The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-05
Our School Refoymers.

3AA0o C~uOOs.
The busiest and most effective advocate of
these two reforms is John Ceilings. The
public may not know John Ceilings !; or rather
the public may have forgotten John Ceilings.
The public sometimes are basely forgetful of
those who have been public servants. The
public are informed, then, that John Ceilings
is tailor but that, this case this is very far
from saying that John is only one ninth part of
man. John is bigger fraction of man than
that. Indeed, John is whole man. Nay,
John is an extraordinary man. John, too
besides beng tailor, is an ex-alderman, an
ex-school director, and an ex-clerk OF the
Board of Education. 1t will be observed that
John is xxx consequently, of the best brand,
and therefore just the thing to site to- every
time. Hence we tie to John and do not in
tend to cut loose till justice is done him.
Latterly also John has expended much per-
suasive eloquence in the advocacy of 'econo-
my in school expenses.
Now, a man who advocates either of the
two reforms first named should be man of
intelligence and education. No one, we pre-.
sumo, will deny this; and to be sincere in ad.
vocating the third, he should at least be
open to the suspicion of occasional honesty
No one will deny this. All these requirements
John meets. John is intelligent johns ed
ucated; John is honest. If any doubtlng
Thomas, or "any other man." be disposed to
dispute either OF these three assertions, let him
read on and thereafter hold his peace.
First, In proof of Johns intelligence and
education, we adduce some extracts taken
verbatim ct hteratim from the records of the
Board of Education when John was Clerk of
that body. Any one preferring to see these
extracts and they are much more interesting
when so examined-in the original choice
chirography rather than In print, can do 50
by calling on the Clerk of the Board switch
tho same" is Beemus. It is the duty of Bee
mus, as it would certainly be his pleasure, for
Beemus Is tone berry nice little poy," to show
the record to any citizen desiring to see it.
Extracts from record Of Apr. 8, 1866.
on motion by Rowland that they proceed to
Elect Clerk Of the Borad for the ensuing year
Carried the whole number of votes Cast was six
Of which John Ceilings received 4 four Thos H
Clark one, and N Peirson one, John Col.
liaRs was then declared unanemously Elected
Clerk for the ensuing year on motion by How.
land that oil the Teachers have the privilege Of
visiting the School Teachers convention to be
Held ut Peru in the first week in April 1866
carried.
After some further statements in which the
"Presedent' and "courant" year are mention.
ed, the record closes.
Estracts from record Of June 90, 1866.
Regular Meeting Minutes Of last meeting
WAS road applications for situations &c The
following Bills was ordered paid
Jerimiah Hsnifan $3.50 The following Bills
was referred &c on motion of Mr. Rowland that
the Bill of Elizabeth Hicks be paid Mr. Hoban
Moved that the Bill be laid on the Table was
dOpted Treasures reciep, Of fvteen dollers
Tuition fees was received &c A committee was
sutherize1 to sell first ward school hous for the
purpose of Building more convenient one
After some further record, in which some
thing is said of the "Princerpal" Of school,
and Of MIR. Black "visisting" the schools, and
about the "cournt year, agoin the Board ad-
journed to "Teusday the 3rd of July" Then
follows:
mo Meeting the 8 july; but
- Special Meeting ON Saturday June 30 Min.
nutss Of the last Meeting was dispensed with =
on motion of Mr. Black the committee on finance
where authorized to borrer sixteen hundred dol.
lers for sixty days Carried the committee on
Buildings where authorized to contract with Mr.
Lightfoot 10. putting his winder fastnings on
some OF the Basement Winders in the Hvth ward
school Hous."
The above extracts ought to be sufficient to
convince the most doubling of Johns qualif-
cations, as respects intelligence and education
for grading schools and arranging q high
school course of study.
! Now, in proof Of Johns qualifications, in
point of honesty, for sincerely advocating re.
'retrenchment' and ECONOMY" in school ex.
pcnditures, we also adduce the record of the
Board Of Education, of date Aug. 3, 1866:
Mr. Black moved that the sum OF twenty "A "
dollars be allowed John Ceilings for hi, service,
while clerk of the board OF education Mr.. How.
land alluded to the failure of Mr.. Ceilings e
pay into the treasury certain sums received by
him for tuition while member Of the board
from the 7th ward Mr.. Ceilings being present
stated that the sums received by him for tuitios
had been expended in sundriss TO. the 7th wsrd
| school that be was not now prepared to presen,
the vouchers for the sums paid by him, bu,
would be at the next meeting Of the board. Mr.
Black thereupon withdrew his motion and NOV
ed that, on tho recommendation of the finance
| committee, the clerk be instructed to draw an
order for twenty-five dollars in favor of John
Ceilings in full for his services as clerk of the