Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-10
OFFICIAL.
Proceedings Of the Board Of Education

Proceedings Of the Board Of Education.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, |
ST. PAUL, June 6, 1881. !
The Board met at P. NJ.
President Lienau, on taking the chair,
stated that, under the rules, it was his
duty to call the new Board to order All
the members answered to their names as
follows:
Inspectors Murphy, Wilgus, Open
helm, Abbott, Kerr, Benz, Gilbert,
Athey, Hamilton, Schiffman, Donnelly,
Lienau-l2.
The first business in order was the cleo
ton of a President.
The Chair appointed Inspectors Open
helm and Hamilton to act as tellers.
Inspector c. D. Kerr nominated DR.. j..
Fl. Murphy.
Inspector H. H. Athey nominated c..
H. Lienau.
Mr.. Lienau stated that he believed in
rotation in office and thanked the men,
beers of the Board for their uniform kind
ness to him for the past year, and with
drew his name as candidate.
On the first ballot being taken Inspect
or Murphy had votes and Inspector
Kerr had votes. There being no choice
the Board proceeded to a second ballot.
Inspector Murphy had five votes and
Inspector Kerr had seven votes. Inspector
Kerr having received a majority of all
the votes cast was declared duly elected
President of the Board for the next year.
Inspectors Murphy and Athey were ap-
pointed to conduct President Kerr to the
foly 1,on hni Mr. u 70
turned thanks for the honor conferred on
him by electing him President of the
Board. He stated that he was not can
didate for the office, but as the Board had
elected him he would not refuse to serve
them.
For Vice President, Inspector Lienau
nominated DR.. E. ]. Abbott. On the vote
being taken DR.. Abbott had nine votes,
and was declared duly elected Vice Presi-
dent for the next year.
For the Office of Secretary, Inspector
Oppenhelm nominated j. G DOnnelly
Inspector Benz nominated DR.. Schiffman
The vote being taken stood: Schiffman, 6;
Donnelly, 6. Six more ballots were taken
with the same result
Inspector Lienau moved to adjourn
The motion was lost. Yeas 3, nays9 8.
Inspector Gilbert moved to take a recess
for ten minutes Motion adopted. Yeas
II, pays none.
The Board being called to order again,
the eighth ballot was taken, as follows:
Schiffman, 5; Donnelly, 6; Gilbert, 1.
Ninth ballot was taken with the same re-
suit
DR.. Murphy moved that when the
Board adjourn, it adjOurns to Friday
evening, June 10th, al p. NJ. Carried.
On motion of DR.. Abbott, the Superin-
tendent was allowed to submit the
following report:
To the Board of Education of the City of
st. Paul.
GENTLEMEN: Upon the organization
of the Board, to which the care of the
public schools of this city, for the next
year, is to be intrusted, desire to report
upon the present condition of the schools
and to call attention to several matters
that seem to demand consideration.
The most important duty devolving
upon this Board, is that of appointing
teachers. The success of our schools will
depend upon your wisdom in the selec-
ton of competent corps OF instruction,
for no matter how excellent may be the
duIIllulSlTd6lOu VI OuI cuuCdtlOHdl oy oICuI,
the schools cannot be thoroughly efficient
and successful without skill
full teachers. 1t is desirable that
appointments be made as soon as the close
of the present term, i'll order that our
old teachers may know at the end of the
school year whether their services are de-
sired another year, and also that the
Board may be able to fill vacancies before
engagements are made by those whom it
may be desirable to secure for our schools.
The time for the annual organization
of the Board of Education, by an amend
ment of the organic act made one year
ago, was changed from the first Monday
of July to the first Monday of June for
this purpose The month of June affords
the new Board an opportunity to become
acquainted with the schools, and to form
a Judgment of the skill of teachers, and
to make appointments as early as the date
of the close of the schools, June "a.
| hope that each inspector will visit, as
far as possible, all the schools, and judge
of the fitness of teachers for their posi-
lions by an inspection of the daily work
of their school rooms. Owing to the
large increase in the number of our
this year there will be
more vacancies than usual. We can thus,
if merit and fitness be made the basis Of
appointments, greatly strengthen our
teaching force, and do much to improve
our school system and advance its reputa-
ton. The pupils in all our schools ought
to be instructed in accordance with the
best methods, and for this reason we
should employ trained and skillful teach
ers. The great obstacle to the securing
of the best teaching talent to fill every
vacancy is the prevalence of an opinion
that places should be filled by selection
from our own young people. This opinion
would close the doors to trained and ex-
perienced instructors from abroad, and
would place annually in our primary
place Of honor in the ideal
school system-graduates of our grammar
and High schools to blunder among the
little children until they have
learned how to teach. The spe-
cious plea that the applicant
is needy, or one of our own citizens,
should not interfere with the appointment
of the very best teachers that can be OBJ
tanned, if we do the best possible for our
schools
After the appointment of such of the
present corps of teachers as it is desired
to retain, l recommend that public ex-
animation of applicants be held June 81,
and that vacancies be filled by selection
from those who satisfactorily pass this
The salaries of teachers should be more
graded than they are at pres
ent, and it seems to me better on many