Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-05
City School Board.

Al 4 called meeting held last night there
were present Edgar Snowden, esq, Chair
man, and Messrs. Beach, W. +. Came, Her
bert, l.eadbeater. Mclean, Marbury, and
Vincent, and the Superintendent of Schools.
The chair stated that he had called the
meeting for Il further consideration of the
estimates, some discrepancy appearing in
them. The minutes were then read, but
before they were adopted debate sprung
up on that portion of them. Mr.. Snowden,
Maj. Herbert in the chair,) said he had
been necessarily absent from the regular
meeting, and would like to be informed as
TO the necessity of an increased appropria-
ton desiring to lessen the expenses as far
as possible, and thus decrease rather than
increase the burden of taxation of the CITY.
Mr.. w. F. Cane superintendent elect than
put various questions to the present super
lntendent in the course of which the follow
ing facts were elected:
1st. That owing to the large and unex-
pected increase in the schools this wear. the
estimates had been overrun by about
81, 800.
I'd. That only an unexpected increase of
State funds prevented serious deficiency.
Sd. That eight schools, the pupils of
which average seven years and over are run
as half day schools.
4th. That two Of these schools have no
furniture except the full sized benches of the
Assembly room
superintendent Carne said that one of the
eight schools ought to be run all day, and
would have been, but for the want of a
room; as to the otherseven he adhered to the
opinion heretofore expressed; that for small
children, just learning to read, half dav
schools were sufficient and even preferable.
He had forhorne to ask for new furniture,
because he had hoped to get a new house
this year, with proper furniture. All the
furniture, except that in the Peabody build
ing andin one room in the Washington build
ingwas entirely behind the age, and fmost of
it he was ashamed
In reply to question from the superin-
tendent-elect, he said that there were on the
lst Of May, 1882, one hundred and forty-nine
more pupils in the public schools than on
the 1st Of May, 1881, and that he had little
doubt that there would be corresponding
increase next year, and that $l3, 500 or $l4,-
600 would he needed irrespective of 4 new
building.
Mr. Snowden urged that the city be
burdened, at this junction, as little US DOS
sible. Whilst willing to give all necessary
support to the schools, it was important that
the utmost economy be practiced, lest the
taxpayers should complain and an opposi-
ton to the schools he developed.
Mr.. W. +. Carne replied that with the
new estimate, the school tax here would
still be considerably less than in the county
OF Alexandria, where for twelve wears the
people had voted almost unanimously. A
public school tax was the last one Of which
people would complain
Messrs. Beach and Mclean expressed the
opinion that it was the duty of the Board to
make the estimates sufficient TO carry on the
schools economically, but properly, and
leave to the City Council the question of
taxation
The minutes were then adopted and an
amended estimate was, without division,
odrered to be transmitted to the City
Council
The superintendent, by unanimously con-
sent, laid before the Board an appeal of Rev.
DR.: Poulson from the action of the teacher
of Washington School, No. 3, in sllspending
his son for absence, and his complaint of
other conduct towards him, which, on his
motion, We're referred to the committee on
Complaints and Grievances; and, at 9:15 the
Board adjourned.