Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-02-02

themselves as ueslrlng especially to I'M
prove the schools of the lower grades.
The most direct way to do this is to lessen
the number o. pupils given in charge of
one teacher. Forty pupils is as many as
any-the most skiliful teacher eau prop.
erly take charge of. Whenever more are
forced into school, both teacher and
pupils suffer. The two evils uuder which
the schools of the lower grados suffer are
inexperienced teachers and too many pu-
pills. So large has been the attendance in
the primary schools in Lemon street. that
it was found impracticable to give lessons
in writing. No doubt some of these pupils
thus missed their last opportunity of re.
ceiving instruction in this necessary branch
of an education. 1t ia in vain
to look for better schools under such
circumstances. Teachers lose all heart
when called on to encounter such obsta
cles. Ambition is dsadened and the
schools must necessarily deteriorate and
fall back into the old ruts. Nor is the case
much better id the secondary schools. It
is difficult to understand why Mr.. Stany
and Miss Etter should be required to take
charge of 110 pupils, when the rule above
quoted assigns 132 as tho maximum for
three teachers. The six secondary schools
i'll the northern part of the city report 315
pupils, while the maximum according to
ths rule would assign only 2G4 to them,
showing that there are now in those
schools 81 pupils more than the maximum
allowed by section 64 of the rules. The
consequences of such state of affairs
cannot be set forth liz the limited space
allowed in this report. but exhaustion of
tho nervous energies of the teacher is sure
to follow and with it poorer quality of
instruction. Nor should it bo forgotten
that the teachers in the lower grade single
secondary and in all grades of the single
primary, receive lower salaries than those
in the combined primaries, thus doing
double injustice by increasing the work
and decreasing the compensation. An
additional secondary school should, thece-
fore, be opened at once in the new building.
Respectfully submitted,
r. Il. BUEHRLE.
Mr.. Baker stated that he had given a
permit to one nonresident pupil with the
distinct understanding that the parent
should pay the price of tuition fixed by
the board. He asked tho city superintend-
ent, who was present, whether there was
moro than one non resident pupil in the
schools.
Tho superintendent said he had heard
there were several. in tho lower grade
schools and he could find no rule of the
board wherein tho charge for tuition was
fixed, except for high school pupils. If
there was any rule relating to the matter
he would like to know it, as he was
desirous Of doing his duty.
Mr.. Hartman said there had been a
general understanding Years ago between
the school board Of the city and the board
OF Lancaster township, that when it was
more convenient for pupils in either dis
trict to attend the schools in the other
district, they should be privileged to do
so without charge.
The subject was, on motion, referred to
the superintending committee with in
structiOns to report at the next meeting of
the board.
Mr.. Hartman stated that at tho Septem-
Der meeting Of the board resolution was
adopted authorizing the committee on
buildings and grounds to to procure a site
for the erection OF four room school
house in the eastern section OF the CITY,
At an adjourned meeting, held September
19tE, the committee was directed to pur-
chase at once site for four room school
house in the northern part of tho city.
The committee had acted on the last
named order and purchased lot and
erected building on New street. Before
final action WAS taken in tho other matter
the committee fell by the reorganization of
tho board in November Tho new COM
mittee did not feel authorized to act under
tho instructions given to the old one,
though several sites had been examined.
Since then Prof. Buehre had made plan
by which he thought a suitable four room
school house might be erected On the
Sherman street lot now owned by the
bond. He moved that the new commit
tee on buildings aid grounds be instructed
to procure site for new building in the
eastern part of the city.
Mr.. Baker believed there was no neces
sity to purchase a new site. The Sherman
street lot was 245 by AZ feet, and was
elisibly located. He combatted the state
ment that the location was damp and un
healthy, and said the only difficulty was
that the old buildings now upon the lot
had been built below the grade of the
street, which was the cause Of the damp
ness complained of. He moved to amend
Mr.. Hartman's motion that the committee
be instructed to erect four, room building
on the Sherman street lot.
Mr.. Evans opposed the amendment. He
said it was notorious that the location
was unsuitGd for public school; it was
low AID swampy, and the schools had
been closed because of sickness engen
dered thereby. The board had been de
nounced by the newspapers for erecting
school houses on such site. Besides, the
lot was too small ard of improper shape.
He hoped if a new school house was to be
built 2 suitable aud healthy site would be
selected.
DR.. Her agreed with MIR. Baker that
the Sherman street lot was the proper
place for the new school.
Mr.. Slaymaker thought Il good four
room building might be put up on the
Sherman street lot by placing the school
rooms end to end instead of side to side.
If this plan was objected to the IIensel
property adjoining might be purchased,
and then buildings like those on Manor
and New streets might be erected.
Mr.. Hartman opposed Mr.. Bakers
amendment, but suggested that if the
property i'll the rear of the Sherman street
schools Were purchased, and he thought it
could be bought at fair price, the Orange
street front of the property now owned by
the board might be sold, and the board
would still have good sito upon which to
build.
After some further debate, on motion of
MIR. Hartman the matter was postponed
until next stated meeting.
President Levergood presented COM
munication from Mr.. Smith, of Philadel-
phia, relative to three maps purchased
but which had not yet been paid. The
matter was referred to the committee on
furniture and supplies, with instructions
TO pay tho bill if it be found correct.