The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-23
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Adjourned Meeting of the Controllers
.. ResignntiOn of President Shippen.

Adjourned Meeting of tho Controllers
Resignation of President Shipper.
The last meeting of the Board of School Con-
trollers was held yesterday afternoon.
President Shippen occupied the chair. 1t is the
last time that he will fill it, his much regretted
resignation taking effect from January 1st
A batch of communications was received from
the various school sections.
The First section announced certain promotions
in their list OF teachers
The Sixth section asked for sundry school re-
movals.
A resolution was adopted appropriating S2636 for
deficiency in the appropriation for rental of school
houses in the city generally.
The inspector appointed to examine the various
school buildings recently erected and in course
of erection, reported the cost of the same.
The inspector, MIR. George Essler, lauds the man
ner in which these buildings have been erected.
A resolution was adopted instructing the Com
mittee Property to report what action is neces-
sary to avoid the large expenditure of money to
On behalf of the Board Mr.. Mcbride, member
of the body, presented to Mr.. Shppen an elaborate
fruit casket appropriately inscribed.
addresses of regret by Mr. Wetherill, Green and
others, the Board adjourned.
Upon retiring, Mr.. Shippen said
/ have no language, gentlemen of the Board of
Control by which may give utterance to the feel
quence with which may adorn the words Of thanks
that rise from grateful heart for these manifesto
tions of your kindness, and for the generous man
services I shall carry with me into my retirement
the most pleasing remembrance of the goodwill
me- and shall never forget the tributes you have
this day been pleased to award me. know we'll,
gentlemen, that great reforms have been made in
our system of public education, especially during
the past year, and perhaps have to some extent
been instrumental therein, but the credit belongs
not to me. Yours the work and labor in the
main, and am willing only to share with you in
due degree whatever Of credit may attach TO these
reforms.
With some of you / have long been associated
i'll the cause of public education, with others but
twelvemonth. L cannot leave you without bearing
n11l - fnlti m nnfit fn
good sense and sound Judgment which have so
happily distinguished your official action. You have
marked the year now closing by wise legislation.
You have, with thoughtful consideration, regulated,
graded and harmonized the course of study, to the
incaculable advantage ofouT schools With deter
mined hand you have seized upon theoverburdened
text book list, and reduced it by judicious dscrimi
nation. You have extended your fostering care and
helping hand to the Boys High School and to the
Girls Normal School, SO that each stands pre-emi
nent. You have yielded to the long-standing and
well-founded complaints OF parents and of medical
men of undue pressure upon the minds of children,
and have adopted efficient reformatory measures.
You have improved the system of examination of
teachers and have wisely rearranged the whole sub
ject of teachers certificates You have overthrown
so productive Of i'll feeling between the several
school sections You have paid marked at
tention to the erection of the new school edfces
which are now springing up all around us in all
directions, and have given to the city of Phiadel
phia school accommodations second to none in
America; and you have done so with the same
economy which has so well marked your admins
tration in other expenditures. You have been
most careful Oh tne pupllc IunuS committed TO your
disbursement. You have watched with jealous
eye each bill presented and have rejected such as
were extravagant, unnecessary or unauthorized.
You have been watchful over school supplies,
and have dealt them out with liberal and
careful economy. You have sustained and
couraged the Teachers Institute in its laud-
able efforts to elevate the teachers profession,
and in corresponding degree to benefit
all of schools. You have spared no effort
to provide suitable compensation for the able
and jealous corps of teachers who are tolng in the
citys service and though in this respect you have
for nf nf inha
Board, you have, at least, done your duty in the
effort, and | am convinced, from the tone of
popular sentiment, so far as l have been able
faithfulness zeal, intelligence and sound judg-
ment exercised during the past year in educa-
tional matters; and that, persevering in this
course, you will always be sustained against every
opposing power. If, however, our children are
deprived of an elementary course of musical
instruction. if we virtually prohibited from the
introduction of healthful ply sical exercise for
eighty-tive thousand scholars, and if the city of
Phi adelphia is prohibited also, the services of
superintendent of public schools, and thus stands
isolated in our group of cities, and in this respect
fault rests not upon your inactivity, and yours
should not be the blame. May not further add
If fifteen hundred teachers fail to receive their
salaries when due, in no degree does the fault
upon you. Let 1t be placed where it belongs. /
need scarcely renew the assurance that my retire.
ment is prompted alone by reason of the demands
upon my time by private business; but for which,
| could be with you and work with YOU for years.
Let me again thank you for your kindness to me
on this occasion; for your uniform courtesy to me
your president; your ready cooperation with me
you have just rendered me. will ever bear them in
grateful memory. May God prosper you, one and
ALL in your public and private avocations, and NAV
you each receive the reward of duty well and faith
fully performed
AZ my last official act have now to declare this
Board adjourned sine die.