Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-20
Evans Laundry Co.,,
$40 Pearl street.
Telephone 300.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Discussion of the Charges Against It
the Examining Committee.

Discussion of the Charges Against
the Examining Committee.
Thirteen members of the board of educa-
tion attended the regular meeting last night.
Owing to the absence of President Goodman,
Mr. Rees occupied the chair.
The report of Superintendent James was
received and placed on file. 1t shows that
during the month of December the glrlsfrom
the training department of the normal school
taught ffty-fve days in the public schools;
that owing to sickness the regular teachers
lost thirty y-eight and one-half days.
A report from Mr.. Coryell indicated that
the new room that has been rented to receive
the overflow from the Central school is in
bad condition. owing to imperfect sewerage.
The report showed that on account of this
fact the seating of the room has been de-
layed. The citizens Of the Fourth ward had
some doubts about the sanitary condition of
the new room, and at their own expense sent
a doctor out to make an inspection. He re-
ported that the cellar is filled with decayed
vegetables ana has been used as a slaughter
house for the killing of pigs and chickens.
Mr.. Mcconnell, who was chairman of the
committee that rented the room, felt ag-
grieyed. He had Investigated and found
none of the objections referred to.
Mr.. Morrison thought that the committee
knew Wnat was DelnS done When the room
was rented for one year at $40 per month,
and was opposed to going back on the report
of the committee.
To settle the matter Mr.. Martin wanted to
refer the matter back to Messrs. Gibbs,
Points and Spaulding with instructions to
report on the sanitary condition of the prem
iScS.
Mr.. Morrison amended by adding that the
committee examine into the sanitary condi-
tion of all of the rented rooms. Upon avote
tha ,oNtip 70 "A nj
motion to refer was carried.
The pupils of the high school asked for the
use of the building on the night OF February
q in order to give an entertainment and So
cial. The request was granted under the su-
pervision of the faculty Of the high school.
The committee on teachers and examina-
ti0n reported as follows:
"Your committee to which was referred
the report of the examining committee and
the examination of papers on which said re-
port was based report that from the investi-
CATION Of the same your committee is salts
fled that in many instances papers were
marked up to point entirely unwarranted
by the answers thereto. Your committee
recommends that the examination be de-
clared void; that all certificates granted I'M
der the same be revoked; that another exami-
nation be held at the earliest possible date
and that the secretary be directed to notify
those who took the last examination OF this
| action of the board"
The report was signed by Messrs. Rees
| Gibbs and Poppleton, Mr.. Babcock being out
| OF the city at the time the report was made.
Mr.. Poppleton moved the adoption OF the
report, and in that behalf said:
"rhe marking was improper and unfair.
| There we're some persons who got certificates
who were absolutely unqualified, and when
we know that this examination was con-
| Quoted by fraud it is not Just for us to sit by
| and see this thing go on without raising our
| voices"
DR.. Gibbs said: ''This committee acted
carefully, and in making its report knew
| perfectly well what it was doing. The most
| just thing we can do is to make those persons
| take another examination, one that will be
| fair and just"
Mr. Smith said: az am not a member of
| the committee, but was present at the ex-
| animation and heard and saw enough TO con-
| vince me that something is wrongin the pres
| ent method OF conducting examinations and
marking the applicants. l want to fix a time
where and when the members of the examin-
| ing board can be heardn
| Mr.. Cobum said that a member of the board
had stated that Superin tendent James had,
on account Of partiality, Marked up some
teachers, while others were marked below
what they deserved.
Mr. Martin thought the whole matter
ought 10 be sfted TO the bottom.
Mr.. Mcconnell thought the members of the
| examining committee had a right to revise
their work and had right to raise the stand
ard of any applicants work If the facts iusti.
| fed.
DR.. Gibbs said "There are papers marked
| $50 and 100 per cent when they ought to be
marked zero and believe the board has a
| right 10 inquire into this matter.n
| Messrs. Points and Morrison were opposed
to the adoption OF the report for the reas son
that 1t would be great Inconvenience to
many Of the teachers.
DR.. Spalding did not think the board had
any right 10 examine the reports and papers
| OF the examining committee
| Mr. ReRS called MIR Smvth IN the ch "a In
and said Tho board has appointed com
mittee to make these examinations. Now do
the gentlemen say that when the answers tC
the questions do not come Up to the required
standard we shall have no yoicei The exami
nations show that in many cases the appli
cants did not answer rs per cent of the ques
tions and certificates We're granted when the
rules absolutely say that an an swer of only {;
per cent shall constitute failurcr
Mr.. Coryell was in favor of the adoption o.
the report.
Mr.. Points wanted the matter referred