St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-31
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Among Other Matters 1t Decides
to Borrow $4,000.

to Borrow $4,000.
Vacation ends to-day, and tomorrow
the thousands of school children will
pick up their books with q sigh and re-
turn to their studies, some of them with
alacrity. glad that the long vacation is
ended, and otheres with dull feeling
that youth isn't half what it is
cracked up to be. The board of educa-
tion-that sedate body of men of great
minds, which is almost thing to sacred
to- think of by the average pupil-held
a meeting yesterday afternoon prepar-
atory to the school opening. The meet
ing opened rather drearily, the majority
Of the members seeming to have their
minds upon some of the pleasant Oc-
currences that occurred during their
vacation, and were slow to grasp at the
regular routine business that comes be-
fore the board. The principal excite
ment furnished was the introduction
of the idea OF change in the course
of copy books, and gentlemen were
present to indorse their particular
styles of book. 1t seems that the contract
entend into with the publishers of the
CurtisS system now in use provided that
4 certain number of charts were
to be furnished the board for school
rooms, and the publishers have never
lived up to their contract. This is the
main reason for the change. The pub
fishers of the Normal Review system of
copy books had agents present to advo-
cate their line of books, and consider
able talk was had over the subject. Mr..
Nelson said he thought cents apiece
for book containing a little over an
ounce ofpaper, worth perhaps cents
per pound. seemed outrageous, and he
did not advocate settling upon any par
tlcular publication until cheaper con-
tract could be made. 1t was finally de-
cided that it would be impossible to OBJ,
tain the books in time for the school
opening on Monday, and that the pres
ent style be used for time. The matter
was referred to the committee Oh text
books. The bidders on the new books
agree to replace all of the old style on
pupils desks by their own at any time.
The board had previously advocated
the renewal of the position OF superln-
tendent of writing, but Mr.. Nelson,
who had not been present at the meet
ing at which it had been discussed,
forcibly advocated the renewal of the
position, and the appointment of par
ticular lady, Miss Morris, to fill the po-
sition. Mr.. Gjertson objected to having
enough time could be devoted by any
one teacher to penmanshlp to have it do
the pupils any good, and if it devOlved
upon each teacher to sec that their
class was we'll up in that branch the re-
suit would be more desirable. About
three-QuarterS OF an hour was spent i'll
this discussion, and finally Mr.. Nelson
moved that Miss Morris be appointed to
the position, but finally changed the
motion so as to allow vote upon the
position ITSELF The motion was lost.
1t seems to be the prevailing opinion Of
the board that it would be good plan
to try one year without Superintend-
ent in penmanship. Superintendent
Bradley is of the same opinion.
The treasurer's report showed that
there was but $4,000 on hand, and bills
were audited amounting to $50. 40.
The board voted to borrow $4,000, pay
| able June 80, 1891, at per cent, from
| the Farmers and Mechanics bank, the
loan to be in the shape of promisSory
notes in sums to suit. A delegation was
| present to advocate the reappointmenG
of Janitor Fisch, who was removed from
| the Madison school at the close of last
term. The delegation stated that it
represented a large portion of the citl-
ZenS living near the school house, who
urged that the man was worthy of the
| position and understood his business.
The matter, which has been brought up
once before. was referred to the COM
mittee on teachers, janitors and salaries.
AS there are several matters of i'm
portance before the several committees,
when the meeting adjourned it was to
| meet again at o'clock p. m. Saturday
| next. At that time it is probable that
| the matter of the change of copy books
will have been returned from the special
committee ready to be acted upon. AS
many of the 500 teachers who are in
charge of the 4S schools in this city as
could met at the High school building
| yesterday morning and listened to a
very interesting paper illustrative of
beginning a years work, by DR.. Brad
ley. city aperintendent. The paper
was an interesting one to them and full
of good advice.