Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-21
SCHOOL MATTERS.
Miss Watson Elected Principal of the
Sacramento Grammar School.

the resignation of Madison Babcock as
Principal of the Sacramento Grammar
School. The roll was called, and all an
swered to their names except Director
Chapman, who is in Truckee.
The President stated the object of the
meeting, and requested the Secretary to
read the resignation OF Mr.. Babcock. which
was as follows:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, February 49, 1855.
To the Honorable Board Of Education, Sdcrd-
nle7lto, CdL-GESTLENES: For nearly three years,
have been Principal of the Sacramento Gram
mar School, a position that the people, the
pupils. the teachers, and your honorable Board
have made so pleasant, and to which have be-
come so attached that when sit down to formal
~ resign 1t is with feelings of sorrow and regret.
mere is not patron of the school, that 90 not
ieel is my friend. There is not pupil IN the
whole six hundred in whom / do not feel an in
terest and with whom shall not part with re-
greet Few schools are blessed with as earnest
pains-taking teachers as those with whom l
have been associated. They deserve your conf
dence and that of the people.
The only favorable answer that seemed to
have been given TO the emphatic question of a
prominent citizen, when came to Sacramento,
was by your honorable Board; and from that
day to this have had the individual and OIL
cial support and friendship of the Board; for
which permit me to sincerely and heartily
thank you. l shall carry to my new field of la
Dor recollection of our associations that shall
cherish through life. 1t seldom falls to the lot
OF a man to be surrounded by associations as
pleasant as I have found in your midst, and in
asking you to accept my resignation, to take
effect on the LIST of March | do so with the
profoundest feeling of respect and affection for
Sacramento. / do not expect that my lines will
ever fall in q pleasanter place than this has
| been. Again thanking you individually, and
through you the people, old and young, l am,
very respectfully, yours.
MADISON BABcoCK.
n;racfOr IL. -,
ton be accepted, and it was carried.
The President said the next thing in
order would be nominations to fill the
vacancy.
Mr. Martin, the new Director from the
First Ward, arose and plumed himself for
a speech. He said he was a little surprised
at this meeting being called in such haste.
He was opposed to an election until the
next regular meeting, and moved to postpone
| the matter of filling the vacancy until the
next regular meeting, which would be held
next Monday evening, the 9th inst. He had
many reasons to urge why there should be
no undue haste, and two good reasons why
| action should be postponed for one week.
In the first place Director Chapman was
absent from the city, and they would act
without full Board. In the second place,
he said, / have been quarantined for the
past week and have had no opportunity to
consider this matter, and do not like to be
| forced into vote tonight. 1t seems to be
| acting with undue haste. 1t is quite gen.
orally understood that a majority of this
| Board intend to elect Miss Watson. If
that is the case what harm can come OF
| laying the election over for one week. The
| change does not take place until the LIST.
Mr.. Shelton, the new Director from the
Fourth Ward, Endorsed the remarks of Mr.
Martin and seconded the motion to post
pone for one week.
School Superintendent Beard thought it
would be courtesy to Director Chapman,
to postpone action for one week.
Mr.. Hopkins said: think we can go or
and elect tonight. So far as Mr.. Martins
remarks are concerned, l don't think they
have any weight. 1 think we have ou1
minds made up. So far as | am concerned
l am ready to vote for Miss Watson to-
night
The President called Mr. Hopkins to or
der, saying that the only question before
| Board was upon postponement.
Mr. Hopkins-Well, l am opposed to
laying this matter over. We don't want tC
be bothered with innumerable applications
from all over the State.
Mr.. Todd-I had talk with Director
Chapman concerning this matter few days
ago, and he will concur in any action of {
majority of the Board.
The President said the mere matter O.
one member being absent from the Boarc
does not affect anything; that was no ex
cuse at all. There must be some other mo-
tive for desiring a postponement.
Superintendent Beard replied very
warmly that if the President intimated
that he was actuated by any wrong motive
he was mistaken, and he would submit to
no such an imputation.
The President was not talking to you,
sir.
Mr.. Martin-The President, l notice,
had great consideration and the courtesy to
wait this meeting for one hour, until Di.
rector Hopkins could arrive. Why is he
of so mucn more importance than Other
members ofthe Board? l was told to-day
upon the street by an intimate friend of Mr.
Chipman's that the latter was very anxiou:
to be present and to participate in thi:
election. There is no good reason offered
and apparently there is no necessity fol
undue hastein this matter. If you have
majority here for Miss Watson why not BIZ
satisfied with that and continue the elec
ton until the regular monthly meeting O
the Board, which will be in time. If you
have good and sufficient reasons for takine
this snap Judgment upon an absen
member of the Board why no
give them In reply to the Pres
ident, I will say that so ia,
as am concerned l have no motive, excep
to subserve the best interests of the public
| schools. Continue it for one week, anC
perhaps during that time other arrange
ments can be made that would be better fol
! that school. 1t has always been considered
necessary that there should be a male
teacher as principal of that school.
The President called Mr. Martin to order
| telling him he was wandering from the
subject under discussion.
| Mr.. Martin contended that he was in
order, and that all he had said was german
to the subject. He hoped the members o
the Board would adjourn for one weel
without taking action.
The President said so far as he was con
cerned he had called the meeting in gooC
faith and not because Mr.. Chapman wa,
out of town.
After some further DISCUSSION, the roll
was called and the motion to postpon,
action lost by the following vote:
Ayes-Martin and SkeltOn-2.
| Noes-Petrie, Conklin, Todd, Davis anG
Hopkins.
Director Martin changed his vote from
aye to nay and gave notice that at the mex
| 1AcclliIS nt WOiuu move recon-
sideration of the vote whereby his motion
| was lost.
NOMINATIONS.
Director Hopkins placed in nomination
for the une1pired term of the Principalshir
in the Sacramento Grammar School, Miss
Mary J. Watson. Director Martin placed
in nomination Miss Harriet Mccormick.
The Secretary read All application from
| E. Lindsey, Principal of the Grammar
School at S.nta Cruz, and he was consid.
cred in nomination.
director Hopkins said Julian Johnson
the Principal of the Gait School, asked to
be placed in nomination. / told him
would present his name, and remarked tc
him at the same time that he stood nc
| show.
Mr.. Martin-From that last remark,
suppose you had all things cut and dried
You are not the only member that is in
that boat, for Mr. Todd told Mr. Shelton
this afternoon how the thing was going.
Mr.. Todd-Mr. Shelton must have mis-
understood me, surely.
Mr.. Skelton-I don't see how could be
mistaken about it, sir.
The roll was called. with the following
result:
Miss Watson-Petrie, Conklin, Todd
Davis, Hopkins, Skelton-6
| Miss Mccormick Martini.
/ The President declared Miss Watson
elected.
This left a vacancy in the Vice Principal
IL. ~ II