Daily Republican., 1879-07-29
rl1E SCHOOL soAsD.
Another Long Session Reports OF
the C0mmittoes-JThe Jan1tOP
Question POstpOned Until the
Firat MeAffmx n JnmuaFy

Question Postponed Until the
First Meeting In january.
The Board Of Education held its reg
ular meeting last evening, President
Eckel in the chair.
The committee on Teachers reported
that they had received the reports ot
the annual examinations held in June
last from schools Nos. l. 2, 5, s, 7, 8
8, 10, II, IL, 10, IA, Is and l6. The
reports give fattering evidence Of the
progress Of the pupils in the different
and the perfect order
which seems to prevail throughout, a
fact which with but one exception il
the report Of No. 7 school, speaks vel
for the earnest efforts and good disci
plins Of our excellent corps Of teachers
The report was adopted.
The committee on ter. books report
I'd that they had given ''s contract
for furnishing the text books to Messrs
c. F. Thomas & Co., they being thu
lowest bidders. The committee further
that they had sent letters tt
sixteen different firuis and but two wer.
answered, Messrs. Lippincott of Phila'
delphia, and c. F. Thomas & Co., Of
this city. The report was adopted and
Messrs. C. F. Thomas & Co., were awar.
ded the contract.
The special committees appointed to
the deficiency in the salary
appropriation Of No. 5 school for the
year 1879, respectfully submitted the
report:
Upon investigation We find that in
up the estimate of the year
1879, the salaries Of the primary de-
partmsnt of No. 5 have been omitted
from the amount aggregating fourteen
hundred and sixty dollars. Your com.
mittee would therefore recommend that
the amount of fourteen hundred dollars
be taken from the contingent fund and
placed to the credit Of the salary ap-
of No. s school.
Committee, LINDLEY c. KENT,
W. J. MoRRow.
The report was adopted.
The Committee on school No. 16 to
whom was referred the resolution OF
Alfred Lee and others, presented the
following report:
WILMINGTON, Dell, July 2Sth, 10.
To the President and Members of the
Board of Public Education
Your committee to whom was referred
the petition of Rev. Alfred Lee and
others, asking for the granting of ad-
iition4l educational advantages to the
colored pupils in Nc. l6, would respect
fully report that after careful inquiry
they find:
lst. That the great obstacle in the
way OF the promotion and progress of
the scholars of this school is the irreg-
ularity in the attendance. For the
last year there was an enrolment of
593, an average number belonging, of
2S5, an average attendance OF 255, a
most discouraging showing. The teach
yrs Justly complain that very often
about the time a scholar gets well un-
der way in the different classes, he or
she leaves the school, sometimes not to
return at all, and frequently not until
after the expiration OF several months.
In soma instances, 1t is probable, that
he older scholars have to leave to go
% work, but your committee feel sure
hat in very many instances the parents
If the children do not understand that
he regular attendance of each scholar
8 of the first and greatest Importance
% its successful progress. Until this Is
by the parents, and the
.egular attendance of each scholar en-
;orced by them, We can see no way of
improving the school over its record of
The last fosr years.
End, We find the school under the
management of Miss Sa lie A. Miller,
and her assistants, we'll direct
I'D and much careful PERSONAL attention
given to the advancement of the schol-
lrs. Beginning in the lowest rooms
with the most primary scholars, the
scholars are taught spelling, reading,
writing and arithmetic until step by
step they are brought to Miss Kruse's
'oom where geography is introduced
together with more advanced grades OF
,he former studies. In Miss Miller's
.oom grammar is taken up and the
,th.r studies are about the same as in
he grammar schools Of the city general
v. The scholars in this room are
divided into a great many classes being
broken up by SO many scholars leaving,
,ut in this way the bright scholars are
,ot retarded by the dull ones.
Your committee see no need for the
present OF enlarging the building. AT
10 tim during last year have all of the
ea,s (33O) been occupied, and further
more there are not enough funds in
possession of the Board to warrant such
IN expenditure this year. Experience
las shown that very few Of the scholars
nave ever thoroughly mastered the
present course of study and there are
yery tew eases when scholars could
lave been found for an advanced course,
,ut your committee are convinced that
With regular and systematic atten-
lance an advanced and higher grade Of
tudy will be needed in the near fu-
ure. When such an emergency arises,
he addition Of a class room, with theser-
,ices of a substitute to teach for part
If the school year, we think will meet
very requirement and We shall be glad
% see such progress made as to necessi-
ate this improvement during the COM
ng winter months.
The inquiry of your committee has
'mpha atically shown that No. Is is do
ng a most excellent work. In many
,ases scholars by careful and diligent
tudy show really wonderful progress,
md habits of system and regularity are
indicated generally which cannot but
% of great advantage to these pupils in
.fter life. Whenever there are short
,omings they are largely the result OF