The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-14
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1870.
Hoard Of Aldermen.

The regular weekly meeting Of the Board
of Aldermen was held last evening, the pres
ident (John 8. Crocker) In the chair. Pres
ent, all the members except Messrs ChaSe
and McCathran. A..
A communication was received rom tne
Mayor, as follows; ! deem IL my duty 70
state that although have appfI;ysu 'ne p Of
public schools and for other purposes, there
are, In my opinion, grave objections to some
of ia provisions. As the act II supersedes,
however, was more Objectionable In many Of
its features, l preferred that this should be-
come law. This bill takes from the super
iutendent all power to act, except under
special instructions from the Board OF Trus-
tees or sub-board thereof, OF which he Is
made the mere creature. He should, IL APP
pears to me, have at least voice In the
adoption Of rules and regulations FOR school
management; in prosecuting the course OF
studies; In the selection OF textbooks the
examination and selection OF teachers, as
well as the power to enforce order and dis
cipline In the school.rooms. lie should have
the power to call meetings Of the teachers In
order 10 make suggestions and impart In.
struction TO them in the art Of teaching and
governing the pupils. He should also possess
the power TO suspend teachers for dlsqualid.
cation or improper conduct, and TO expel
pupils for disobedenco or other disorderly
behavior, subject TO the approval OF the
Board OF Trustees. These powers should, In
my Judgment, be granted In the bill and not
be left to the discretion Of the board, VINO
may or may not, at their pleasure, adopt
regulations giving him any or all of them.
The superintendent is,or should be at least,
selected on account ofhls qualifications ana
experience as an educator, and some dei.r-
ence should be given to his Judgment in ie-
gard to these matters. Besides, nothing
should be left that may by any possibility
bring the Board Of Trustees and the superin-
tendent in collision on any Of these points.
Another objection Is contained In the third
section, which provides 'that the compcnsa-
ton Of the principal OF each male grammar
school OF the First and Third districts shall be
at the rate of two thousand dollars per an
num-" while those of the other districts re
ceive one thousand six hundred dollars pt
annum. am at loss to conceive why this
distinction was made, unless becau, In the
First and Third districts superior school
houses have been erected. But ! cannot
think 1t right that because they have inferior
school-houses an inferior class Of teachers arc
TO be employed in the other less favored dis
tricts. The qualifications Of the teachers
should be the same In all the districts, and
common justice requires that all should be
paid alike.
These objections are thus stated with the
Idea Of calling your attention to the several
points named, hoping that should the Coun-
ellis agree with me some action may speedily
be taken to modify the law and repeal the
obnoxious provisions.
Very respectfully, s. J. BowLS.
Referred to the Committee on Schools, ant
ordered to be printed.
The Mayor also transmitted account o
the First National Bank of Washington will
the corporation for the week ending septem