Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-22

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The school board held a special meeting last
evening, for the purpose of hearing the report of
the special committee to which was referred the
petition for shortening the daily sessions of the
schools in the Pleasant street house. When the
meeting was appointed, the board also intended
to hold a convention with the aldermen for the
purpose of selecting member to fill the vacan-
cy in ward three, caused by the resignation of
Mr.. Smitr, but the aldermen, it will be remem-
bered, non concurred in the time, and appointed
the evening of the first Tuesday in April. In
this the school board concurred.
Mr.. Ballard, chairman Of the special commit
tee, presented a majority report favoring the
plan of shortening the afternoon sessions in all
the schools of the city but the high school, from
three to two hours. The report was an elaborate
one, setting forth the Numerous reasons for the
change.
Rev. Mr. Griffin, member of the committee,
said that he was not prepared to indorse the re-
port presented by NJ. Ballard. He did not be-
lieve there was any call for lesseniug the hours
of study in the primary and higher grade
schools; in the sub-primary, he thought it
would be well, if the two hours were divided so
that the little ones would not be compelled to
sit so long without rest.
Mr.. Aldrich, another member of the commit
tee, thought the petition before the board should
be acted upon, and either granted or refused.
1t was petition from the parents sending chill
dren 10 the Pleasant street school, therefore that
was the school to which the attention of the
board should be directed in this matter. He
saw no reason for making general application
on account Of this one petition; if the parents i'll
other districts wish the same reduction in hours,
let them make it known to the board, as these
have done. He moved that the rules be so
changed that the schools in the Pleasant street
building begin at two o'clock in the afternoon
and close at four, until further orders.
The question came up as to whether or not the
petition could properly be acted upon until the
next regular meeting, and upon the explana-
ton being given that with general consent it
could, Mr.. Staples objected.
Mr.. StOddard thought it would be well to try
the experiment for the two weeks before the
next meeting; then the board could act more in.
diligently in the matter Mr.. Thral also favored
immediate action; but the objection was insist
ed upon, several members expressing themselves
against the plan of trying the experiment in
one school, believing that no distinction should
be made even in the beginning
Mr.. Stone spoke of a method different from
any previously suggested, which was to take
half an hour off both the forenoon and after
noon sessions of the schools, making them each
two hours and half in length, with Fifteen
minutes recess.
The report was laid on the table, for further
action, after which Mayor Earle announced the
following names to fill vacancies in committees
In the committee on examination of teachers
DR.. Warner; on finance, Caleb Metcalf; on ar
ranging visiting committees, Rev Geo. B. Cow
on school houses, Dr. Woodward. The meeting
then adjourned.