New Orleans Republican., 1875-10-07
School Beard.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Board Of School Directors was held last
evening.
Presentation. H. C. Dibble, president;
Superintendent Boothby, and Messrs. Carey,
Masicot, Dumont, Gaudet, Glaudin, Ingra.
ham, MCCARTHY, Pinchback, Rey, Bourges,
Shaw, Stamps, Lynch and Tracy.
The minutes of previous meetings were
approved. -A@..
Superintendent Boothby presented the
following report:
NEW ORLEANS, October G, 1875.
To the Honorable Board Of Directors Of the Public
GENTLEMEN-Since tho opening of the
schools this session have visited sixty of
the seventy four in the division, and deem
it my duty to present to you briefly state
ment of their condition, in order that You
may adopt such measures for their advance
ment, and such remedies for their defects
as your interest in their true welfare may
dictate. 1t is to be regretted that in quite
q number Of the schools the standard OF ex-
cellence and efficiency has been greatly
lowered since the, opening of this session.
The cause of this 1t belongs to the board to
discover and remove. IT the directors will
visit the schools I am confident that they
will feel it imperative upon them to
recommend the transfer of certain teach
ers who have been appointed to posi-
tions for which they are not properly
qualified, and the dismissal of others who
are utterly incompetent. Feeling sure that
no director would be willing to retain any
teacher who is unable to discharge the dn-
ties of her position, ! desire to call your at
tention to the assertion that in my visits to
certain schools have found some who are
devoid of the scholarship necessary to in
struct pupils, even of the lowest depart
ments. There are eome who hold no GER
tiicate of qualification, and whose appoint
ment ID consequently null in law. Others
hold certificates not emitting them to teach
in the departments to which they have been
elected, while others are wholly incapable
either to govern or instruct the classes
placed under their control.
These facts being 80, I have no doubt that
the board will consider it necessary to ap-
ply tn proper remedy to such mistakes as
have been made through the absence of
full knowledge Of the attainments and quail
fcations of the different teachers and ap-
plicants. A visitation and critical observ-
alton of the schools will convince any impair
tial person that. the late unusually great
change in the corps Of teachers has caused q
decline in the interest and prosperity of all
the schools, and particularly of those where
the changes have been the greatest. 1t
would perhaps, be wise to follow the exam
pie set by the boards of other cities,
where teachers are displaced only upon
specific charges, and where an annual in
crease Is added to their salaries for a certain
number of years, to compensate for the in
creased efficiency and ability, which, it is
believed, come to q teacher with the ex-
perience of each succeeding year. The
very large number OF children attending
our schools makes our responsibility all the
greater, and causes us to regret all the
more any administrative acts which tend
to impair their efficiency. There have been
admitted since the opening, on the thir-
teenth of September, about 1900 pupils,
q number considerably in excess of that
admitted at this time last year.
mittee on teachers, or special committee,
be directed to inquire into the ineticiency
Of teachers, either as to scholarship or dis
ciplinary powers, to summon them to ex-
animation whenever they may consider
proper, and recommend to the board such
transfers and dismissals as may be con.
ducive to the interests of the public schools
COnfided to your care.
H IL Very respectfully,
..J.sH C. w. BOOTHBY,
sa..-.! Superintendent Sixth Division.
Mr.. Pinchback objected to general
charges, such as were contained in the re-
port. If any action Of the board was neces-
sary, he would recommend it be recon-
mitted to the officer making it. He also
said he was cognizant that many teachers
recommended by Mr.. Boothby had been
dropped, and subsequently resppointed.
Mr.. Boothby said it was not proper for
hum at an open meeting to report names,
but it would be his duty to give them to
any committee that might be appointed.
After some discussion the report was re-
ceived. ,.~ r-r-fa
The president reported a proposition of
the Citisen's Savings Bank, accepted by
him and the treasurer. to retain portion
Of their obligations and make an advance
to the board. Also, q Recommendation that
the committee on schools .and discipline in
quire into the case of E. A. Golden, and
also suit for damages, caused by the Fisk
Branch School. ..,... ..-... m lu
= l.