Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-08

TO be IN good cOnuitlonJ anu ulauc eOule suS-
gestions in relation to the teaching of drawing
in the schools, and also physical training and
military drill as it has been introduced with
benefit in the Woodland street school. Mr..
Marble spoke of the unmistakable progress made
in the course Of drawing lessons just finished,
and suggested that Prof. Gladwins services be
procured, if possible, to give lessons to the
teachers in the public schools, either on Wednes-
day or Saturday afternoons, until the last Of
April, for in that way the teachers may be fitted
to give instruction in this branch.
No special report was made by the visiting
committees, except in one or two instances,
where some particular school was mentioned for
its good management.
Mr.. Ballard spoke Of the Inconvenience from
the noise of the street, as felt in the school house
on the common, and expressed great satisfac-
ton at the manner in which Miss Davis of the
Valley Falls district conducts her school, say
ing that he had on every occasion of his visit
there found drawing lessons on the blackboard
such as would do credit to any teacher.
Mr. Staples spoke of the thoroughness in yo-
cal music attained in Mr.. Comns' school on
Thomas street, where he had visited, and OBJ
served that the scholars sang difficult pieces
correctly and intelligently, guided by written
music and not aided by the piano forte.
Mr. Jaques mentioned the fact that, in one Of
the grammar schools at New Worcester, there
were but eighteen pupils, and in the other but
twenty-cight, and said he thought the prOprety
of combining the two would properly come up
for consideration at some future meeting. He
also favored military training as a means of
greatly improving the physical condition of the
boys, and said that it need not be considered as
learning the art of war, but as a valuable and
efficient means Of development and discipline.
If ihe belonged to the Society of Friends he said,
and had a boy to send to school, he knew Of
none to which he would send him with more sat
isfaction than to the military school of the MEM
Der on his right, Mr.. Metcalf. He also favored
the teaching of drawing, and could not see why
it was ever abandoned in the high school, The
city, he thought, paid for talent enough there to
teach it. Drawing he considered as closely re-
lated to good penmanship.
Mr.. Newton spoke in praise of the Lamartine
street school, in Mr.. Fosters charge saying that
he considered it as well managed as any school
in the city.
Mr.. Gale spoke in praise of the proficiency
attained in the drawing school, and favored the
idea of giving lessons to the teachers, as prac-
teal and economical means ofintroducing draw
ing in the public schools.
The mayor spoke of meeting Abner j. Phipps,
of the state board of education, in Boston, yes
tcrday, and informed the board that Mr.. Phpps
said to him that he had nowhere seen drawing
more successfully taught than in our city, as
appeared from what he saw at the concluding
session, having had the pleasure of being pres
ent.
The finance committee, to whom was referred
the subject of increasing the salaries of several
teachers, submitted a report, in which no direct
opinion was expressed; but they asked for more
time to consider the matter, whereupon Mr..
Stoddard moved to give them until the first
Tuesday in April, since the time of electing
teachers is so near at hand. His motion was
carried after the desire had been expressed by
half dozen members of the board that here
after the question of salaries remain through
the year undsturbed after having been fixed at
the beginning
The following communication was sreccived
from Father Power
WORCESTER, Feb. 7, 1871.
To the President and Members Of the School
Board oftte City Of Worcester.
Conference.-The avoid even the appearance of in
formality in nv election and continuance on the
school board, hereby respectfully tender my resig
nation. l only accepted the office on the
that neither in the letter nor IN the spirit
the law violated In my election. retire with many
pleasing memories of agreeable associations con-
racted during my twelve years service, and CRATE
full appreciation of many courtesies received from
this board JNo. j. POWER.
Immediately upon the reading of this there
was a general expression of regret, in which
nearly every member of the board joined, and
movement to prevent the acceptance of the
resignation.
Mr.. Stoddard, though most sincerely regret
ting to lose the services of so valuable a man in
the board, said that he presumed that Mr. Power
had determined in his own mind that his resi-
dence was not in the ward from which he had
been elected, and therefore had, from desire
to act legally, rendered his resignation.
Mr.. Jaques considered that the election was
one that gave general satisfaction, even if were
not technically legal, of which, however, he was
not fully convinced; he saw no good reason for
accepting the resignation on that ground, and
certainly, the city could not afford to lose the
services of member who had by twelve years
connection with toe board proved so valuable.
Mr.. Newton believed that he had a legal resi-
dence, so also did Mr. Stone, who moved to re.
fer the resignation to the city solicitor for in
formation.
Rev. Mr.. Hall hoped it would not be accepted,
and moved to refer it to a committee of the
board.
Mr.. Ballard presented a petition from George
L. Smith, asking for. the seat in the board oc-
cupied by Father Power, on the ground that it
was filled legally, and he (Smith) was the only
other man receiving votes at the election.
Rev. Mr.. Griffin agreed with Mr.. Hall, that
the proper way was to refer the resignation to a
committee OF the board.
Mr.. McCatferty moved, as an amendment, the
acceptance of the resignation, and explained
that from a personal interview with Father
Power he knew it to he that gentleman's earnest
desire that it be accepted without reference or
further inquiry; he knew that it was sent to the
board on mature deliberation, and from a de-
sire not to hold the office after a feeling of
dissatisfaction had been expressed, such
as was evinced in the communication sent to
the board at the last meeting. Messrs. VIII
liams, Ballard and Jaques also favored its ac-
ceptance after hearing the statement from Mr..
McCafferty; and it was accepted.
Mr. Jaques moved that Mr.. Smith be granted
leave to withdraw on his petition for the seat
from ward three, saying that in accepting the
resignation of Father Power the board had recog-
nized the legality of his election, and therefore
they could not receive Mr.. Smiths petition. After
some discussion, however, the motion was with
drawn, and the matter was referred to special
committee consisting of Messrs. McCafferty,
Gale and Aldrich.
The resignation of Mr.. Earle as member from
ward two, was accepted after another long dis
cussion, and the following orders were adopted:
Ordered, that vacancy is hereby declared exist
ing in this board caused by the death of Charles H.
MCDOWELL, elected for the full term of three years
from ward six, at the last annual election. Also
that a vacancy is hereby declared existing in tins
board, caused by the resignation of Edward Earle
(mayor of the city, elected member Of this board
from ward two at the last annual election for full
form n three wears,