Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-12
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SHALL NE H4rE 4 HIGH SCHOOL:
That is the Question Our Educational Pro-
tectors Wrestled With Last Night--A
Sharp Debate--Adjournment Without
Action

Sharp Debate--Adjournmen Without
Action.
A called meeting of the board of education
was held last evening, at which DIR. Hagan
was voted into the chair. When the roll
was called the following gentlemen answered
to their names: Messrs. Schefer, Merriam,
Benz, Whitney, Hagan, Manson, Sweeny,
Thompson, and Haas. The secretary read
the call for the special meeting, after which
he read communication from Mr.. Rogers,
the secretary of the chamber of commerce,
stating what they had done in reference to
the high school. The communication was
adopted.
Mr.. Benz then moved that the matter of
building new school in the Sixth ward be
taken up.
Mr.. Whitney said that he had en-
quired into the financial state of the board
and found that the board would have
about $25OOO on hand in June
A discussion then ensued upon the posi-
bility of all the taxes coming in, Mr.. Benz
asking if the board could depend upon this
sum.
Mr.. Scheffer said that the board had
right to 60 into debt for the amount coming
to the board by taxes.
Mr.. Scheffer thought it advisable to APP
point a committee to obtain plans and esti-
mates and report at next meeting.
Mr.. Merriam moved committee of three
for this purpose as follows:
Resol,ed, That a committee of three consist
ing of DIR. Hagen, Benz and Whitney be APP
pointed to present plans and specifications and
estimated cost of suitable school building
for the Sixth ward, and cost of a site for said
building.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The next business was to get the express
sion of opinion of the board and give in
struction to the committee on legislation in
the matter of building high school.
Mr.. Thompson thought the matter would
not spoil by waiting: there are three long
years before the board.
Mr.. Benz thought no pupil should be al
lowed to enter the high school without pass
ing higher examination.
Mr.. burlington, superintendent of the city
schools, said that the entrance examination
for the ST. Paul high school was higher than
entrance to the State University.
Mr.. Thompson did not believe in rus hing
things ahead: he considered the public vote
should be taken on SO important question
as burdening the taxpayera with bonds.
DR.. Sweeny thought the people had moth
ing to do with it. They had elected the
board to do this business for them.
Mr.. Benz thought if high school is to be
kept up the old building should certainly be
given up and another building obt aimed, but
he thought there was plenty of time till next
winter.
Mr.. Whitney would object to build now. but
saw no reason why the board should not pro-
cure site at once.
MIR. Thompson asked what objection there
was to put the question before the people.
Mr.. Sweeny-For the simple reason that
nine out of ten will vote against it,
Mr.. Thompson thought it was delicate
question to NEEDLE with if nine out of ten
taxpayers would vote against it.
MI. Merriam thought it was an important
question whether we should have high
school or not He thought in time the high
school would grow till it became university
Mr.. Scheffer thought st. Paul should not
be behind other places in the matter of educa-
ton. He would like to see school at which
classical education could be obtained with
out sending the children away. He thought
it the best time to build, because material
and labor are cheap.
Mr.. Merriam wanted to know the opinion
of all members of the board, not upon the
policy, but the right of taxing the people to
maintain high school.
Mr.. Scheffer thought it was right because
in giving education to the people, we lesson
our police, prison and poor expenses.
Mr.. Thompson said when the question
first came up $25,OOO was wanted. Now
the demand is $4,000. Schefer said a
high school keeps the people at home. Fon
du Lac has splendid high school, but bus
mess is dead and tho place is dying out; the
high school did not save it. It is all non
sense to say that the public schools save
from crime: an educated scoundrel is the
worst of all criminals.
Mr.. Haas wanted to know if the question
was the education of the few or the masses
Mr.. Merriam thought it was not right to
tax the many for the few. In the common
schools the children get an education or
should do SO, to fit them for business, and
here he considered the duty of the board
should stop-he did not think it Just that
the masses should pay for the education of
the wealthy.
| Mr.. Sweeny characterized the remarks Of
| Mr.. Merriam the most extraordinary speech
he ever heard.
Mr.. Whitney spoke in favor of the high
school, because it would give poor children
an opportunity, and referred to the endowed
schools of England.
Mr.. Thompson said it was not the poor
who got into the high school, and he would
like to ask the gentleman if the schools he
referred to were supported by taxes from the
poor man's pocket, or by endowments of the
rich.
Mr.. Manson spoke censuringly of Mr..
Merriam: he was surprised at the course he
was taking.
might vote for high school as matter of
policy but not matter of right.
Mr.. Manson put the following resolution:
Resoled, That the committee on legislation
is hereby instructed to prepare bill authoriz-
ing the board of education to issue bonds to
the amount of $4,000 for the erection of a
high school building, for presentation to the
Legislature, requesting the Ramsey county del
egation to use their utmost endeavors to pro
cure it's passage.
Mr.. Benz wished full Board when the
question was voted on. At present he should
vote against the resolution.
A consultation then followed between
Messrs. Munson, Scheffer and Sweeny upon
the ACCESSIBILITY Of withdrawing the resolu-
ton rather than risking it, as the feeling OF
the board stood.
/ Mr.. Munson withdrew his resolution, and
the board adjourned till Saturday at 1880 il
the afternoon,
The Masquerade Last Night.
The masquerade at the Athenaeum last night