Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-12
GOOD FRIDAY MEN SCORED
|Depouncedfor Pleading lgno-
rance of the Law.
FTHE CLOSING OF THE SCHOOLS
On Good Friday Was Entirely
UnWarranted.


The propriety of closing certain pub.
1 lie schools of the city of Wilmington on
Good Friday again occupied the atten-
ton of the Board Of Public Education
last Monday, and the committee to
whom was referred the matter for in
vestigation reported that they had inter
viewed the chairman of the several
schools and received their answers. The
schools involved in the investigation
included Nos. 3, 10 and 10, and their
chairman were Patrick Magarity, Chas.
w. Grant and Thomas f. O'Donnell,
respectively.
The committee, after inquiry into the
reason for the closing of the schools,
reported that the chairmen of the above
schools "entered plea of guilty." and,
in conclusion, the committee submitted
the following supplementary report;
Your committee further reports that
while there is apparently some excuse for
4 the closing of No 10 school, in view of the
fact that the chairman WINS new member
of the board and not familiar with the
rules, still ignorance is not an excuse in
the eyes of the law which holds him re-
sponsible for the offence, it being his duty
4 TO make inquiry into the rules of the
j board to which he has been elected. The
excuse of the committees on Nos. and 10
4 schools are, in the opinion. Of your COM
mittee very lame. 1t should not be ex-
pected that any true member Of this Board
4 Of Education who has been connected
4 with it as many years as they have been
Il and who helped to make the rules and by
laws for the government of the same,
II should come here and plead ignorance of
4 such rules, or that they did not understand
them.
The members of the investigating
committee comprised Samuel f. Belts,
i Chairman; David IL. Coyle, j. r. Hart.
man, j. Frank Baldwin and fl. Il.
8 Alexander. The report was adopted
and the committee excused from fur
s. ther duty.
u The class of '92 and '93 were granted
II permission to present certain prizes Tor
excellent scholarship in such branches
4 as they may desire.
Il The board went into an election to
n fill the vacancy caused by the resigna-
81 tion of DIR. J. Paul Lukens, member
+ from the Fifth ward. DR.. J. W. Crum-
baugh was elected to fill the bill by a
unanimous vote.
Mr.. O'Donnell called the attention OF
the hoard to the crowded condition OF
3. No. 10 school. The matter was left in
n the hands of the board.
81 Joseph Pyle desired the statement
made for the benefit of the public that
only the chairmen of the public schools
IA had the right to contract bills for the
board and only bills authorized by them
s will be accepted and approved.
81 The committee on accounts reported
having examined the pay roll of teachers
81 and ianiturs and found the amounts op
q posite the names of the same, correct
On motion of Joseph Pyle the prope
officers of the board were authorized t.
draw on City Council for the regular
monthly appropriation. An order il
favor Of the free library was draw
81 amounting to $S33.34.
Joseph Pyle called the attention o
the board to the fact that the treasury
q was in such condition that there onll
II remained surplus of $4,000 TO
monthly expenditure. The member
promised to bear in mind the presen
condition of finances.
On motion OF Samuel Ii. Baynard tn
AL ianitor OF the new Washington schoo
was authorized to act as special Office
and instructions were given to procur
for him badge.
Mr.. O'Donnell reported having ex
pended the sum of $32.51 at No. /
public school. The account was aE
proved.
The treasurer submitted tho follow
ing report for the month OF March: