The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-05-23
Board Of Education.
ADJOURNED MEETING.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
OTTAWA. Friday. NAV IL. 1865.

a. en OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
.. Ottawa, Friday, May IL, 1868.
The Board met pursuant to adjournment
Present-W. l.. Gibson, Presldent and Directors
Rice, Stout, Courtney Crane, Hollecksr and Fulton.
Minutes of the last meeting were read and
approved.
BILLS ORDERED PAID.
o. Trask, repairing clocks, $500
f. Rose, repairing globe, 20
On motion of Director Courtney, the Presiden:
was added to the Committee on Finance
The President reported that he had received
from the Mayor the $4,000 city bends authorized
to be issued at the last city election and had given
his receipt for the same.
On motion of Director Hollecker the committee
on buildings were instructed to advertise for pro
posals complete the school house in the sixth
ward the proposals to be placed in the hands OF Ell.
ther of the committee on buildings by o'clock Of
Friday, June 5th.
On motion of Director Rice, the committee on
buildings were instructed to have well sunk on
the school grounds Of. the first ward.
Director Hollecker, from committee on buildings,
reported, recommending for the school buildings
the lightning rod well known as the Star Galvan
lied rod.
On motion of Director Rice, the committee
buildings were instructed to have all the school
houses not furnished with suitable rods provided
with the rod recommended by the Committee on
buildings
Director Rice presented the following:
Whereas, the act of the Legislature ofthis State
establishing system of Free Schools in this city,
was enacted for the sole purpose osecuring to each
child in the city, whatever his or her pecuniary
condition or station may be- or whatever may be
the religious belief of his or her parents the means
of obtaining good education:
And whereas. the public money raised by tax.
ation for school purposes under said act, is fund
belonging wholly and solely to the children in the
city for the uses and purposes aforesaid, and the
members Of the Board Of Education are simply
trustees, whose duty it is to see that the money
so raised is applied under such systemof studies
carry ont the intention Of the act establishing
| the schools:
| And whereas we believe that parents have the
cole right to direct the religious education ottheir
| children
And whereas, repeated complaints have been
made by persons whose children attend the public
| schools that many of the hymns or religious songs
used in the singing exercises in some the schools
are OF such u nature Us to bias the minds of chill.
dren to particular or sectaran views Of religion:
| And whereas, we believe that the adoption and
use ofhymns or songs Of q sectarian nature in the
singing exercises ofthe schools would have the et.
feet of preventing many OFT the children in the city
from avaing themselves of the benefits 0fthe pub
| lie schools ard Of the money raised therefor to
| which they are entitled by law
1t is therefore ordered that committee ofthrSe,
consisting OF Directors Courtney, Stout and Crane.
be appointed to investigate and see if there be any
| grounds for said complaints and il So to report
some plan by which the singing exercises shall be
conducted so rs to give mo just grounds OF COM
paint to parents of any religious sect or denomns.
| ton.
The foregoing order was passed unanimously.
| On motion of Director Rice, the Clerk was sl.
lowed $3.50 for his services during the last official
year. and was instructed TO draw an order for that
| sum.
On motion Of Director llollecker the Board ad.
1 I. Ii. CLARK, Clerk.