The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-27

The regular monthly meeting of the school
board occurred last evening. Present, Messrs.
Baker, Holden, Ring, Merrill, Fox, Bradley
and Briggs. In the absence of the Mayor,
Col. Merrill was chosen chairman pro tenn.
The record of the previous meeting was
read and approved.
Pay rolls and bills amounting to $7,1s6.10
were read and approved.
Voted-That matters pertaining to gradua-
ton in the Practice School be referred to the
committee on that school with power.
Noteo-Inat the supervisors of the Park
street and School street schools be- authorized
10 furnish such assistance in the instruction of
the sixth classes in those schools as seems nee
eesary.
Visitation of the Island schools by the COM
mittee was appointed for Thursday next
Voted-That the schools close on June q,
and that that day be appointed as visitation
day IN the primary and grammar schools and
that the supervisors arrange with their partic-
ular teachers as to the character of the exer.
ctses 10 their schools ON that day.
Noted-That the matter of the election of
teachers be assigned to the evening of the 10th
OF June, and that the committee hold an ad
Journed meeting on that evening for the
purpose. =.
Voted-That the Portland school for deaf be
allowed q close the present term June 90 enc
week earlier than the other schools.
Mr.. Fox, of the committee on school rooms
and repairs, announced that plans for the i'm
provement of the Casco street school house
will be ready to submit to the board in few
days; he also reports that the committee on the
Crotch Island school have communicated with
the authorities of Cumberland with reference
TO union school on that island and that they
seem ready to cooperate with us to secure that
end, and that further meeting with than is
soon to be held.
Voted-That Mr.. Bradley be appointed SUP
ervlsor OF that school when established.
The committee on rules and regulations pre-.
sent the new rules Of the board in proof for the
Inspection of the board, and they we're allowed
further time.
Voted-That the committee on High school
be authorized to procure the requisite copies Of
High school diplomas printed on parchment
paper.
Voted-That the public graduation exercises
OF the High school be held June %.
Voted-That Mr.. Briggs be requested to ex-
anime into the proper method of heating and
ventllatiDg the High school building
Voted-That the secretary be requested to
acknowledge DR.. Spaldng's generous offer in
regard to lectures in the High School on the
OoOo NhO d Ouocc Vi OHo bJbt anu IDdG inc
committee on that school be authorized to
make such arrangements in compliance with
his offer as they deem practicable.
Voted-That the action of the supervisors on
Centre street school in supplying additional as
sistance in the lower grades be approved.
The committee on music reported in favor of
continuing the use of Mr.. Mason's singing
book in the schools, and their report was ac-
cepted.
The committee on examination OF teachers
reported that Miss Laura A. Harper is entitled
on her examination to a certificate of the first
class; Miss Nellie M. Brewer to certificate Of
the second class, and Miss Sallie G. Barstow to
certificate for Kindergarten instruction; and
the certificates were granted by the board.
TEST EXAMINATIONS.
The next matter of unfinished business was
the resolution introduced some time since by
Col. Merrill on the abolishing of test exan,in-
atoms.
Mr.. Briggs said that as he had not formu-
lated any substitute for the present method he
was opposed to abolishing the entire system. 1t
might be that notifications of the present
method would be useful, and yet to entirely
abolish it would be entirely unnecessary. His
idea would be the appointment of special
committee, to have the matter in charge and
report in print At the hearing the other eve
ming the Doctors made some statements which
could not be sustained, as the facts were not
with them; and their misstatements were un-
doubtedly due to not having a proper under
standing of the matter. Various notifications
had suggested themselves to him; the number
of questions in the bi-monthly tests might be
VnAn - osw1 at.on
instead of containing six questions in one; if
the limit was made at ten, five might be the
number required to be passed; the tests might
be sprung on the scholars unexpectedly; the
time of an examination could be limited to an
hour. With some such notifications as these,
few children could probably be found unable
to answer the questions.
Mr.; Fox moved that committee of three
be appointed BY the chair to consider the mat
ter and report at the next regular meeting,
and Messrs Briggs, Bradley and Ring were
appointed.
Adjourned at 9.45.