Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-01
EDUCATIONAL.
Meeting of the School Board IF Memphis.
Mr.. Barnum laid on the SheIf--.The Once OF
AssI slant Superintendent done
Away With.

The Board OF School Visitors ofthe city
of Memphis met pursuant to adjourn
ment, in their hall last evening al half
past three o'clock, President Smith IN the
chair.
After reading the minutes, the regular
order of business was taken up and the
reports of committees called for.
The Committee on Text Books, to whom
was referred the proposition OF the pub
fishers of Mitchellfs series of School GeOg-
raphies, reported in favor of the proposal
and recommended that a contract be en-
tered into with the agent now in the city.
This proposal is to furnish MitchelIs
series to the schools in place of the books
now used, giving to each scholar a book
of the corresponding series of Mitchells
for each book now in use, and giving the
Board one book of the new series for
three of those now held on hand by them.
The exchange to be made within fifteen
days.
Mr.. Pante opposed the resolution to
adopt the report, and the recommends
ton of the committee in a short speech
not being able to see into the Three for
one" business. After some debate, a vote
was pressed. and resulted, finally, in the
adoption Of the report by an almost unan-
imous vote.
The same committee, to whom was re-
ferred a lot of resolutions by Mr.. Pres
colt, reported adversely on a bushel or so
Of them, and left the balance till next
time.
The various visitation committees re-
ported from each ward, and their reports
show a very gratifying condition Of af-
fairs in the public schools generally,
The Committee on Appeals, TO whom,
under resolution of Mr.. Pante, was re-
ferred the vexatious question of the diff
Guilty between Superintendent Leath and
Z Assistant Superintendent Barnum, re-
ported ia favor of the discontinuance of
the office Of Assistant Superintendent,
on the ground OF economy-the once hot
being needed.
Mr.. Pante moved to rec0mmit the re-
port to the committee, on the ground tnat
they had not reported on the whole sub
iecU matter referred to them. his resolu-
ton. as it stood on the books, was for
them to investigate into any charges that
might be brought against Mr.. Barnum.
Mr.. Feely moved to table the report,
but the motion was lost.
Major Barbour moved to receive the re-
port and adopt the recommendation to
dispense with the services of an assistant
superintendent.
Mr.. Pante said he was entirely against
It. When the position was first created
he opposed it On the ground OF economy.
NOW L0dL II GAAsACu, duu NIL aAh NUN hdL
been employed to ill it, and no charges
had been preferred against him, he was
in favor Of retaining him in the capacity
during the present scholastic year. -
Mr.. Feely started to talk, but the chair
raped him down, on the ground that he
was going out of the legitimate line of
discussion. Mr.. f. craved the indulgence
of the Board, and was allowed to proceed.
He said that former investigations had
.hlu-- 49, Fha-a mara Gonna Of tha EphnOll
that the superintendent had not visited
but twice in five months. If he couldn't
do it, he needed an assistant thai could.
He claimed hat the report was not acting
fairly with Mr.. Bsrnum.
Major Barbour said that this question
had been before the Board every time it
met for three months, and prevented them
from doing any other work. He wanted
it settled right of, so that the Board could
do its duty to the children and the
public.
Mr.. Psnte again arose and got to talk
ing. The Chair raped his gayel, but Mr..
Pante didn't seem TO care, and kept on
until the Char called him TO order. This
did not stop him, and in spite of rappings
and calling TO order Pante kept on, and
finally out-talked the Chair, who was
obliged TO cave. Pante then read the
Constitution Of Tennessee, or the rules he
made for the government of the German
Association, or something else equally as
long, which we did not understand.
AT the close of his " few remarks" Mr..
Alfred Matthias rose TO a point of order
his point being that the Committee of APP
psals had no right TO report on Mr.. Bar
NUNS case in any such manner, unless
charges and specifications had been pre-
ferred against him.
The Chair ruled that the point was not
well taken.
Matthias appealed to the Board, and
though contrary to rule, the question was
allowed to be debated. Mr.. Matthias re-
cited the forty times told history of the
war between the superintendent and his
a-ssistantl?) and didn't think the Chair
was right
Major Barbour, on the other hand, sus-
tanned the Chair.
The Chair made a few remarks, and so
did Mr.. P8nte.
On putting the question the ruling of
the chair was sustained by a vote Of ten
(lO} TO six o.
Mr.. Holman moved an amendment to
the original motion TO the effect that the
Office OF the Superintendent be also de-
clared vacant.
Seconded by Pante, who wanted the
ayes and noes called on the question.
A division was called for, and when the
ayes were called for on his amendment,
MT. holman nail way koh up u ctrAuE
that he was not likely to have company,
he quickly sat down. On the call for the
noes the whole Board arose Except him
and Pante).
The original question was then called,
when Matthias arose, and after making an
other interminable explanation of the
status of affairs, moved an indefinite
postpOnement. During his remarks he
was Interrupted by Mr.. Leath, who was
nragap# onna or I uTfen on "A mara nnazTfnn
Of memory.
Nj. Merrill and Mr.. Pante followed on
the same side of the question. Mr.. J. H.
Taylor moved the previous question,
which, being called, resulted in a tie vote.
A motion 70 adjourn was lost, when a
member of the committee rose to explain
why he had agreed TO the report. After
he had done so Mr.. Taylor again moved
the previous question. a point of order
was raised at this, but the Chair over
ruled it-there having been new business
since the former melton. This time the
previous question was sustained by a vote
of II to 6.
The question then being put, the report
was received, adopted, and the recon-
mendation concurred in.
This kills the Office of Assistant Super
intendcnt, and sends Mr.. BarnHm sky
high. His friends made a gallant fight for
him, went in, but couldn't win"
The special committee appointed TO in
quire into the conduct of the teachers of
the cOlored schools, and officers and mem
bers of the Board in regard 70 certain
charges made by q daily paper OF the city,
reported that they had carefully examined
into all the matters required of them, and
could find no instance wherein the teach
ers had misbehaved themselves, or acted
as charged upon them neither could they
find anything to reflect on the action of
any member or officer of the Board in re-
gard to the affair. They had learned
on inquiry that the charges made
in the newspaper had been based
on the tenor, ETC., of certain
text books. AS the text books were not
in the province of this committee, they
could only recommend that the books be
referred TO the Committee on Text Books.
The report was adopted, and the COM
mittee discharged.
Some miscellaneous business ofino spe-
cisl Importance was transacted, after
which a resolution complimentary to Mr..
Barnum was offered and adopted.
A resolution condemning some official
actions OF Superintendent Leath was
offered, and, on motion. was referred to
the Committee on Appeals.
Adjourned.
$500