Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-24
CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION.


The regular meeting of the City Board Q
Education was held last evening. All tn
members present but Mr. Wiemeyer.
MIR. Stalker reported damage bein
done to cornice of school building a
Seventh and 6 streets by doves, and tn
subject of needed repairs was referred t.
Repairs Committee.
The Special Committee upon Rules an,
Regulations asked for furthur time in whicl
to make their report, which was granted.
The payroll of teachers, etc., for Februar,
was approved, and also the following bills
H. S. Croker & Co., $751;; JAS 7. Whit,
& Co., IS 10; Chas. Smith & Co., SO; c
H. Krebs & Co., 81 25; J. Lee, 81 so; H
50; Chas j. Noak, $3.50; Locke Lavenson
81 %; F. Foster, Sc; Ben. +. Pike, S11
John T. Taylor & Co., S17 SO; Sweetzer
AIsip, S36; John I. Carey. S25 90; D. O
Mills & Co., S756 %; California Insurance
Company, so so; John Shelton, So 30
Geo. I. Bush, 81 25; Cadwalader & Par
sons, SIS 70.
| The statement of finances from the LIST Of
/ January, 1880, to date. was reported as fol
lows:
Amount on hand January Ist. ...........sl,o 900 81
Amount received from all sources. 5,57s 5&
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 1852 81
Total expenditures. 80. ............. q 46S sc
Remaining on hand. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. sl7S 9t
The Superintendent submitted a report in
reference to the present condition of the
schools, in which he said:
The number of teachers employed in each depart
ment, the attendance of pupils and the average
number taught by the teacher, are as follows
High School-Pupils, 81; teachers, 4; average
per teacher, q.
Sacramento Grammar School-Pupils, 400; teach
ers, II (; average per teacher, 49,
Capital Grammar SehoOl-Pupils, Sos; teachers
10 average per teacher, SO.
Intermediate Schools-Pupils, 6l2; teachers, Is
average per teacher, 50.
Primary Schools Seventh Grade-Pupils, 800
teachers, s average per teacher, Il.
Primary Schools, Eighth Grade-Pupis, $40
teachers, is; average per teacher, IS.
Ungraded- Pupi $, 26l; teachers, s; average per
teacher, 80.
The number Of pupils attending the primary
classes could be successfully taught by fourteen
teachers, while at Fourth and Q streets the number
attending the two ungraded schools is but little
larger than taught i'll any one OF the other three
ungraded schools.
BY sending the excess Of the average number to
the graded classes of their respective grades there
would De no more need OF Two teachers III tne I'M
graded department at Fourth and Q streets than in
either of the Others
This shows that there are employed at present five
teachers more than is actually needed. But con-
sodation of classes at this time of year would
endless confusion and result detrimentaly to the
pupils while, on the other hand, the sum Of 1890
would be saved in the next three months.
find that the grading and course of studies are
defective The work prescribed for some of the
grades is light that the average teacher of those
grades finds no difficulty in accomplishing it in
about two-thirds of the time allotted, while that
prescribed for other grades is gre at that it is
trenely ficult for the average pupil to accomplish
it in the required time. The grading should be uni
form and the requirements OF each should be ad-
justed to the erage capacity of the pupils.
During the past two months thirty nine pupils
were recommended to me to be dropped grade.
Seven of this number l examined and found them
to be well acquainted with the work of the next
lower grade, and instructed the teacher to retain
them to the end of the term, at which time they
could recOmmence present work if it should be
found necessary.
would have examined the Others numbering 80.
had the teachers-who ought to be good Judges of
such matters-eXpressed doubt as to the scholars
proficiency III the work OF the next lower grade.
Since the contrary, they asserted that no mate
rial benefit would result from study of the lower
grade work. l refused to consent to their being
dropped, as could see no justice in such a course,
even though it would insure goodly showing for
the teachers, who would then, in all probability be
enabled to promote the remainder of their classes.
TIL re seems to be disposition among some of
the teachers TO ignore the interests of those children
end that they may have the credit of promoting the
largest possible number percentage.
The rights OF some of their pupils are thus lost to
view in their anxiety to make good showing at the
annual examination.
They unwilling in fact much opposed to re-
ceiving into their classes, children whom they think
it would be difficult to promote, and disposed to
drop without due consideration OF the childs inter
aatG HNK-nI rlAGa
applicants for admission at viii and drop whenever
they please would insure annual promotion OF 100
per cent. of their classes, it would at the same time
work great injustice to many children, and in such
cases the indignation Of parents is not surprising
As at every examination portion of the pupils
necessarily fail of promotion and under the present
system and rule such pupils are Obliged to spend
another whole year in the same grade, and as many
if not all of them, could make up their deficiencies
in much shorter time, would suggest that at the
beginning OF next term it be ordered that we have
senlian examinations for promotions Cities
that have adopted this plan never go back to the old
SYSTEM aid those who have witnessed its practical
work. gs speak OF it in the highest terms of praise
| find that IN some Of the schools morals and man.
ners receive proper attention, while in others am
sorry to have it say that the teachers language
and manners are anything but good example for
the children.
There have been complaints of teachers who apply
to their pupils in petulent manner epithets
as Ounce fool, idiot, etc and in censuring pupils
ness unparalleled stupidity" got your promo
ton by fraud "must have cheated your way
through the examination" you never will know
anything, etc.
There have also been complaints of teachers who
have forced pupils to leave school by working up
their feelings of indignation to an unbearable de.
gree by the use OF bitter and scathing sarcasm and
by ridiculng them before their classmates to an ex-
tent beyond endurance 1t affords me pleasure
however to be able to say that such complaints are
few in number.
The following resolution was adopted:
ResoIred, That it is the sense of this Board that
it Is incompatible with the duty Of teacher to use to
the pupils any epithets and that the Superintendent
is hereby instructed to notify the teachers of the
same.
Communications in reference to insurance
on school buildings were received, and re-
ferred TO the President of the Board.
The following petition, signed by As col
ored citizens, was received:
To the Honorable Board of Education of Sacra-
mento city: We, the undersigned, citizens and
residents of Sacramento city, respectfully represent
to your Honorable Board as follows: That we are
colored people, taxpayers and parents; that as
parents deeply interested in the education of
our children and desire to them all the ad
vantages of the public schools of Sacramento city,
that there is but school for the education Of our
people in this city, ami that school is ungraded and
located, and is so far from many OF
our homes that it is a hardship for children to
attend Wherefore we humbly petition that the
colored school OF this city be abolished, and that