Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-21
no.pnorEDUCATIoN.

BOARD OF EDUCATION. A New Scale of Marking for Use in the High school AdoPred-Trans- fers of Several Teachers-Other Business Transacted.
 The proposed doing away with the nu- merical marking scale now in vogue at the high school was the especially fruitful subject of discussion at the meeting of the board of education last evening. The question was brought up by the introduc- tion of the appended recommendations | from the principal and teachers of the | high school to the committee on special in struction of the board of education.
 Principal Isaac Thomas of the high | school was present and put forth in able terms the advantages to be derived by the l doing away of the marking system, which he claimed was hindrance to both teach CT and pupil, and the general effect of which was deleterious and & source of worry to the pupils who, at the present time unfor- they do of the studies. The nu- merical system he claimed was very de- fective and false, and really did not mean anything as to the actual ability of the pupil.
 The proposed new plan is the adoption of system of literal rating in place of the present system of numerical marking. The recommendation from the teachers is, in full, as follows:
 To the Committee:on Special Instruction and the
 Superintendent of Schools:
 Conference.-The teachers of the high school, having considered the present marking system'' after due deiberation and free discussion, reached the following conclusions, which we de- cere hope that they meet your approval and re- suit, if adopted, in the increased power and eff
 We submit the following; recommendations: |. That "lteral scale'' for recording scholar ship be substituted for the present numerical
 3. That the literal scale consist of four let ters--A, B, and D. A igaifying excellent, B
 B That % no Classified lists @ of pupils Hs b be kept
 4 That no scholar be promoted from one to Sas be f9 the passable in each and all of his studies.
 5 That the standings of pupils in department. as in scholarship, be kept in the literal scale of four letters, A, B, c and D.
 G. The recommendations for promotions to the Welch Training school and selection of com petitors from which are to be chosen speakers at graduation be made by vote of the entire The teachers of the high school further recom- mend:
 l. That the giving of demerits for misconduct g, That the department of pupils be recorded in the same manner as the scholarship, by the 3. That the principal be given authority to suspend pupils whenever, after consultation with be, suspension ems . adVisabie,p and that tse term of suspension be left to his discretion pro | mediately reported to the superintendent and by him to the committee on special instruction and shall be subject to their revision and approval. On motion of MT. Avis the board voted | to adopt the recommendation and the time set for it's becoming operative was l fixed at December 3, the commencement of the second half of the school year. It was also voted that any rules passed | heretofore inconsistent with the literal marking system shall be and are res l cinded.
 It was also voted that these rules shall l not conflict with the standard of the pres- ent graduating class.
 The following young ladies were as- signed as teachers of the George street annex from the Cedar street school: Miss Mary G. Warner, Mary O'Meara, Anna Brennan, Clara G. Rudd. In view of the vacancies caused by these assignments the following substitutes were appointed to the Cedar street school, the appointments | to date December 1: Misses Galbraith, Warner, Culver, Kennedy, Hine, Casey, | at a salary of $500 each per annum. l The resignation of Miss Meta North, as- sistant teacher in room 12, Winchester school, was accepted, to take effect Novem- Der 25.
 Miss Mary J. Barry was transferred from room 12 Eaton school, to 12, Winchester, at the same salary, $400.
 The following adjustment of salaries for the teachers of Washington street school | promoted at the last meeting were recom- mended and adopted: Miss Minor from $675 to $700, Miss Mailer from $620 to $650, Miss McCaffrey from $500 to $620, Miss Clune from S5S0 to $500, Miss Wilkin- son $450.
 It was voted to grant diplomas to Misses Jones and Ruth, who were left over from last years class of the training school and who were granted an extension of time to complete their course. The members of the committee on special instruction express themselves as opposed to the policy of allowing supplementary course to be added to the regular training course.
 The committee on special instruction further recommended the printing of the guide and schedule for the training school pupils, and the board so voted.
 The resignation of MT. Philip Dowell teacher in the Scandinavian evening school was accepted, and MT. John P. Munson was appointed to the vacancy at salary l ol YS pcI OfculuS.
 An application from Mrs. Elizabeth Con. ner, of the Buffalo Training School of Flo cution, for permission to use the high school hall for lecture on elocution to the teachers, was referred to the superintend ent.
 The building committee reported that two houses and lots adjoining the erigina Fair street school had been secured at g cost of $10,000. The size of the lot ii 1251x123 feet. The board voted to con
 firm the action of the committee. The committee on buildings was author ized to have plans prepared for the new addition to the Winchester school and re port at future meeting of the board.
 The committee having in charge the proper distribution of the library fund recommended that $500 be awarded to the high school and S75 to each of the gram mar schools of the city.
 At exactly Il o'clock Eli Whitney, jr.
 was elected 8 member of the committee or schools, after which ballot to fill the
 vacancy on the committee on finance re suited in no choice, and the election wa. postponed until the next meeting, after
 which the board adjourned.