The Portland daily press., 1880-11-23
School Committee.

The regular monthly meeting of the school
committee was held last evening, His Honor
| the Mayor presiding Present t-Messrs. Brew
| er, Ridlon, Shailer, Files, Libby, Burrage
and Gray.
| The records of the previous meeting were
read and approved.
| Reports were made by the members of this
| board on the various schools.
| Miss Hattie E. Brown requests leave of alb
| sence after the Christmas vacation for two
| months.
| Voted, That this request of Miss Brown be
| granted, and that the. subcommittee on
| North school be authorized to fill the vacancy
| temporarily.
| Voted, That the leave of absence of Miss
| Short be extended to the end of the present
| term.
The supervisor of the Butler school reports
Miss Addle L. Tack temporarily employed in
that school during the absence of Miss Turkey.
The supervisor of the Chestnut street pr-
mary reports Miss Whiteley as still acting as
substitute for Miss Gould, and that Miss Mer-
rill, principal of the Chestnut street primary
school, tenders her resignation to take effect
after the Christmas vacation, and this resigna-
tion was by vote accepted
Ordered, That Miss Carrie E. Jenkins ap-
plication to enter practice be placed on file.
Voted, That $50 be allowed for the schooling
of children on Crotch Island the present sea-
son.
Pay rolls and bills amounting to $6O23. rs
We're presented and appointed.
The special committee on the admission o.
nonresident children to our schools, report as
follows:
The committee to whom was referred the
ordinance lately passed by the City Council
authorizing the School Committee to admit to
the public schools the children of non-resi-
dents on such terms as the board should pre-
scribe, when in the opinion of the committee
it may be done without prejudice to the
schools, beg leave to report that they are of the
opinion the admission of children of non-resi-
dents is matter of doubtful expedency, and
involves change of policy which is likely to
affect unfavorably the interests of the city.
The privileges of our public schools are one
of the compensations which taxpayers enjoy
by reason of residence, and have hitherto
proved an inducement for outside capital to
reside within our limits. This advantage will
be lost if noD-resdeuts are to be admitted to
the schools on payment of tuition, as contem-
plated by the ordinance, and such a course
must tend to diminish the taxable resources of
the city, and i'd to the heavy burdens of our
taxpayers.
Our schools are established and mainiasned
at large expense for the benefit of our citi-
zens, and it NAV we'll be questioned whether
the City Council or any other body. can legally
enlarge the scope of our school system so as to
embrace the education of non-residents. Such
use of our schools is certainly not within the
limits of municipal powers as ordinarily con-
strued; and the limited accommodations of
our schools must practically preclude such an
extension of their privileges.
We are, therefore, of the opinion that the
School Committee cannot properly take any
action in the premises furthering the admis-
sion OF children of non-residents to our public
schools
CHARLES f.. LIBBY, !
HENRY s. BURRAGE, : Committee.
EMERY S. RIDLoN,
Portland, Nov. 15 1880.
And their report was adopted
The committee on the subject of spoilers for
the Primary Schools report progress, and
further time was granted.
The subject of the selection of suitable
school seats and desks for the new school
house on North street was by request of COM
mittee on public buildings considered: and
Voted, That the committee on public build
ings OF the City Government be requested to
furnish. for that house single, separate Tin
dependent) seats and desks