The daily gazette., 1881-07-26
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
A Late Meeting Last Evenfng-Bu
Little Buaineaa transacted.

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A Late Meeting Last Evening-Bus
Little Business transacted.
1t was $50 o'clock last evening before
the Board of Education was called 10
order, most of the members being pre-
sent at the fire, and when It was called,
there was just barely quorum present.
The Finance Committee reported q
balance Of $808.53 In bank to the credit
of the Board.
Mr.. Furry, chairman OF the committee
on new school house over Third street
bridge, reported that site had been
purchased, plans prepared and proposals
advertised for. In response to the ad-
vertisements he received . number Of
proposals, which he desired to have
read.
Mr.. Kyne moved that the bids be re-
ferred to q special committee, which
motion was lost.
After a motion 10 defer reading the
bids for one week by vote OF I to s
they were read as follows:
Thomas FL. Melvin, $4.290 Bailey &
Hughes, "a ,592 /; j. 3. D. Seeds & Son,
$4,62S; @. W. Mason, $500; Edwin
". Thorne & Bro, $4,29O.73.
The amount OF the bids led to consid-
erable discussion, and President Conrad
calling Mr.. kenney to the chair, took
the floor, and opposed th m. He thought
that they were entirely too high. He was
OF the opinion that they shonld be re.
ferred back TO the committee with in-
slructions to have the plans SO altered
that the building would not cost more
than $1,000. A motion 10 that effect
was finally ad. pied.
The advisability Of employing a gen.
tieman to collect the taxes OF School dis
trict No. II was referred to The Finance
Committee.
A motion TO draw an order for the
payment Of the site for the new scho
house over Third street bridge, was lost,
and the sub ect was referred to the CON
mittee 10 negotiate for the payment ot
the lot when the bonds are sold.
Mr.. II. d. Hickman was placed upon
the commit ee In place Of Edward Nc
lntire, resigned.
The annual report of the Superinten-
dent Of the schools was presented aud
referred to special Committee, and the
Board then adjourned.
Tie following Is brief extract Of
the report:
Number of school houses 10 use, 10;
Increase for the year, /; number OF sit
tings for study in all the day schools, s.
s64; increase for the year, 100; whole
number of teaehers IN the day schools,
l16. There are four teschers teaching
without salary. These are pupil teach
ers In the training school, who are sim
ply on trial. The average daily attend
ance in the schools of the city hss been
1892. In 1878 the whole number en-.
rolled la the different schools was $500;
II is now 1905. In school No. 8 there
have been 124 cases Of corporal punish
ment during the year, while in schools
Nos. 1, A, 0 and 10 there havo been nc
cases, In school No. 15 the average OF.
tendance has been $50, greater than that
of any other school; while In school No.
II the average attendance has been only
II. For the pasS six years the average
age of pupils received into the grammar
classes In the High School has been q
little over fourteen years. The average
combined attendance In both depart
ments OF school No. has been 216. The
average age of graduates from the High
School for the past year has been: Tor
boys, 1s years,and for girls, Is years and
months. II appears that there has
been during the year only one pupil iu
the public schools Of Wilmington over
20 years of age, and that one was pupil
Of the Girls High School. There are
$50 pupils In the schools aged 10, and q
like number aged 8. The report notices
the great falling of in attendance in q
number of the schools, and attributes II
to the fear of the smallpox. A promi.
nent feature Of the report IL seIies oil
brief and lucid descriptions of the differ
ent school buildings In the city. A con-
siderable portion Of the report Ia taken
up with q consideration OF the import
ance oil reading In the pablic schools, and
OF the stress now being laid In all de-
partments upon this branch. Tbs super
ip,endent also advocated silent reading.
Some important hints with regard to
spelling are also dealt with In the report,
which closes with general statement oi
q number OF the more Important
branches taught In the schools. The re.
port Is unusually lucid and comprehen-
slye,