The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-16
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The CustOdians Of the Metropolitan Juvenile
Intelligence in Council.
The Venerable Economists Granting
Hoidays-Reoords of the Past
for Waste Paper.

The Board OF Commissioners OF Common Schools
met IN stated session last evening in the hall corner
OF Grand and Elm streets, with the gentemany
president Mr. r. L. Larrlmore, IN his full dress suit,
In the chair and all the members in their places, ex-
cept the rublcund, chronic absentee and one other
commissioner who was absent on account Of sick
The Board, as at present composed, is almost
as venerable IN appearance as the Chamber
OF Commerce and nearly as 'long wlnded."
80 that those who attend as spectators
have frequent opportunities OF being enter
tanned, amused bored hall to death with lengthy
reports cautious speeches, which fully illustrate
the difference 'twixt tweedledum and tweedle-
dee" In order to save time the minutes OF the
Board in accordance with resolution adopted
some time since, printed and forwarded to the
members OF the Board. The labor OF having the
minutes read IS thus dispensed wtn and the vener-
able members OF this economical council after the
opening Of the meeting, spend few moments In
silent and, 1t is TO be hoped pious) meditation for
the purpose Of calling to mind their sins of omission
and commission and making firm resolutions to do
better the future In the lobby the usual gather
ing OF eneminate and handsome looking young men
who spend their DAYS in ',teaching the young idea
how to shoot" and, among them, n,,rdbue dctft,
were several representatives OF the feminine gender
OF the human species.
The proceedings Of the Board last night were not
particularly interesting, except IN one or two
instances. number OF communications OF the
usual style presented and referred to the appro
pirate committees. One communication however,
was somewhat different from the common rum and
was transmitted TO the Board by an individual
signing himself q. III. Farnnam. In which 1t
was stated that the communicaCor nal method OF
lmpartlng musical instruction which he claimed was
much superior to that now in use. This idea VIII,
no doubt, he very Interesting TO Bristow and the
others who are satisfied with the 'good Old way.n
There Is scarcely any no e Tor NJ farnnaln. as the
matter was referred to the Committee on Course OF
Studies, ut the head OF winch Is a remarkable ana
exceedingly erudlte child or Ieutona who, no doubt,
has an eminent regard Tor Beethovon and gentlemen
OF mat Tx and VINO VIII, IN all PROBABILITY, LOOK
upon any innovation on their style with as much
horror as ne does the idea OF not having the children
OF the city taught the lingo OF his .'vaterand.n
Resolutions were adopted authorizing the closing
OF the evening schools on Christmas Eve and the
closing OF all the schools on Monday. January 3,
1870. This will give teachers and pupils time to pre-
pare clean stockings to be hung up on Christmas
Eve and give the misses aud masters an opportunity
honor duly the institution OF 'iady's day. which
must necessarily be postponed from sunday Janu-
airy 2. The Board Gid not say to each Individual at
tending the schools when the resolutions were
adopted but the members, no doubt, meant
TO say to eacn ana every one who could profit by
the extra holidays, ISIS JeitI."
A gross report was made by the Committee on
Teachers In regard TO the action OF the local Board OF
principal or Grammar School No. 2e FOR neglect OF
duty. 1t appeared that during the past year Mr..
Duty had perorVed but thirty-seven days service,
must be more attentive, there was no evidence OF
improvement. me committee, therefore reported
IN favor OF sustaining the action OF the local Board,
and the report was adopted by an unanimous vote.
The Committee on Furniture, &C., reported on the
request OF the local board OF the First ward In regard
TO furnishing the addition lately bullt TO Grammar
school No. %; IN favor OF directing the Superlnten-
dent OF Buildings to furnish the school as tar as pos
sDle with such old furniture as he might have and
to obtain only such new furniture as was absolutely
necessary. This report was UNANIMOUSLY adopted.
Commissioner BELL from the Finance committee,
reported that there were balances on hand from
several appropriations and recommended their
transfer to other accounts. The total amount OF the
several uneXpended balances was 81, S25; ana the
report OF the committee In relation thereto was
adopted.
The Trustees OF the Nineteenth ward were author
lied to establish new primary school in the ward
somewhere between fOrlietn ana Fiiteth streets
| and FIRST and Third avenues. This was done in con-
sequence OF the fact that the schools OF the ward
| were so densely crowded that there was no more
ROOM This action OF course, necessitates the eas-
ing OF premises, the Board has decided to erect
no more new school buildings. Owners premises
suitable Tor primary school within the limits pre-
scribed will, no doubt, increase the rent such
premises, SO that should the Board engage any of
them they Will not cost much more IN the end than
q building would
Commissioner WooD announced that the number
OF manuals and directories issued by the Board for
1869 was, he thought great deal too large that for
furnishing the members Of the Board and the local
boards and principals OF the schools with copies,
about $50 copies would suffice and he therefore,
offered resolution to the effect that for 1870 but 500
copies OF the manual" be issued and or the drec-
tories q similar number. The matter was referred
TO the Committee Supplies VINO may probably
report favorably on Mr.. Woods resolution. should
the close OF the year. to deny the request OF many OF
those who may ask for copies OF the "Manualu as @
matter OF right or courtesy.
Commissioner Wood had been rummaging through
the rooms in the building used by the board, having
appointed nimself apparently, ''smeing'' COM
mIttee OF one, and came across q large number OF
Old copies OF records manuals reports and other
printed documents or the Board OF Education for
years past He moved, therefore, that i've copies OF
the documents OF each year be collected ana that
The remainder be sold by the Committee on Supplies,
either at pubic auction or by private sae for
paper.
quite enough TO be saved
Commissioner WOOD thought the Committee on
Supplies could regulate tnat matter The resolution
was adopted here Is q glorious opportunity for
the Historical SOCIETY," Astor Library Cooper lnsti-
tute and other similar institutions to get fine sup
ply OF books 10 make q show on the shelves and
furnish entertaining and instructive reading matter
which they should not neglect.
The Committee on Bylaws presented v0lumnOus
report OF amendments to the bylaws, mainly in &C
coroance with resolutions adopted from time to
time during some months past. The report was
very long that the energetic clerk (Mr. Hltchmanl
while reauing 1t was obliged To take waters several
times. He managed to get through 1t safely, how.
ever, and resumed his seat quite exhausted. The
report was adopted ana the bylaws as attended in
In accordance with the report were adopted Is Q
whole.
The Board, after disposing OF some usual routine
matters adjourned to meet according to resolution
Of " wednesday, 10Th inst.