The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-16

banned by the single member is sure to be
elected. | have never known rejection.
So little inquiry is made that have known
it to be the case that parties have been
elected who were rot even IN possession OF
the necessary certificate.
Far too much power belonging properly
to the board is conferred upon the COM
mittees-or rather uron the chairmen OF the
committees As a consequence assignments
and transfers of teachers, purchase OF sup
plies, employment of teachers, etc, are
made without proper deliberation, and
sometimes in violation OF the law. The
chairmen of the committees in the Board OF
Education seem 10 be invested with full
power TO act. While the law constitutes
the Superintendent the executive officer of
the board, the chairmen, often without con-
sultation with their colleagues, constitute
themselves executive officers
These evils can be remedied, in my
opini on, only by the adoption of an entiIe
new law. Our board should be differently
constituted. Instead OF having twelve men
simultaneously elected every two years the
Board of Education should be an app0intiye
board, selected by the Mayor of the city or
some other capable and responsible power.
A COMMISSION SUGGESTED.
" The parties selected should be such as
are known to be capable 10 supervise and
control the schools i'll everything arpertain-
ing to the scholastic affairs thereof. The
matter of buildings and repairs on build
ingS, of the purchase of supplies and their
distribution, Of the renting Of buildings and
OF the management of the property OF the
department should be placed in the hands OF
other parties.
THE Superintendent and four well-quali-
fed educators should be constituted as
board or commission OF education. these
should be palu reasonable salary ana re-
quired to devote their Whole time to the
management of the schools. This commit
tee ShonlN ha Tho IpSnectoFS of the schools.
1t should have the appointment OF teachers,
The regulation of their salaries, their re-
moval Tor proper cause and their transfer
from enc department or school TO another,
when III its Judgment such was. wise or
necessary. To it should be assigned the
formulation of courses Of study, and In fact
everything else pertaining to instruction III
the schools.
Our city needs a new system of govern
ment. Our schools cannot be made pop
erly efficient until some better law Is
idOpted. Their present rank Of excellence
is not due to the law by which they are gov
ernCd, but in spite OF that law. They owe
their excellence not to the Superintendent
or Board of Education, but to the ability
and zeal OF the teachers"
Referring to the death of Miss Kate Ken
nedy, in March last, who had been a teacher
in the department since 1858, the Superin-
tendent paid her this beautiful tribute:
a TRIBUTE TO MISS KENNEDY.
Possessed OF admirable qualities of head and
heart, she had unselhshly devoted all 10 The
good cause in which she had so long delighted 10
labor M 10 the advancement OF humanity III all
lis interests. Whatever she attempted 10 do
was done with earnestness aud zeal that
stamped her as one OF the noblest in her pro
fessloD. Teaching had been her lie work, and
to Tie discharge OF her duties she brought a fund
OF learning and tact that enabled her 10 crown
her woik with most abundant success.
II Is sad TO he compelled 10 record that there
were those who would not accord her the esteem
and honor Which was Justly her cue. Why, we
The only wrong TO which she was subjected.
Miss kennedy's closing years were rendered sad
by attempts of those who were strangers 10 her
character and her noble work TO rob her OF The
enYiable reputation which she had so hUnorably
won for herself among those OF her own profess
sion and among all hose who properly recognize
the beneEcent influence OF 4 noble education.
For all the'years she hau toiled faithfully for the
peoples good She lived 10 triumph over those
WHO sought 10 wrong her.
HeroicalIY she fought against the wrong and
achieved for herself aud The noble profession
which she had long and so noby honored
victory that has eDshrlned the memory OF her
noble work and worth in the hearts OF all. Hers
was the courage OF honest conviction; hers
shall be The reward of a noble nie-tle plaudii
'Wel done, good and faithful servant"
When hearts whose truth was proven
Like thine are laid in eartA,
There should a wreath be woven
10 tell the world tiny worth.
Out of the large mass of statistics that ac-
company the SuperintendentS report the
following summary is taken: Total value
OF property belonging TO the School Depart
ment, S4,7j7, 724; number of children in the
schools, II. g26; number attending private
and church schools, S14S; number of teachers
in the DEPARTMENT, $50. The average at
tendance of pupils throughout the year was