Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-08
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
ANOTHER LIVELY MEETING OF TIE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The Excitement Concerning the Recent
Examinations Increases and
Intensifes

|
! Examinations Increases and
! Intensifes.
The Board of Education last night resumed
the investigation concerning the recent school
examinations. The rooms of the Board were
packed with people Saturday night-last
night they were more than packed. Pack
and jam are words which fail to express the
density of the crowd, one half of which land
among that half many ladies' stood up from
half past until a quarter past IL o'clock,
rather than lose word of what was said.
Mr.. Hornblower said he had been ap-
preached by many citizens-some approving,
some condemniug his course. He looked
upon the investigation as very serious mat
ter. To turn out Mr. Mcdonald after TWEEN
| ty years teaching IS to blast him for life.
He 1.-THE speaker was not there as his friend,
but as sworn Director. tie wanted exact
| Justice done to the schools aud the accused,
nothing more.
MR. ADAMS
Desired to make few remarks. He had
been sent for at the Saturday night meeting,
and came not of his own will. He held him
self in readiness at any time to answer fully
and perfectly the statements OF Director
Hornblcwer made Saturday night. lie
could, and would, if desired, show that there
is not shadow of foundation for the state
ments made. He believed Mr.. Hornbiower
believed what he said, but he could prove
completely that he was entirely mistaken as
to the facts he alleged.
Mr.. Hornblower-I will show by docu-
nentary evidence that all / said was fact
| Mr.. Adams said that Grove l.. johnson
had, at the Saturday night meeting. pro-
nounced the statement he (Adams) had made
| as untrue, and that the man quoted lied, etc.
He went on at some length regarding the
matter, addressing his remarks to the
question as to the truth of the statement,
and finally said the citizen who told him
what he had said was Add e. Hinkson, who
was present, and he called on him to say If 1t
was true.
! Mr.. Tracy objected to the Board settling
the question of veracity between Messrs.
johnson and Hinkson. The presence of the
latter was equivalent. for the purposes of the
case. to a statement that he had told Mr..
| Adams what he had stated.
The Board here resolved that the rule of
the Board for the night be the hearing of
testimony relative to the competency Of MIR.
Mcdonald az teacher.
c. W. HANCOCK
Then addressed the Board, and said that as
| the whole matter had grown out Of his card in
the RECORD UNION
Mr.. Tracy-Allow me to correct you. This
Board hal determined to investigate before
your card appeared.
MIR. Hancock take that back, then.
The reporter will not take it, please.
1ahafa hera took nlaca hntwpPn MIR.
Hancock and Mr. Hornblower concerning
the manner in which he should present
charges and whether statements in the card
Of the former should be referred to, etc. He
was finally permitted to proceed. He said
the record of the first grade of the Sacra-
mento Grammar School for three years
was
Mr.. Hornblower objected, as the official
records are the best evidence.
The Board, on motion OF MIR. Tracy, per-
mitted Mr. Hancock to proceed.
Mr. Hancock-The class of 1878 was 65
in number. OF that number eight passed un-
| conditionally. The rest were promoted by
other means. Mr. Mcdonald was not then
teacher, but Principal. The class of 1889
numbered 49, and only twelve or fifteen
graduated Internationally. The others who
were promoted were promoted by other
means. The class of this year numbered 90,
| and all but eleven that We're promoted were
promoted by other means than unconditional
graduation. As to the year 1878, he be-
lieved Mr.. Mcdonald was in some sense a
teacher. He had supervision of all the
classes Mr.. Hancock then proposed to prove
that the marking of the recent class Of the
! first grade was correct, that the class was not
intimidated, and that the questions were not
teo difficult He proposed TO cali witnesses
to prove these facts. They might or might
not be deemed experts, as the Board should
judge. He desired to ask Mr. Mcdonald
some questions.
Mr.. johnson, in behalf of Mr.. Mcdonald,
said the latter declined to reply until he
should make his own statement.
Mr.. Hancock called Mr.. Blier, who said
Mr.. Mcdonald had told him that II TIE
main he considered the markings fair, and
though he thought there might have been
some different markings, he thought probably
the results would be the same.
ATTORNEYS TAKE a HAND.
Mr.. Tracy called on MIR. Brier to give the
whole story of the examination.
Mr.. Hancock objected as not cross-exami-
uation, and as forestalling bis case.
Add c. Ilinhson here asked il the Board
| permitted parties TO appear by attorney. de
| hal been asked to appear as an attorney, and
! had at first declined. He had believed it
3
accepted q retainer il the Board allowed at
+ tosneys. To Mr Hornblowerj-I repre-
sent parties charging Mr.. Mcdonald in the
interest az the public. MIR. Hancock had
| paid hin his retainer.
The Board decided to allow Mr.. HinlsoD
to appear, the latter saying he was a warm
| friend Of the schools, and regretted the
! trouble now prevailing, and should only DO
! his duty as an attorney.
| Mr.. Hancock said he had employed Mr..
| Hinkson in behalf of the parents of pupils
Mr.. Tracy-Al OF them?
| MIR. Haacock-Not all of them.
! Mr.. Hornblower said Mr.. Hancock had
made the statement fer effect.
| Mr. Hancock Withdrew the word the 2"
/ from his remark.
Mr.. BRIER
Took the stand. Hestated who prepared the
questions las heretofore published). He ex-
alnined Mr.. McDonald's class, and examined
| it according to the rules given him by the
Superintendent. He got the questions about
A. u. the morning Of the examination. He
was to give each pupil a copy of the ques-
tions, or put them on the board, to keep
order and prevent all collision. lie gave
/ the papiis all the time they wanted. As 10
arithmetic he remembered Of no complaint
as to the time given. The pupils began at
! $50 A. " and worked till or $50 p. NJ on
/ art hmetic alone Three sets OF questions, 10
each were prepared arithmetic aud sub
1 mitted to the Committee Of the Board Of
/ Education. and it selected 10. One set was
/ prepared BE- Mr. Adams, one by Mrs. Folger
Al d one by witness. Two Of those adopted
were Mr.. Adams questions, three or four
those Of witness, and the rest those of Mrs.
Folger. Witness refused TO answer as to
what Intimidation was used or embarrassment
evident at the examination. The question
should first be asked Of those present, be-
cause Of course he would be supposed to an
swer now.
Cross. exanination-H did tell Mr.. Nc
Donald that he had watched the children
like hawk, that they might not destroy
their prospects by COLLISION, as teachers know
that pupils foolshiy do so sometimes.
Retirect-He believed at examinations that
temptation should be kept from children
An examiner should submit the questions
fairly and demand fair answers. He should
watch the pupils, but not so to make the
pupils tinlii. His experience in his own
classes was that the closer surveillance he
exc rcised the better his pupils did In exam
iuatiou.
Mr.. Hornbower-Aiisht not children of
the age in the FIRST grade be intimidated at
an examination?
Witness-Nos if they are born in Califor-
niaor perhaps il born in England. lGreat
laughter
Dir. Hornblower protested against laughter
and such bshayior, aud declared If not pro-
L.. Ut