The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-03
BOARD OF EDUCATION
A General Onslaught on Superin-
tendent Anderson.
Assistant Superintendent Babcoek Holds the
Floor to Tell Director Woodward What
He Thinks Of Him.

The Board of Education held special
meeting yesterday afternoon and closed up
what has been in many respects the most re-
markable career of any like body since the
| administration of the tough old board
1t proved quite busy meeting and much
more interesting than was expected.
Among the first matters taken up was the
election of a principal for the Douglas
School. Miss Tarpey and Miss Hattie Carr
we're pl aced in nomination and the vote re-
suited in for Miss Tarpey.
long petition was received from the
patrons of the Douglas School, in Eureka
Valley, asking the board TO appoint Mrs.
NJ. E. Moore principal. The reasons given
for asking this appointment were that she
has been a teacher in the Sanchez-street
School for nearly fourteen years. had proven
herself thoroughly competent in all grades,
and had endeared herself to every pupil in
the school and the community at large.
QUIETLY sQUELCHED.
The petition, according to the usual pro-
ceedings, was referred to The Classification
Committee, but which in this case was SIM
ply a quiet way of sQuelching it.
Accompanying the petition was a commu-
nication from Mrs Moore, personally apply
ing for the situation. 1t was sent with the
petition to the Classification Committee.
Life diplomas were granted to Miss Ger
trude II. Cahaliu, Miss Amelia Godsten
and Miss Mary L. Heating. State educa-
tional diplomas were granted to Miss Belle
l.. Semlar Miss Julia A. Rainey, Miss Hat
tie j. Carr and Miss Georgana l.. L. Eden
muller.
Miss Susan McGarey OF the day school
substitute class was assigned. to vacancy
in the Whittier School.
The designations of Miss Myra A. Gibson,
assistant in the Peabody Primary School;
Mrs. A. B. Anderson. assistant in the
Hayes Valley Primary Miss r. Abrams,
assistant in the Columbia School, and Miss
Winifred White, assistant of the Broad
way Grammar School, were received and
accepted.
a leave OF absence was granted TO Miss
NJ. Z. Collins, of the Mission Grammar
School, from January 9TH to March 9TH next
AS REGARDS A FEW SALARIES.
The Committee on Salaries recommended
that the salary of the principal of The Grant
Primary School be fixed at S110 a month,
from January 1st; that of the principal of
the Edison Primary at $3.50 month, from
December l. 1890, and of the principal of
the Douglas Primary 500 month also that
Miss Tarpey, who was elected to the princi-
paishlp of That school and has been acting
as such since December LIST, draw that sal
airy from that day. The report was adopted.
Superintendent Anderson, through his
assistant, Mr.. Babcock notified the Board
by communication that under the rules of
the department he could not sign the war
rant Tor $500 to pay Tor seventeen type
writer's.
These typewriters were purchased for the
commercial school, The original order was
for twenty, and as the cost of three of them
was within the limit that the board could
authorize they were paid for
The bill for coal, of some $500, about
which there was discussion at the previous
meeting of the board, was still objected to-
and referred TO the incoming board. The
special committee to whom the matter
was referred for investigation reported that
samples had been taken from three schools
and submitted to an expert. 1t was found
as suspected, that the coal was not Yelling
Ton, Tor which the contract calls. but Coos
Bay and Gilmore, the cheapest in the mar
ket Further investigation was recon-
mended.
VISITING COMMITTEES REPORT.
Under the head of the report of the Visit
ing Committee, Director Woodward read a
lengthy document from which tie following
IS an eXtract-indeed the extract embraces
ali OF the report, except a few unmpo rtant |
Introductory lines:
] find the teachers panstaking earnest and |
con seientioas. hui in need of the encouragement
they should have from the visits aud advice of |
me Superintendent. How little interest Super |
lnlehuent Anderson has taken In our schools is
shown by an inspection OF The official reports of |
The different principals for the pah year. II
In that time he visited 30 OF the CO day schools
ana none oil the . evening schools. To these 20
schools lie went SO times, 20 OF these times
ting only the principal or one class teacher,
but making total OF visits TO principals and
classes OF III.
How long these visits were and how carefully
he Inspected The classes is shown from the time
spent In examining one school. which was being
Investigated under charges when lie visited the
OF the mouths OF January, August aud Septem
Der he visited but one school. In May when he
attended the closing exercises, he visited Z
schools, the greatest number for any one month
Some OF these SO different visits were doubt
less upon The same day, but surprising that each
was made on separate day we have remaining
the fact that only GU 80 days, al the outside, of
the 200 school days in the year, did Supefn-
tendent Anderson make even preIenSe of at
tending 10 tie principal duty OF his position.
As to The time spent In his Office during his
Office hours from TO IN the afternoon we
eau have no definite record. Those who have gone
Gay after day without seeing him can speak feel
ingly On the subject.
AT MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.
OF the tIlirIy-thTee meetings of the board he
has been present at seventeen having come to
The city Tor that purpose several occasions.
An inspection OF the record shows no failure 10
draw full pay. Comment Is uunece- sary.
In this connection il may be well TO call atten-
tion OF the board 10 one OF The statements in the
Super intendenrs last annual report. He says:
"ln the selection of teachers, the most sacred
duly imposed upon The board, and the duty
which more than any other The members OF the
board are least capable of preforming-he has no
voice. Seldom Is be called upon To express an
opinion relative 10 the character or qualifications
OF any party proposed for election as teacher,
etc"
The fact is that he has everything TO do with
the eectionsof all teachers aud that ii is In mis-
| sole power 10 prevent The election OF any incom-
| petent ones. The School Directors NAV nomin-
| ate and elect temporarily only such persons
| have the necessary certificates signed by the
superintendent, and Section 10 of the rules pro-
| yldrs that he shall at the expirationj OF six
| months probation report upon the succesSof the
probatoner, whereupon the board shall con-
hrm or anhul the appointment, according as the
report Is favorable or the reverse"
During his foCryeaIs' incumbency lie has never
| reported unfaVOrably upon single prObatOner