The New York herald., 1870-06-02
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Meeting Of the Commissioners Of Common
Scholastic Ward Officers Stubborn on the
German-Trustes Hennessey Bshsad-
ed-Early Adjournment Of the
Schools Miscellaneous Matters

The Board OF Education met yesterday afternoon
In stated session with the President, Mr.. r. L. Lar
remore In the chair. large number OF the usual
style or communications In relation to excusing
teachers for absence and on other minor matters
were received and referred to the appropriate COM
mittees. Among other communications was ono
from member OF the Board OF Trustees Of the
Eleventh ward, In relation to the
EARLY ADJOURNMENT OF THE SCHOOLS
The communication was quite lengthy, and In it
the trustee suggested that the schools be closed at
one p. M. every day until vacation, and that the
noon recess be done away with. He then went on
to tell what he had done, wnen Commissioner
Bell moved that the further reading OF the
document be dispensed with, as a committee
had that subject In charge already. The reading
was dispensed with and the paper referred to tho
Committee on Bylaws, Qualifications and Elections.
The committee subsequently reported resolution,
which adopted authorizing the trustees to close
the schools at two p M. from June 10 until the vaca-
tlon, at one r. NJ II the noon recess be dispensed
with.
communication was received from the President
OF the German American Association IN relation to,
THE STUDY OF tbs GERMAN LANGUAGE
In the schools The Association complain that they
have considerable difficulty In obtaining the consent
OF the local boards to carry out the rules adopted by
the Board Of Education. Some OF the trustees claim
that they have not the authority to intro
duce the study, and In other wards they
say that the study Of the language has not
been asked for by sufficient number OF the parents
ofpuplls to warrant them In allowing the language
to he taught. The association ask that the Board
define definitely the meaning and extent Of the law
adopted by the Board. The communication was
referred to the Committee the Course Of Studies
This is another argument in favor OF remodellIng
some time ago These local boards should be done
away with entirely. For the most par they alo
comprised Of ignorant and uneiuca.ed men and
peLtoggng ana pohouse polit G ans who cannot ap.
preciate the responsibilities which should attach TO the
wars Ia Which ,e boards are aood
bur theJ are not all that they should be In majority
Of Inc wards. Tue School Commissioners can 90 the
| than II is done at present, and to them the work
| should be assigned by the next Legislature.
The COmmi tee ON Teachers reported Ia favor OF
| the
APPOINTMENT AS PRINCIPAL
puy The Ts report Of the Sl
| adopted and Mr.. Dufy consequently made happy.
ne has s been acting aS ncRs % and vice PRINCIPAL
and half. and has kept 1t well up desplte
serious drawbacks. Wien the position OF principal
was declared vacant BY the Board OF Education Mr..
Duffy would have been promoted had he stood wei
In the eyes OF the local Officers. HIS record was
afiiations satisfactory and he was not pro-
NOTED. The ocsl people finally came TO their senses.
sent in his name to the Board OF Education and the
nomination was promptly confirmed
THE CASE or TRUSTEE HESNEssEY
came up on report from the Committee on
Teachers The committee In their report recited the
complaint maze by Inspector Mills and stated that
The examination Of such cases would be referred to
the law courts II legal evidence alone were wanting
and no consider alton paid TO the moral obligations
OF school Ocers, but the committee lett that there
was than legal technlcality to be consid.
cred IN the question before them, and o conclu-
son submitted the following
Whereas John Hennessey, school the
teenth ward by hts careless and ndscreet conduct In
matters deeply concerning the moral status OF cherished
system OF public education, hes seriously compromised his
standing and usefulness school ofccr therefore be
by removed from his position Of School Trustee Of the Seven
| teenih ward, and his place declared vacant
| The yeas aud nays were taken on the report and
| II was adopted by vote OF eight to one-C0mmIs.
| sioner Smyth voting In the negative.
The report OF the special committee In relation to
| providing means to induce
vAGRANr CHILDREN
| to attend school was taken fron the table
and read. The substance OF the report was
the Board, AMI may be briefly stated to be that the
number OF the children VINO do not attend any
school has been exaggerated and Is now not over
5000 These being scattered all The island it
would be impossible TO provide schools TO which
they could ali 20, and the committee recommend
thai petition be prepared and transmitted to the
Legislature at It's next session prohibit any child
udera certain age begging or selling any commodity
unless 1t can SHOW certificate stating that tt
have attended some school. by this means the evil
complained OF, 1t Is believed, can be lessencd In o
great degree. The report OF the committee
was unanimously adopted. and the Board after dis
posing OF some further routine business, adjourned.