The New York herald., 1870-05-19
THE JAMAICA SCHOOL EXPOSURE.
Statement that the Children HIVE Not Beer
Overcharged for BoOlks-AHlAavifs 70 tn,

Statement TINT the Children Hnve Not Been
OvercharRed for B00ks-AHilavifs 10 the
Contrary. ~
In the HERALD OF Saturday last appeared an ar
ticle entitled "Long Island Pedagogues,n which re-
fected somewhat on the management OF the school
under the supervision Of Mr. Hannas. The article
was based upon assertions well founded, which one
or two contemporaries have seen fit to contradict by
the reception OF private letters. Mr. Hannas was
evidently desircus OF yindcalIng himself and stated
that the price OF the xt books was regulated by the
Board Of Education, and all he could do was carry
out their Ia truction He thought thlt by
o meeting OF the Board ne could dis-
prove the ifnputati0n that he was making
money out OF it, and, OH Monday afternoon, during
school hours, that meeting was held. Tney exam
ined the receipis, which showed deduction of from
ten TO iory per cent less than the net price, and
cluded that ''all was serene and ordered the prn-
cipal to proceed The meeting was private, although
their actions were closely watched by parties inter-
ested who were desrous OF being pre- ent They
concluded that the children had not been over
charged for their books aud characterized tae state
ment as palpable falseho0d. The statement whie III
the HERALD contained was to the effect that books
wncE had been pun chased ut Barnes l. Co.'s for one
dollar had been given TO the children for one dollar
and 1lty cents. number OF affdayits in the case
suo.tantate the truth OF the statements previously
made.
The local press docs not openly contradict the
statement but holds that by restricting children in
thelr allowance the Corporation has been saved
several hundred dollars annually; but taxation has
not decreased and the present year 1t viii have in
creased. Mr.. 20 ter, who has been member OF the
board since It's organization admits that the SYST e
i unjust; that henas always opposed it, and that in
his estimation the Board have no pow er TO enforce
such law He says the only reason they had for
instituting this mea- ure was because children were
careless Of their books and would destroy them IN
the streets. The people, however, think that
this could have been remedied by giving
scholar one set Of books with the under.
standing that they should last until he was
promoted, and not impoverish two-thirds OF
The community to balance he misdeeds OF the other
onethird. Several lawyers have gwen it as their
opinion that the Board have overstepped their du-
ties, and that the system cannot have any valid force
as the change was not made In conformity WITH the
requirements OF the law. The excitement OF Satur-
gay has not abated in the least and the matter has
becor theme for general street gossip and dinner
table dlscusslon. Popular feeling Is against the
Board, ana several have declared that they Will con-
tinue to send their children, and II sent home they
will contest the matter The case has now assumed
a definite aspect, as the affidavils show that the
reading book out Of which arose the nrst cause for
suspicion was purchased for one dollar and that
the principal Of the school requested 81 so for it.