The New York herald., 1876-03-16
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TIoN OF THE COMMITTEES ON BYLAWS.
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was
held Yesterday President Wood in the chair There
was large attendance Of Commissioner and as IL was
generally anticipated that important questions
were coming up for discussion the proceedings we're
awaited with considerable interest
The minutes Of the previous meeting having been ap
proved the usual preliminary routine business
disposed Of
The report OF the Superintendent Of Truancy from
March to IA, inclusive, set forth that the total
number Of cases investigated by the agents was 97s
OF this number 1855 not classed truants leav-
ing 223 ruants and attendants, OF which number
2ls have been placed in and returned TO school and
five committed to the care OF the Society for the
Reformation OF Juvenile Delinquents
communication from the City superintendent was
read, setting forth that the principal OF the Evening
High School had refused TO allow him to mako an OK
animation as required by law. The Superintendent OF
the Evening High School also sent in paper stating
his reasons for doing So the effect that for the past
ten years there had been only one examination and
that was by special resolution of the Board
Commissioner Halstead moved resolution that the
two communications and the question to the duty
of the City Superintendent to make an examination
be referred to the Committee on Evening Schools.
Commissioner wetmore moved a substitute that the
City Superintendent be directed to inspect the Evening
Commissioner Gouding submitted in forcible terms
that there was no necessity for the resolution the
substitute as the law made 1t the duty Of the City
Supcrinten ent-to make an examination. He needed
no instruction from the Board his duty clearly
set forth.
Commissioner Hazelton considered that it would be
a want OF courtesy to the Evening School Committee
to pass such resolution proposed by the sub
sttute.
Commissioner Klamath said he was in favor Of the
substitute but he submitted that dscourtesy
tended, the question at issue upon the interprc
tation OF the law bearing the subject The substitute
concatory In tone, and would settle the question
for all time to come.
Commissioner Beardsey submitted that the City
Superintendent had no right TO examine the Evening
High School; if he had right to do SO then he
justified in examining the Normal College.
Commissioner Fuller brought what promised to be
long debate satisfactory close. He thought that
things were going on they would have to call an
advisory council. He offered amendment, that the
resolution ana substitute be referred to joint
mittee, consisting of the Committee on Bylaws and
the Committee on Evening Schools, which adopted
Commissioners Goulding, Wetmore and Klamath
voting in the negative
ovERcRowDyG PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The clerk read the following report from the Com
mttee Bylaws, to whom referred the report of
the Committee Buildings In regard the capacity
OF the various school buildings and class rooms, pre-
sented in May last, and who instructed report
to the Board of Education what additional regulations
were needed in order to protect the health of the pupils
OF the schools from the evils Of overcrowding:-
After careful consideration the report referred to
them, and of the whole subject to which II pertains
they are satisfied that many Of the class rooms partc
ularly IN the primary departments and schools, are
much too crowded. Various causes have combined
to bring about this state OF things
FfTst-The vast and rapid increase In the population
of the ctyparculary in certain wards-has rendered
II quite impossible for the Board, with the amount of
funds placed at its disposal to supply additional accom-
modations as fast as they have been required.
Second-Partly for the same reason In the construc-
ton and internal arrangements of the school buildings,
The class rooms have been made too small and have
been furnished with more seats than correct sanitary
principles and proper regard for the health or the pu
pills would have dictated
Third-The local school officers, naturally desirous
that the schools under their should be large and
1ourishing, have many instances failed to
the authority legally conferred upon them in the
agement of the schools, in order by salutary regua
tions, TO check this great evil Of overcrowding.
desire for large number OF pupils ana in their COM
ALSO urged and harassed by tho constant importantly
of parents have in many instances crowded their class
rooms by admitting more pupils into them than their
capacity would permit This OF course has been
done by an exercise Of their own authority Unlimited
it has been by any regulation etherof the Board of
Education or OF the ward trustees.
Independently Of the matter oil the overcrowding OF
the class rooms there is doubt that more efficient
make their sanitary condition in all respects satsiac
tory But the excessive number pupils placed rooms
with but little regard TO their size, and no application
OF any guiding sanitary principle is fact independent
of this since system Of ventilation be adequate
unless proper amount OF space per pupil is supplied
Hence your committee in their attention to this point
have endeavored to obtain all accessible Information as
TO the proper amount OF floor space and cubica air
space which, in the furnishing ard occupation OF the
class rooms, should be allowed to each pupil and In
arriving at conclusion on this point they have awaited
themselves of the assistance OF the City Superintend
ent who has corresponded with experts the subject
and made an investigation OF 1t IN other respects
The opinions OF experts dincr greatly In regard to
the proper of air surface that should be allowed
per pupil but all agree that this should be very much
than is at present allowed in most OF primary
depar ments and schools. And here the committee
have elt much embarrassment from the fact that any
great and sweeping reform this particular would be
the Of excluding from the schools very large
number ofpups They feel, however that some reform
regulation of the Board to guide to trustees
and principals in the admission OF pupils and also as
crowding OF the cassrooms, which is great
evil, and against which many complaints made.
While, therefore, they do not feel warranted in rec
ommendng the large allowance OF space per pupil
which many santarians Of high reputation deem
qusite, they herewith submit minimum allowance in
this respect which, when compared with the condition
OF things existing will be seen to be great and
beneficial change, while the other regulations herewith
submitted are calculated TO reduce in short time the
attendance OF OF the schools excessively
crowded, and prevent the evil in the future by pro-
hibitng principals from admitting more pupils into
their schools than can be properly accommodated The
effect OF this rule would also be 10 equalize in
epects the attendance dHcrent schoolS wards.
This is much needed, since often certain schools
crowded over1owing while others in their immedi-
ate vicinity are but partly filed.
OF course full remedy for the evils complained OF
can only be applied by increasing greatly In certain
localities the amount Of school accommodation, and
for this considerable expenditure Of money will be
needed Hence complete reform only be
gradual and It is to be hoped that the community,
dcrstandng the difficulties surrounding any action Of
the Board in this respect viii patiently await the full
realization of the plans and policy Of which the regu-
lations herewith submitted constitute the nitiaory
step Your committee, therefore, submit for the
sideration of the Board the following as amendments
20 the bylaws
Amend section 33 page 90 OF the Manual by adding
thereto the following at the foot OF page l04:-
SECTION 33-I shall the duty Of every principal
all applications for the admission OF pupils into
school whenever the occupied BY the
filed TO the extent Of its sitting capacity.
y In nxi he