The morning call., 1894-04-12
KEEP THE BOOK.
Meyers History Retained
in the Schools.
Superintendent Swett's Report and
the Recommendations Which He
Makes to the Board.

The Board of Education. at meeting
last night, voted to send communication
to the Board of Supervisors relating to an
addition 10 the Commercial High School
for manual training purposes. Director
Hyde fa,hered the communication. 1t re-
cites that the Board of Supervisors
adopted an order about year ago author
izing the construction of an addition, but
that the Mayor vetoed the order. 1t was
represented at the time that 1t was mad
visable to construct an expensive brick
addition to wooden structure in loca-
ton which could not be permanent
The failure of this plan resulted in the
temporary abandonment of the third
years course IN necessitated the refusal
of admission to 200 pupils.
The history of the Commercial High
School is recited and comparisons with
Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and New
York introduced. Manual training and
technology were ecognized in three cities.
In spite of new educational needs the pub
lie schools OF this city had made little
progress in this direction. II is estimated
that by the construction of q wooden addi-
tion instead of brick one the building
could be- erected and equipped for less
than $4,000, instead of $4,000 as origin
ally contemplated. The Board of Super
visoxs was requested to make a provision
Tor the construction OF such addition.
The report of Superintendent SWEET
showed that the average attendance for
the school month ending February 8 was
50, $40, and for the month ending March 9
81, PA. From the fact that the new eondi-
tons of admission to the State University
for other than the classical course require
applicants to pass an eXamiD alton in at
least one modern language. the Superin-
tendent advised that French be added to the
curriculum of the Boys High School ami
German to that Of the Girls High School,
German now being taught in the Boys
High School and French in the Girls High
School. The addition of freehand and in
strumental drawing 10 the course Of study
in the Boys High School was recon-
mended.
The substitution of modern seats for the
Palmer seats in the higher grammar grades
was recommended. together with an APP
preparation of $1,000 for that purpose.
With the redemption of the bonds on
Lincoln-school lot in July there will re-
main in the hands of the treasurer sur
plus of $4,000, available for the purchase
of school lots or the erection of school
buildings. The Superintendent recon-
meuded that the attention of the Board OF
Supervisors should be called to this fact,
with a statement OF the pressing needs of
the School Department, and recommend
dation as TO The location and size of school
buildings needed.
The question OF the retention of Meyers
history as textbook was brought up by
a report from the committee of the whole,
as follows
The committee OF the whole has fully consid-
erec the matter OF the alleged sectarlan char
acter OF Meyers Medieval and Modern History,
fft1lx mo nt,rf rfxt.
The following resolution:
WHEREAS. 1t has been represented to this
board III at Meyers Medieval and Modern His
tory, q textbook in use III tile high schools of
this city, is sectarian in character and should,
on that account be discontinued and replaced
by some other work:
Res0tved. That, IN the opinion OF this board
the use OF said textbook should not be discon-
linued. but in order that neither the conscience
nor the feelings OF any pupil in ouI schools may
be offended. il is hereby ordered that teachers
using said history he directed TO omit any pas
sages which appear in any way TO favor or 10
reflect on the particular doctrines or lenets of
any religious sect.
Director Clinton offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That Mever's history now In use
in the public schools, is sectarian within The
meaning OF the law and is therefore, dropped
from the course OF study.
The substitute was defeated and the re-
port of the COMMITTEES of the whole was
Ayes-Amcs, burke. Murdoch, Culver,
Dutton, Rosewald. Hyde.
Noes-Carew. Clinton, Dunn, DOwlipg.
Unassigned teachers acting as day sub
stitutes were assigned TO positions as as
sistant teachers as follows: Miss Z. L.
Roberts, Spring Valley Grammar; Miss +.
Fredericks. Agassz Primary; Miss NJ. Il.
Gleason, North Cosmopolitan Grammar.
Miss S. c. Farwell, Hawthorne Primary:
Miss Alice Malline. Croker Grammar;
Miss Eliza ID. Keith, Irving Primary;
Miss NJ. l.. Lynch, Hawthorne Primary.
1t was voted that unassigned teachers now
month from the 1sr prox. until July /, pro-
yided tnat this should not interfere with
the May schedule.
Leaves of absence were granted Miss
Sophia A. Hobe, Mrs. r. Ii. Hazle,op,
Mrs. A. Kartick, Miss Nellie Gleason and
Miss p. Nj. Stowel;.
A resolution was introduced by Director
Rosewald amending an original resolution
with relation to patriotic exercises in the
public schools.
The resolution directs that the afternoon
of the last Fridays of each month shall be
set aside for the purpose of holding patri-
0tic exercises in the public schools, which
shall consist OF singing OF patriotic songs
and instruction by the teachers in the
principles of the government and duties
and dignites of American citizenship
The resolution was adopted.
The office of general jobber for the
School Department was abolished.
A deputation appeared TO request that
the school children be given a holiday
next Tuesday. the occasion OF the beginning
of the Mardi Gras festivities. The board
declined 10 give the schools holiday.