Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-15
school Board Meeting.

eah tthNh'fN . AtoAh
Rambaut was in tho chair, aud the
following members we're present
Messrs. Walsh, BaRnon, Duffy, Boyle,
Shaw, Jordan, Carey, DuBose, Law
horn, Ralston, Burke, Morrison,
Gronauer, Degnan, Scales and Rogers.
The members Of the press came in
leisurely and took seats around the
table set apart for them and the SEQ.
rotary. The Superintendent Of City
Schools was in his place, which
was all around; there was a cOnstitu-
tional lawyer in the next room, a cas-
ual visitor or two, and when all was
ready, the proceedings opened. The
windows Of the high, narrow hall in
the Odd Fellows building were kept
down, the stove was hot and the at
mosphere close.
1t had been limited that something
unusual was to happen; hence an air
of expectancy and of unusual gravity
seemed to be engraved upon
nearly every face. Much Of tho
business, however, was only the ordi-
nary routine. A report from the
Superintendent shows that the total
scholastic population of the city is
II, 249; enrolled to date, 9SO7-64 Of
these are in the High School.
Miss MacMahon was elected assist
ant teacher in the High School, at a
salary of $50 per month, and Miss
Maggie Ash was elected supernu-
merary,
1t was decided to provide four ad-
ditional teachers for the colored
schools.
Mr.. Jordan, of the Finance Com.
mittoe, reported the Board is debt
S3954.36.
These preliminary matters and
Others having been disposed Of, the
main question Of the evening came up.
1t involved the question of a change
tef text books. This was what had
caused the extra attendance of out.
siders not often seen there. Some
were interested; others only went to
learn parliamentary tactics in the
event Of a prolonged struggle.
Mr.. Burke offered the following
resolution: That the report Of the
Committee on Text Books, placing
Maury's Revised Manual Of Geogra-
ply on the list of text books, and
adopted by the Board in August, 1881,
be SO construed by the Board as to
mean that Maury's Revised Manual
has been adopted, and that pupils
shall be required to obtain Maury's
Revised Manual,
The Chair decided that it would re-
quire a two thirds vote to carry this
and was sustained by a vote Of nine to
seven.
Mr.. Boyle offered this
Resolved, That it is inexpedieut
and an unnecessary expense to make
an exchange Of text books in any
branch Of the public schools at pres
emf.
What became Of this at last wa;
rather difficult to understand. A
lively discussion ensued.
Mr.. Walsh thought it was high time
to adjourn and made a motion to that
effect several times, but finally he anG
several others had to sit down.
The gordon knot was finally cui
after the following fashion:
DR.. Griswold offered the following
resolution in lieu Of Mr.. Burke's res
. olution, which Mr.. Burke accepted:
Resolved, That we hereby instruc'
the Superintendent to carry out thu
resolution of August last, and that VI
construe the resolution to mean tb,
gradual introduction and adoption
, and use in the Public Schools of Mau
rvs geography.
The resolution in lieu was put ant
. lost; yeas, s. nays, g. the Chair no
t voting, as under his previous ruling, i
was not necessary for a decision.
The resolution of August beinI
rather ambiguous and capable 0
more constructions than one the ques
T lions is hardly settled yet. 1t woul,
+ seem that Maury's Biographies ma.
be supplemented, but that no resolu
e ton has yetbeen passed for their in
PRODUCTION, or making it otligator
d uponthe Superintendent or teachers t
t make a change. Those interested vii
d look at it their own way, but it j
plain that Mitchell's Geography ha
not been s~upplanted. There wa
really a great deal Of feeling in tn
matter, and more influences at wor.
than were apparent to a casual Oh
server.
After some other action, which wa
not very important, the Board ad
journed. Official formality was lai
on the table, and as the members ono
is more emerged into the fresh air a
private citizens, they felt relieved
d even if not altogether satisfied wit
all that had been done.
Fresh