St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-03
INSPECTORS FLY SHY.
Action Again Postponed on
the Ventilation Of Public
Schools.
This Time Inspector Rodgers
Absence the Cause for
Nothing Being Done.


Absence the Cause for
Nothing Being Done.
A Committee Divided Upon
the Vexed Question Of
Languages,
And the Conflicting Reports
Will Form a Basis for a
Future Debate.
Contrary to expectations, the report
upon the ventilation of the public
schools was not discussed at the meet
ing of the board of education last even
ing The reason for this was that In
spector Rodger was unable to be pres
ent, and desired that the discussion of
the report be deferred, as he wished to
make certain suggestions respecting
this question. 1t was, therefore, de-
cided to postpone action upon the re-
port until the next regular meeting.
The question of short delivery of
coal by Shade & Acker, brought up at
the previous meeting, was commented
upon by report of a special committee,
who eXonerated the firm of coal deal
ers, but left the board in the dark as to
where the short coal went to-.
The report of the committee was
that they very carefully considered the
matter, and are convinced that the load
of coal was full weight when it left the
yard of Shade & Acker, and it was
short when weighed by Inspector
Foley, but they are unable to find sat
iSfactory reason for the shortage. They
recommend at the suggestion of Shade
& Acl1er for the better protection of the
board that for the next three months a
competent man be appointed by the
board to superintend the coal supply,
and report daily to the chairman of the
committee on fuel and janitors. The
report was adopted.
A communication was read from the
st. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly,
protesting against the closing OF the
night schools, which was referred to
the committee on schools. A petition
from residents in Manchester Park was
also referred to the same committee,
who will report upon the protest against
the reduction of teachers in the Ram
sey school.
A. j. Thompson, of the Thomson
Houston Electric Light company, re-
ported that the electric plant was in
working order.
Inspector Wright stated that Supt.
Gilbert had been called suddenly East,
and desired ten days leave of absence,
which was granted.
Henry A. Merrill made an offer of $3.50
for vacant one-story frame building Ill
the rear of the Webster school, which
was referred to the real estate commit
tee.
Unjust Criticism.
The monthly report of the superin-
tendent was submitted for the month of
January. The total number of pupils
admitted up to Jan. %, the date of clos
ing the report, was 16,347, an increase
over the present month of S41, and over
January of last year Of 1,544. The SUI
perlntendent, in accordance with in
structions given at the last meeting of
the board, has. closed certain rooms in
the schools and placed the teachers Oh
the substitute list. The superintend-
ent reported that, as deal of criticism
has been made upon the attendance of
teachers, he made inquiries, and found
the percentage for last month very low.
the aggregate absence of teachers was
153 half days i'll an aggregate attend
ance of teachers of 1880 half days,
Of I
cent of attendance.
The committee on real estate reported
that the additions to the Monroe, Web
ster and Sibley schools had been fin
ished by the contractors, and recon-
mended their adoption.
The committee on schools reported
that the night school in the Sixth ward
had been opened in the Garfield instead
of Humboldt school as ordered by the
board, as the committee deemed the
Garfield school more convenient. The
committee also recommended that for
the better government OF the schools
that the rule relating to visiting of
schools by teachers be amended to read
as follows:
The superintendent of schools is author
lied, once in each semest9r to select for each
public school visiting day, Out for no two
which day such school will be closed, and
the principal and teachers shall be required
to spend the hours of the regular school SEES
SlonS in visiting and 1nStructlng other
schools, end shall within one week there
after send to the superintendent detailed
report of the visits made, including the time
spent in each school, and the work observed
in each. Each teacher so visiting shall re-
cord herself in each school visited i'll book
to be kept for that purpose, and q report of
rho visits rnQniUad shall no jnRludnd in the
monthly report of the principal.
More Economy.
The adoption of this rule by the board
will save the expense of employing sub
Stitute teachers on visiting days, as for
merly, saving $1,000 per year. The COM
mittee further recommended that eX-
ception be made in the following sub
urban schools to the rule adopted at the
last regular meeting of the board in re-
gard to the consolidation of highest
classes in schools where such classes
number less than sixteen, OH account of
the great distance of other schools from
these suburban schools, and the neces-
sary withdrawal of a large number of
pupils il such highest classes are not ac-
commOdated as at present:
Ramsey school, to have all grades with 2
teachers; Murray school, all grades, 2 teach
ers; Baker school, all grades. teachers;
Taylor school, all grades, 2 teachers: Quincy
school, all grades teachers; Mattocks school,
all grades, 1 teacher: LongfeIlow school, ali
grades, seven teachers; Hancock school, all
grades, teachers; Mcclellan school, all
grades, . teachers. The last three schools
also to have principal teachers.
The committee further reported that
on the question of discontinuing in
struction in the foreign languages in the
grammar schools, they believe the
change to be undesirable at present,
and recommended the resolution be in
definitely postponed. The report was
signed by Hermann Scheffer, P. &. Gle
sen and e. L. Kuhles.
A report of the minority of the COM
mittee, signed by B. F. Wright and f.
Keogh, submitted a resolution that, in
the opinion of many citizens. the teach
ing of foreign languages in The grammar
schools is luxury for-which they have
to pay, and recommended that the ques-
ton be submitted to vote of the peo-
nile and that the committee on IaricIa