
taken.
DR.. Baird moved that it be declared
the understanding of the Board, that
an excuse shall be regarded as sufficient
if the language is such as clearly to I'M
ply that the absence was necessary.
A motion to lay on the table was lost,
and the resolution adopted.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on
Buildings, presented plans submitted by
Messrs. Donel and Fairfax, architects,
for the contemplated school building
for Washington township, LIST Ward
The plans were duly inspected, and
their respective merits discussed.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson it was deci-
ded to employ Mr.. Fairfax to prepare
"werking plans" and superintend the
erection of the building, at compen-
sation for his services not exceeding
five per cent. on the cost. He is to
make such notifications of the plan al
ready submitted, as the Building COM
mittee with the Superintendent of
Schools, may suggest.
Mason g. Hamlin Organs.
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