Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-07
ME-. HANCOCK MAKES csARaEs.

h0c the three classes have been passed ~ VI.
High School. There was no untruth in h,
card-no prejudice in it. The only prompt
| ings he had came, not from teachers, but from
mothers of pupils in the schools who wantee
some man to speak out for them. He knew
many of the pupils too, and their teachers.
/. Mr.. Traey-Do you think we should act OF
| your statement now madey
| MIR. hancock now come to that. Lately
young lady in the graduating class of the
| Grammar School was placed in the speaker
family. The pupil repeatedly complained
that she could not understand Mr.. McDon-
AIDS explanations in arithmetic The speaker
| took hold, and found no difficulty in making
her understand the principles involved. She
| complained that she had passed over many
| things in arithmetic without understanding
them, and many in the class did not. He
asked why that had been done. She replied
that Mr.. Mcdonald said if any did not I'M
| derstand them they could go without them.
The examples he found at page 265 of the
text book, under the head of Banking. y
The speaker read the examples to the Board,
and declared that any one not able to make
an ordinary pupil understand such examples
was unfit to teach.
Mr. Hornblower claimed Mr.. Hancock TO
be out of order.
Mr. Hancock said he didn't propose to be
badgered. He repeated his charge, and again
read examples that some of the class had
been passed over in.
Mr. Tracy-What was her standing on her
papers?
Mr. Hancock-By death in the family
she was called from the school month or
six weeks prior to the examination. Her
name is Miss Sleight.
NARROWING THE ISSUES.
Grove l.. johnson said he appeared as sort
of a friend of the school and of Mr. McDon-
aid lie asked if that was the extent of the
charge?
Mr.. Hancock-Yes; of that part of it.
The other day Mr.. Mcdonald complained of
example No. in the examination questions
on arithmetic regarding shrinkage of cloth.
Mr.. Mcdonald said it was catch question,
because it required the shrinkage and not the
amount of cloth left. He began to work it
out. and Mr.. Mills said it was wrong as he
worked it out.
Mr.. English-I convinced Mr.. Mills that
he was in error regarding the method of work
ing it-that the way / worked it was right.
Mr.. Hornblower-1 was present, and think
it was determined that you were not right.
MIR. Hancock will write out my charges,
but am just arrived from the country and
have not had time to write them out to-day.
MIR. Hornblower moved that MIR. George
W. Hancock-(will that do?
MIR. Hancock-That will do.
Mr. Hornblower-That he have four days
time to write out his charges.
Mr. Tracy-It was rumored that MIR. Nc
Donald's class did not in the recent examine
ton do credit to ITSELF and that there were
reasons for it demanding investigation by
this Board. 1 hope now the investigation
will go On, and be continued from night to
night until ended.
Mr.. Hornblower said the charges should be
first completely made, Mr.. Mcdonald in
formed of them and given an opportunity to
reply, and then the Board should try him
not do it by piecemeal
Mr.. Tracy-It is the duty of this Board to
investigate without charges, and of It's own
motion. 1t is here to investigate in behalf of
the peoples children, not for or against any
teacher. Let us find out why the class failed,
if it did. Let all come who want; let anyone
who pleases appear, by counsel or In person,
but let the matter go on.
The motion to give Mr.. Hancock four days
to make out his charges was carried.
SOMETHING WRONG.
II. 3. Nielsen said, except as to that part
Of Mr. Hancock's statement relative to three
years failures of Mr.. McDonald's class, he
Endorsed Mr.. Hanccck's card. He had FIVE
children in the schools, and took much inter-
est in the matter. His son had ran down to
40 in arithmetic while high in all other
studies. In the Capital Grammar School the
pupil is taught the principle, and required to
give his understanding of it In the Sacra-
inento Grammar School that is not done.
Grove J.. johnson read the standing of Mr..
Nielsen's son, to show that he did not stand as
well in other studies as boys in the Grammar
School, and therefore allath teachers as to
that boy must be at fault.
r.. N,ale cold ha fool- tho yncrtbl1y 70.
ports, which stand high, butwhen the annual
examination came on there was something
wrong. His son had been nine years al
school, and then compelled to go out at the
back door.
Miss Watson said so did not prevent pro
motion.
Mr.. johnson said he believed there was
something wrong also in the Sacramento
Grammar School, and it all came, as he be
lieved, from the High School. A different
| Principal there would make things all right
| He believed the examination questions un
| suited for the purpose. As an examiner, hi
| believed Mr.. Adams a total failure. As 6
teacher, he did not know his qualifications.
MIR. Adams-Perrnit me. / can produce g
gentleman, worthy citizen, who q few week
ago heard the Hon. Grove L. johnson say
that the greatest imposition inflicted upon
people, is the keeping of Mr.. Mcdonald
in the Grammer School, where he had PROVED
wholly incompetent.
Mr.. Johnson-Whoever told you that sim
ply lied.
tleman faces you. 1t is question of veracity
He is a worthy man and one of his word.
Mr. Hancock-It is well known that MIR
johnson is opposed to the High School. TIL
children have been made to believe that tn
| High School is-to use the word--nearly
hell that intimidation has been used, etc.
Mr.. Johnson-There is no need for any on
l to get mad in this matter What have salt
am responsible for. As to my enmity t.
the High School, that is not true either
What I have said was, that when it came {
choice between the Primary and the Higl
schools, should all the time favor building
school-houses for the Primary before building
for the High Schools and l say SO still.
Mr.. Tracy took the point of order that n
charge is made against the High School a
being a failure, and that talk about it
wholly out of order. Sustained.
Mr.. Tracy moved that any citizen presen
he invited to address the Board relative t
the Sacramento Grammar School, being lin
tied to five minutes each the limitation no
to apply to parties charged Carried.
SOME PLAIN TALK.
a. S. Greenlaw said he had looked on tn
Sacramento Grammar School with pride fo
wears. As q manager in SCHOOL, supervise
of the schoo-he looked upon MIR. Nc Qonal
as success He thought the questions o
arithmetic ought to be answered by hrs
grade, and that something is loose and wron
when it can't get 60 on the questions.
Mrs. Hartley said three years ago she fel
that parents did not take such an interest a
they ought in the work Of teachers. Latel
she had gone with other ladies to ascertai
the feeling among the people. She called o
Mrs Richardson.
Mrs. Richardson said her daughter no
failed in arithmetic but was good in all else
She complained that she did not understan
Mr. McDonald's explanations. She felt some
thing was wrong.
A DIRECT CHARGE. MADE.
Mrs. Foster said her daughter was in th
, first grade, Sacramento Grammar School, las
year, anxious to graduate, but failed
arithmetic. Mr. Mcdonald urged the girl
remain one year more in the grade. She di
, so. and worked and studied hard, ambition
! to graduate. Now she fails again, and anothe
wear of her time is gone and she stands to-da
no more prepared to pass examination in aritl
metic for the High School than she did yes
ago. Mrs. Foster said she felt it to be ht
, duty to her daughter, and as one intereste
! in the schools, to say that she believed, an
must so state it, that Professor Mcdonald
not competent to teach arithmetic. [Sens
ton.
e Mr.. Tracy-It would appear to me tn;