The New York herald., 1869-05-20
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

The nrst stated meeting OF the new Board Of Com
mssioners Of Common Schools was held last even
ing at the hall corner Of Grand and Elm streets,
with the President, Mr.. r. L. Larremore In the
chair. The Commissioners were all on hand, except
Messrs Sherwood and Murphy and but little time
was lost IN getting to work. In the lobby were q
number Of teachers from the various schools and
from the College, together with several prominent
citizens, all of whom watched the proceedings Of
the Board with much apparent interest. After
the usual preliminaries had been disposed of-tne
Clerk, Mr. Hitchman himself, reading the minutes
the President commenced clearing his desk Of the
papers which had been presented for the purpose OF
being acted upon by the Board. The majority Of the
communications were Of the usual kind, from
trustees excusing the absence Of certain teachers
asking for the confirmation Of nominations Of
others for positions and asking appropriations for
various works. The communications were referred
to the appropriate committees; after which
was read a special communication from the
clerk. The last communication recited the pro-
posal made by II. G. Calkins, Representative
in Congress from the Seventh Congressional
district to confer the appointment of cadet in the
Military Academy to the most deserving applicant
from the schools OF the Fourth school district. 1t
rected further that the matter had been referred to
the Commissioners representing the Fourth district
in the late Board Of Education; that these sCommis-
soners had held meeting for the purpose OF exam-
lining applicants for the cadeship and that but one
applicant appeared As he was not a pupil Of any
OF the public schools Of the district nor Of the Col
lege he was declared ineligible and no action was
taken in the matter and 1t was therefore, left to the
consideration Of the present Board. In connection
with this communication from the clerk, Comms-
sioner Duryea offered resolution, which was
adopted, referring the subject TO special committee
REVISION OF THE BYLAWS.
Commissioner Gross offered report from the
meeting Of the Board to revise the bylaws OF the
Board. The report is an elaborate and well prepared
document, and one which gave evidence OF The fact
that the new Board enters upon its duties with q
determination to do whatever may be just and
proper. The report opens with the statement that
the bylaws OF the late Board were evidently the
suits Of mature delberaton and experience in school
matters and should not be handled lightly IL then
goes on to recommend such amendments as were
necessary to adapt the provisions to the reduced
number OF Commissioners, and names the fol-
lowing as the standing committees to be ap-
pointed by the presidential finance committee, to
consist OF five members; committee on buildings,
repairs and furniture, of three members; commit
tee on supplies of three members an auditing COM
mittee, Of fye members; committee on the course
Of studies, school books and hyglenics, of three
members committee on teachers, OF three members;
O committee sites and new schoolhouses, OF three
members; a committee on normal, evening and col
Ored schools, Of three members; and committee
bylaws, printing, elections and qualifications, Of
three members.
REPoRTs FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
were offered by the chairman, Commissioner Bell,
on matters which had been referred TO them. The
first report contained full statement OF the financial
condition Of the Board, which was read by the title
and ordered to be printed.
In the matter of the award of contract for mason
work connected with the additions and alterations
to Grammar Schoolhouse No. 80, in the Twelfth
ward, the committee rep0rted that they had exam
ined the subject thoroughly, and recommended to
the Board to rescind the action Of the former Board
in appropriating S33990; to appropriate the sum OF
sl4 for the carpenter and painting work, and to
tise for proposals for the mason work. The report
| Of the committee was adopted.
In the matter OF the application of Terence Kier-
for s454 for extra mason work and OF j. Fessler
for Sl12 for extra carpenter work the committee
reported that they had found that ,. the extra
tracts had been actually and satisfactorily
performed, and they recommended the payment Of
| the bills. The report OF the committee was adopted
| Commissioner Smyth, In voting, explained that as
| the committee recommended the payment In this
case he voted the affirmative, but that there was,
he believed, bill OF some thousands OF dollars for
extra work outstanding, and 1t was time there was
check placed on these extra services.
In the matter Of the application OF the trustees Of
the seventeenth ward for the sum Of 1895 for re-
furnishing Grammer schoolhouse No. 1e, the COM
mittee recommended to the Board to deny the applt
cation. The report Of the committee was adopted ;
after which an amount OF
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
was transacted. A resolution was adopted abolish
ing the Office OF reader to the Board and directing
the clerk OF tine Board to perform the duties hitherto
Commissioner Lewis, from the special committee,
presented q preamble and series Of resolutions
highly euogistic of Mr. John Davenpori, auditor of
the Board. The report OF the committee was
adopted and the resolutions ordered to be engrOssed
and presented to Mr. Davenport.
A resolution was adopted directing that the Board
visit In body the various schools under their di-
rection before the commencement Of the summer
vacation.
Commissioner Wood presented resolution direct
ing the Finance Committee to report some plan by
instead Of indirectly through the principals. Mr..
Wood, IN Offering the resolution, said that he
thought 1t would be much better to pay the
teachers themselves instead OF trusting so
much money to the principals however good
they may be; that it might require more cleri-
cal force, but he thought it could be done. The
resolution adopted by the Board, but it
ceived by the teachers who were present with grins
highly expressive OF the dea ''you VIII find that
with check TO be cashed, when the person by
whom the check was brought could just as safely
The President announced the following as the
COMMITTEES.
Special commissioners Duryea, Bell and
Fiaanc-Comm,ssou Bell Wood, Brennan, Murphy and
'Ie@hers-Commssioners Gross Sands and Lewis:
Baling Rpai's dai FpHiue-Co Commissioners Ingerson,
Sapp,ie.-c Commissioners Brennan Murphy and Lewis
ta1ies Steo Books and Hyyics-Cominissioner Gross,
SITS aad School Commissioners smyth Sands
Normal Ereans and Colored Commissioners Bell
~ L,Es P,itng, Elssion, ond Qualification,
in2zCommssoners Lewss Wood Insersoll, sher-
ApJouRNMrtSr
II may justly be remarked that the members OF the
new Board have commenced operations very well by
refraining from making unnecessary and prosy
speeches. and have thus avoided the annoyance and
perhaps the nausea which was often caused by a
few members OF the old board and by the majority
the members OF the Chamber OF Commerce. III the
Board go on as 1t has begun In this respect 1t Will
prove to be to some decided blessing In less than
one hour last evening all the business before the
Board was disposed OF pleasantly and satisfactorily
TO all the members and the Board adjourned to meet
again on the first Wednesday OF June.
Trustees of the College Of the City Of New
York.
The Board Of Education convened yesterday after.
noon as the Board OF Trustees OF the College aud
organized by the election OF Mr. II. L. Larremore as
President and Mr. William Hitchman as Secretary.
No business further than the ordinary routine was
transacted.
There is before the Board an application and re-
commendation IN behalf Of Mr.. W. B. Silber for the
appointment as professor OF Latin and Greek the
place rendered vacant by the demise OF the late Rev.
DIR. owen Mr.. Sber has been performing the
duties OF the professorshIp during some time past,
and being one Of the first teachers appointed TO
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