Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-29

The action of the chairmen Of three
public schools in closing these institu-
tions on Good Friday formed the topic
for lively discussion al the fortnirhtiy
meeting Of the Board Of Education Mon
day might and the session was one of the
most interesting ever held in the rooms
of the board. 1t developed into an ex-
perience meeting before the matter was
ended, but with one exception the mcnl-
bers kept their tcmpers ard handled the
subject intelligcntly and in u compre-
hensive manner The exception was
Thomas f. O'Donncll Of the Tenth
ward, who lost his head completely and
INDUCED in personalities which were as
ungentlemanly as they were uncalled |
for and obnoxious to most people.
Public schools Nos, 3, 10 and 10 were |
closed on Good Friday without the sane |
ton of the Board of Education, and |
the result is any number of complaints |
have since been made TO the board by |
parents and school children desiring 20 |
know why three schools should be closed |
and the rest allowed to remain open.
The members began to think about the
matter and the more they pondered over
the subject the more convinced they
were that the closing Of portion of the
schools on Good Friday was q mistake.
Consequently when they attended the
meeting Of the board last evening they
were prepared to have an Investigation
to know whether the rules of the board
had been violated.
Henry 4. Alexander started the ball
rolling. lie held in his hand copy of
EVERY EVENING which stated as
matter of news that the above desig-
mated schools were closed on Good Fri
day. The member from the Second
ward said that in the newspaper article
Mr.. O'DoEnell was quoted as saying
that No. Is school was closed with his
consent. AS matter of fact Mr.. Alex
ander desired it understood that the
school was closed without his knowl-
edge or consent and the first tidings re.
lating to the closing of the schools he
received through EVERY EVENING.
He desired to call the attention of Mr..
O'Donnell and others to section 10 of
the rules for the government of the
public schools, in the city of Whining
ton, which reads as follows:
The schools shall not be closed unless by
authority of the board, or in special cases,
by the visiting committee.
The public schools of this city shall not
be closed on any purely religious feast or
festival day other than those mentioned in
section AZ of the bylaws. namely: Thanks
giving Day; from Christmas to New Years
Day inclusive; on Washington's birthday
during the week commencing on the first
Monday in May; and on Memorial Day.
This brought Mr. O'DonnelI to his
feet, and in violent outburst of excite.
ment he denounced the author of the
report as untruthful, and dreaded such
men as much as he did sneak thieves. In
attenuation of his action in closing No.
10 school, he said that as chairman of
the visiting committee he believed Good
Friday to be Especial OCCASION" and
so closed the school on his cwn au-
thority. He said: at is burning
shame we don't teach our boys and girls
to observe Good Friday. assert had
been closing the school for years. No
one can get check cashed on that day.
Mr.. Alexander-"The bylaws are
very PLAIN, for any fair-minded man
can understand them They shall MOI
be closed for any purely religious feas
or festival day, other than those named
or in case of sickness, defect in heating
apparatus or other good cause. TIL,
action in closing the school was Ger
tainly an infraction of the bylaws"
Mr.. O'Donnell-"I don't think it is il
the province of the board to say whethe
the schools shall be closed on Good Fri
day. / have known the board to clos
the schools in order to attend circus.
Mr.. Megarrity-"I am chairman o
No. 3, which was one of the school
closed. did not order it closed becaus
1t was Good Friday. l went down t.
the school Thursday and because it wa
the first time the principal did not com
plain about the conduct Of the pupils
told her she might close the school,"
Several OF the members thought
was unfortunate that it just happened
on that day.
Charles w. Grant, was comparatiyel,
new member of the board. He
chairman of No. 10 school, one OF thos
which was closed. "If there is an
wrong done did it with my eyes open
1t was always customary to close tn
schools where lived in Pennsylvania
But if it is against the rules l certainl
won't do il again"
Mr.. Clerk was not favorably in
pressed with the course adopted by NJ
O'Donnell nor the position he had talel
No member has right to override til
rules OF the board. If he had don
wrong he would have apologized.
we don't follow the rules of the boar
we might as well disband.
Mr.. Baldwin, can't for the life
rue see how Nj. O'Donnell can constrt
section 10 so as TO give him authority
close the school,"
Mr. O'Donnell-"I see what's Gro
ping out now. We have it in westei
5tates-l am as good an American
any member in the board. 1 was n
transferred from another State. clai
did not do wrong"
Mr.. Clerk believes that the remarks
regard to transferring from auoth
State referred to him, and in regard
the insinuation that he was a Carpt
Dagger replied; did not know til
Americanism was confined to any pf
ticular State. | thought it extended
over the Union. l did not know
made any difference whether was DO
in Delaware or not Nor do l think
man should violate the rules and do
he pleases just because he was born
Delaware.
Mr.. Belts thought this subject
serious matter and should be fully
yestigated. If the board made ru
they should be carried out.
Mr.. MCCARTHY said what he done "
in good faith.
Mr.. Baynard-"I think Mr. Ode
nell has violated his oath. If meml
comes up here and takes an oath to abb
by the rules of tine board and then d
obeys them it is an infringement of {
rules and a violation OF the oath
takes. Such man is hardly proper
mako rttlae fpr the hpar,t Inc cnog ii