The Portland daily press., 1895-10-29
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
miscellaneous Business Transacted-Mr.
Napoleon Bonaparte Chase Makes Com
plaint-Music Books-Recesses, etc.

m1ttee was nelu yesterday oipoAAio
Messrs Bradley, Brownson, Allan, Nc
Gowan, Talbot, Hall, Vose and Superln-
tendent Lord were present.
Mr.. Napoleon Bonaparte Chase, OF
Long Island, appeared before the board
to complain of the teacher in the west
End school of Long Island. He said the
teacher was nice little girl, but did not
preserve order. He had taken his boy out
of school, and others had done the same.
There were children sixteen years OF age
who could not read or write because Oh
the situation.
| Mr.. Hall-How long has this teacher
been there?
Mr.. Napoleon Bonaparte Chase-Two
years.
Mr.. Hall-Then 1t cannot wholly be
| this teachers fault that some children
sixteen years of age do not read and
| write.
Mr. N. B. Chase-No. 1 don't think,
gentlemen, that you pay the attention to
the schools that you ought to. We have a
hard set of scholars. We need a good
rugged woman or man to teach that
school,
Mr.. Lord-You were not pleased with
Mr.. Young were you?
Mr. Chase replied that he was not,
neither had he been pleased with the
predecessor of this teacher.
Mr.. Chase said that the present teacher
was as nice girl as ever lived. but had
been brought up among the scholars and
they did not fear her.
Mr.. Hall said that with one exception
no other complaint had been made
against this teacher The school had
also presented a good appearance when he
had visited it.
| Mr.. Chase requested that he be allowed
to transfer his pupils to the school on the
eastern end of the island.
| The matter was discussed at some
length. Some of the parents on the
island do not try to help the teacher at
ali. There is much truancy at the island,
and it was suggested that the assistant
truant officer be clothed with such power
that he could arrest for truancy. He
might assist at Long Island.
It was voted to refer the request Of Mr.
Chase to Messrs Hall and Lord.
A letter was presented from Principal
Chase calling attention to the injury
done the books by carrying them in
straps, instead of bags. On the streets
the pupils often swing the books about
by the straps and damage them. The
board were of the opinion that the straps
ought to be abolished as they have been
in some other cities The matter was
left to Mr.. Allan for consideration and
consultation with the principals of the
schools.
The cases of diphtheria in the Butler
school, two in number, were considered
1t seemed to be the opinion that the
school should be closed if there was any
sign of a spread of the disease.
The West school, which began last
Tuesday, is running along with very near
a full complement.
Electric lights were proposed for
Vaughn street school, but no action was
| taken.
Miss May Milliken was elected tempo
rary teacher in the evening school at a
salary of 81. 80 an evening.
The adoption Of the Ceoilian music book
was brought up and discussed at length.
The cost would be $500 or $500. The
books are supplementary to the present
| normal system. Mr.. Hall favored the
purchase of the Cecilian books; but the
account is already $3.50 overdrawn, and
| it was felt that the books could not be
we'll afforded at present. The school
funds are expended in a curious way. No
| money is set apart for the school COM
m ittee to expend, and by far the larger
part of the school money is expended by
the city government OF about $22, 900
appropriated annually the committee of
public buildings expends about $4,000
without regard to the school committee.
The sentiment Of the committee was
that this method was faulty.
The proposition to buy the Cecilian
books was defeated to 3, Messrs Hall,
Vose and MCGOWAN voting yes, and
Messrs. Brownson, Talbot, Allan and
! Bradley voting nay.
| But in the Smaller and Centre street
I ~NO-~~
were needed, it was voted, to 8. to put
in the Cecilian books the Mayor voting
yea to break the tie made by the
departure of Mr.. Bradley
Hobbs Arithmetic was adopted for the
| High school,
The matter of afternoon recesses was
brought up 1t was voted that the after
noon recess be discontinued and that in
summer the schools close at 4.25 p. m.
and in winter at p. m.
| Mr. Brownson brought up the questi on
of school gymnastics. Since DR.. Whittier
introduced the system about four years
ago the same orders have been followed.
| AS a result the work has become some-
what monotonous, and Mr.. Brownson
/ suggested change. Miss Ann M. ellison,
"a very promising graduate of the boston
Normal school of gymnastics, was in the
city. She had mastered the latest
methods, and it would bs advantageous
| to procure her services.