Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-09-29
Board of Education,

REGULAR MEETING, LAST EvENING-MUsIc IN THE
sCHoOIB-PRoposAL To ABOLISH CORPORAL PUN
IsHMENT-THE VISITING COMMITTEES FOR THE
NEXT Blk MONTHS.
The Board Of Education met last evening,
President shortlldge presiding.
The Committee on Teachers reported the fol-
lowing transfers and appointments Miss
Amanda Saville, I'd assistant In No. IA, to be ith
assistant in No. 10 Miss Mary A. Colt to be Cd
assistant in No. IA, in place of Miss Saville !;
Miss Lizzie j. Sayers to be 5th assistant in No.
A Miss Rebecca Crumpton to be teacher of No.
.; (colored) in I'd ward. Adopted.
The.Committee on Transfers.reported a list OF
changes made since the opening of the schools,
297 in all.
Mr.. Woolley, from the special committee on
the proposition of Professor Becker to teach
music i'll Nos. l and schools made the follow
ing report
"Your committee, in accordance with reso-
luton of the Board passed at ts last meeting arl-
| thorizing an invited committee of citizens to be
| present at an exhibition given by Prof. Becker
| at School No. l, Miss AIler's room respectfully
| report, that said exhibition was given ON Friday
afternoon OF the 18th inst, in presence of your
committee and:the following gentleman of the in
| vited committee viz M. l.. Lchstenstein, E. f.
James, John f. Miller and VIM. W. I4obdell.
| ''The report of this committee is herewith
| submitted. With the views therein expressed
| your committee fully concur. Your committee
would however recommend that Prof Becker he
employed to teach music in our primary schools.
commencing with the third grade, provided his
services can be obtained for an amount justifia-
BILE by the present and prospective financial con-
| ditlon of the Board. We regret to say that but
one member of the Board, outside of your COM
| mittee, was present at the exhibition"
| The Citizens Committee reported, in sub
stance, that tue exhibition was quite satisfac-
tory and Professor Becker fully qualified to
| teach music.
| On motion of Mr.. Baird, the reports were re-
ferred to the Finance Committee to sac upon
what terms Professor Becker could be employed
and whether the finances would allow of such
expenditure.
Mr.. Mcintyre, from the Finance Com
mittee, reported balance in the Treas
ury of $13, 1881, with all notes paid.
The State appropriation amounting to about
$1,000 was drawn, said appropriation the present
year being small on account of few licenses for
the sale OF liquor being granted. There was in
the hands of the City Treasurer STILES due
the Board, and awaiting its order. An order was
| directed TO be drawn for the amount.
The Finance Committee, with Mr. Higgins ad-
ded Tor special purpose, reported in favor Of
drawing from the State Treasurer $68S3. that
being one half the State dividend for the year
1870 for the old School District No. 49, now par-
TALLY absorbed in the city and further asked
Tor tile power to draw an act to be presented to
the Legislature, to enable the Board to draw the
balance OF the State appropriations for the same
district. The report was adopted and tho au-
thority asked for given.
| The resolutions of the Delaware Association
| for Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals. Offering a
| premium of 80 to the boy and So, to the girl III
| No. school who would write the best essay on
hlndness to Animals were read and referred to
| the committee of No. /, school to carry into ef-
feet and the Secretary of the Board instructed
to acknowledge tile receipt of the resolutions.
The Webster Literary Society, being in nego
ton with the Board of Trade for the use of the
room, asked the assent of this Board, which was
granted.
Iiba Ferris, Jr., from the committee oil Medal,
reported them properly distributed to all entitled
with balance yet due the committee of tb,
! Sl.25, which was ordered to be paid and Tia,
committee was discharged
II. M. Jenkins from the committee ON the sal,
of old School House No. H. stated that w. w
Bennett wanted to know the lowest amount an,
the least terms upon which the property coul,
be purchased. After considerable discussion
the matter was placed III the hands of the com
imtpee. with Instructions to confer with MIR
Bennett IN relation to price and terms and re
port the Board.
On motion OF Mr.. Baird, the committee OF
Printing was instructed to have 300, ulstead o
wv, copies OF the rules OF the Board Printed.
y MIR Baird offered resolution instructing tn
teachers that hereafter corporal punish
ment will not be allowed.
MIR. Higgins moved to postpone tile resolu
ton one week, but at the request of Dr. Grin
shaw he withdrew his motion for the nresent :
allow debate.
DIR. Grimshaw then strongly favored the pas
sage OF the resolution, instancing the case o
one boy upon whose back he had that day connt
ed nine black stripes.
Messrs. Moore and Hebley though not favorin
cruelty IN punishment, were opposed to the pal
sage of the resolution, az in their oppnion ther
were many children who could not lie goyerne
. either at home or at school without punishment
Mr.. johnson stated that ilogging had long az
been abolished III the navy, on account of til
lnhumanltleh practsed, and the reform wa
found TO work well. What would work well
= the navy would work well in the Public School,
There was no logging in the school he ha
charge OF lie would not allow it, and he woul
ulseharge any teacher who would practice it. II
believed that school was as orderly as any in iii
city indeed there were no disorder nor con
plants.
Mr.. Speakman emphatically condemned eol
poral punishment The bad children are iii
ones who are whipped and if whining dos
what Is claimed for it, why don't they get bel
ter What children want is more kindness an
, not 80 much punishment.
Mr.. Higgins called attention to a section z
!, the charter which gave the Board the poyt
i 10 dishlss teachers for lnhumanlty, which h
thought should be exercised before passing sue
a resolution az offered. There might vet be
possibility az in olden times of ''sparing the ro
and spelling the child"
further remarks were made by Messls Zeble
and Roberts in opposition to the resolution.
p IL. Nj. Jenkins expressed his satisfaction at Eli
evident progress of humane and philantbrop
C feeling amongst us, and hoped, from the e,
presslons around him, to see the communit
coming very soon, to a healthy public opipio
against tho whipping system generally.
therefore hesitated to lay straw in the way {
), this encouraging march Of opinion, while he wi
far from being certain that for some childrel
physical pain is not the best argument, reachin
the seat of their reason in the only sure MAJ
ner. lie thought that the question amounted
4, this whether one hundred children now in I'll
4 schools should remain there or not With I'll
discretion to punish them, they can be RESTRAIN
It cd by the teachers without that they will hay
y to be, within brief period, expelled
u MIR. Mcintyre strongly denounced tile Use ,
the rod, and suggested that premium had bee
offered for the best essay on kindness to am
mals. Corporal punishment had grown to sue
an extent in the public schools, that premium
should be offered for like essay on kindne,
to children.
Mr.. Baird, though strongly in favor of the rel
olution, desired its postponement until the ne,
e meeting, 30 that it may be fully discussed.
On motion OF Mr.. Roberts the further consit
GRAFTON OF the subject was postponed until nes
meeting.
TTnnn q raanl,,fion oearad 1,o n f.s....t. . -