The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-09
A DEFECT TO BE REMEDIED.
The Commissioners Decide to Teach the
Wars History in the Schools.
Mr.. Browns Demand for an Investigation
Fails-A Resolution to Erect Two New
High-SchOOl Buildings Adopted.

The special meeting of the school board, which
was held last light for taking decisive action in
regard to the erection of new high-school build
ings, after passing upon the matter, turned its
attention to the teaching of history in the
schools. Plans for the proposed new buildings,
prepared by architects Daggett and Vettes, were
presented.
Mr. Merritt, chairman of the finance commit
tee, presented report, estimating the receipts
and expenditures for 1884 and 1885, exclusive of
the library expenses, as follows: Balance on
hand June 80 1884 $4,000 Receipts-From
liquor licenses, $28,OO levy of twenty cents,
$4,000 apportionment from the State, $50 200;
township and other sources, $400; from
sale of real estate, $4,000; making
a total of $269,6OO Expenditure
Tuition Increased 49, 5OO $l62, 500; jantors, &c.,
5OO fuel, Sc, 200; repairs, $500; gas $780, water
$3.50; improvements, 81 900; furniture 81, 900; in
surance, $500; enumeration, 5000; general ex
penditures, $4,000 office, 81 $780, printing, 81, OOO
supplies decrease 81 OOO) So. 900; officers saa-
RES So, 100; advertising, 800; interest, $4,000;
total, $2Os, O55; surplus revenue over expendi-
lures, $61, 545.
In commenting upon the report Mr.. Frenzel,
be a balance in the treasury on July l, 1885, of
Sc, 545. said that the figures of the committee
contemplated charging to the library
fund 81, $50 year that had heretofore been
charged to the special fund, the probability of
selling real estate to the amount of So, 900, and
an increase in the receipts from liquor licenses
of S., 900. The estimated current expenses of
the board, he said from July l, 1885, to Jan. l,
1886, upon a basis of the expenses for the same
months last year, allowing no increase, are $780,
AGA 30. 1t would therefore, be necessary
to borrow $4,000 even if no new buildings
are erected. A brief recess was taken
to examine the plans which had been
presented by Messrs. Merritt and Stratford.
When the question was again taken up, Mr..
Smith suggested that a special committee should
be directed to obtain plans for the proposed new
buildings which would be satisfactory, and pre-
sent them at the next meeting of the board
Mr.. Browning remarked that the commission
ers who were determined upon the construction
of the high-school building are too hasty, and
they might with perfect safety move more delib-
erately in the matter. To mature plans in one
week for the building of school-house which is
to last fifty years. is rather hasty In the fur
Their discussion of the necessity of the new
buildings, he said that all the accommodations
recommended for the South Side by the superin-
tendent had deem provided, while on the North
Side they had not.
The following resolution, presented by Mr..
Smith, was adopted:
Resolved That the board at once proceed to erect
building the North Sidefor hgh-school and gram
purposes at a cost for the construction thereof
not to exceed the sum of $50 000 and also building
the South Side for high-school and grammar pur-
a a a
view to advancing this matter the buildings and
grounds committee instructed to definitely select
and recommend to the board at its next regular meet
ing plans for the erection of said buildings"
The 81, 500 year which will be charged to the
library fund, by the estimate presented by the
finance committee, Mr.. Frenzel arose to state,
would be to the detriment of the library and
would materially affect it-would seriously af
feet it, land the library, believe, he said, ito
be of more benefit to the public than the high
school.
Mr.. Vonnegut said that he favored the cree
ton of the high school building because he had
been persuaded by the members familiar with
the matter that it would be better to erect the
buildings before asking legislation for relieving
the financial embarrassment, because, II the
question of putting up new high-school build
ing should then come up, the opposition to
high-school would be concentrated in an effort
to prevent the board obtaining the legislative
relief needed"
An amendment was afterward adopted provid-
ing that the plans for the buildings, together
with the estimates for furnishing the necessary
heating and ventilation, shall be solicited from
all the architects in the city and presented to the
board, not later than Feb Is. The vote upon
the adoption of the resolution was: Ayes-Com-
missioners Bell, Brown, Carey, Merritt Smith,
Thompson, Stratford, and Vonnegut-S. Nays
Commissioners Bingham, Browning, and Fren-
zel-3
A STATEMENT FROM MR.. BROWN.
After the question of erecting the new build
ings had been disposed of, Mr.. Brown, the presi-
dent of the board stated that there was matter
which he desired to call the attention of the
commissioners to- and read the following state
ment:
Gentlemen-I take this opportunity to bring to your
attention the fact that the subject of history of the
United States is not fully taught in the two grades
signed to it, namely and B, although the text
book, THE Eclectic History" includes historical &C
counts of important events down to the beginning of
the present national administration. Why the past
instruction has not included these later matters
should be, think, the subject of thorough
investigation. My attention having for the first
the adjournment of the board, have taken
The history of the civil war as presented in Ander
sons history was taught from 1866 TO 1878. From
that time it has not been taught The trustees of the
city schools in authority from 1866 to 1871 were
John r. Elder Thomas b. Elliott and Clemens Won
negut. The Board of School Commissioners
of this city, was organized in July, 1871
served on the board. John R. Elder
James c. Yohn, H 6. Carey, Thomas B. Elliott j. J.
Bingham, Austin H. Brown, William F. Reasner
Peter Reuter-, Clemens Vonnegut Thomas R. Norris,
A. i. Roache, Moses R. Barnard John NJ Youart G.
c. Hines, E. R. Moody, George Merritt Charles W.
Smith, John Coburn, Robert Browning, /, W. STRAIT
ford, Edward P Thompson, and John P. Frenzel. OF
these Messrs. Elliott, Brown, Carey Bar
nard, Vonnegut, Bell, Moody, Coburn, Hyde
Frenzel and Thompson have served on
the committee on textbooks and course
of instruction. The several superintendent
have been as follows: A G. Shortridge George P.
Brown and Horace S. Tarbell. During the admins
traton of George P Brown the study Of all that part
of textbooks furnished, relating to events that oc
CURED after Buehanans administration, dropped
by his order as he says and without any direction
consultation with the textbook committee the
board and desire say that far as car be ascer
tanned, the subject of dropping any portion of