The Evening critic., 1885-01-28
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
Discussing Changes In the Rule
nnd RvsIaxs.


nnd bylaws.
The School Board held n special meeting
last night to rovise the rules and bylaws
governing the schools The board met at
$50 o'clock and adjourned 3 II o'clock.
The session was largely taken up in discus
sing the question as to whether Trustee
Brooks could change his vote of the pre-.
vious meeting SO us to move reconsidera-
tion Of the resolution for two-thirds ma
joIity for changing the rules.
Mr.. Clark moved that article Z be re-
scinded in discussing the rules. The mo-
tion was seconded by Mr.. Curtis
Mr.. Purvis called for vote on the mo-
tion before tho board.
General Blrney said that IL the majority
was stripped Of its power the board would
find itself incapable of contending with
questions that would arise.
Mr. Lovejoy objected to revising the
rules on a less vote than two-thirds vote
Of the board. He said to change the pres
ent rule on tho question requiring two.
thirds vote would be moral suicide.
A vote was taken ON Mr.. Brooks motion
to reconsider, and it was carried by a ma
iority of one.
Mr.. Brooks objected to suspending article
seven.
A motion was made to allow Mr.. Clark
to withdraw his vote and go into the
Committee Of the Whole.
Mr. Curtis said If tho motion was with
drawn he would renew 1t. He said that
the result Of going into Committee Of the
Whole would be THAT we will play sus-
pend the rules"
This has been bono Of contention since
1880" remarked the Chair, Mr.. Baum.
Mr.. Lovejoy spoke against suspension
Of the rules.
General Birney said that the resembling
Of the rule, whereby the majority should
be able to perform its usual functions,
ought to be adopted, otherwise the board
itself might soon be functus oiiicia. The
board had enemies outside, and It's exist
ence was threatened If the majority COM
mitted suicide by declaring itself unit to
rule the board. He did not like the form
Of the resolution, but would vote for it.
Mr.. Clark was allowed to withdraw his
motion and the bylaws were taken up
seriatim.
On motion Of Dr. Purvis it was decided
to make nine school divisions instead Of
eight. DIR. Purvis then moved that the
county district comprise the Sixth aud
Ninth Divisions.
Article Second was next taken up. 1t
read, THE officers of the Board of Trus-
tees shall be as follows: President, who
shall be member of the board; secretary
and superintendent"
General Birney moved that the word
superintendent" be stricken out, be-
cause he is not elected by the board. II
hope to God he never will be appointed
| by the board" said Mr.. Brooks. "Fhe
| moment he becomes creature of us, he
| will become our subservient servant"
The principal change proposed in Article
Three was two meetings on tho second
and fourth Tuesdays" instead Of zone meet
| ing per month on the second Tuesday"
Some objection was made to the increased
| number of meetings, and Mr. Smith said he
was In favor of meeting frequently, be-
| cause the abstract questions of education
| could be discussed then instead Of hearing
reports Of committees. At present such
| questions as night schools and other mat
tiers of Importance could not be discussed.
General Birney said by the present rules
this board is only in session on an average
| of 80 hours per year. He said there were
27,000 children to look after, and this was
very short time to devote to the schools.
He said he had never been able to be heard
on question of education. He moved that
the board meet on the I'd, Sd and 4th Tues
days. The motion was adopted. Is,
On motion of General Birnoy it was de-
cided to change Section One Of the same
article so that at special meetings the meet
| ing can consider other business than that
stated In the call.
Section Three, convening the schools on
| July !, was adopted.
| In article 3, the change made allows the
board to meet without the president being
| present. General Birney moved that the
minutes of the meetings be approved by
the president before they are printed.
The next section proposed to be changed
was that defining the duties Of superin-
tendents, the alteration being provision
that they may be present at all meetings
| of the board, and shall have the right to
| speak upon all Subjects
The board adjourned before this subject
was considered, The next meeting of the
board will occur on Tuesday next.