The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-02-07
THE SCHOOL
BOARD MEETS
PrecautiOn Taken Against the Spread
of Disease.
BOOKS TO BE DESTROYED,
The Superintendent VIII Have. Jurisdic
ton in Such Cases Schools to Close
on WashinglOn'S Birthday.

A regular monthly meeting Of the
School Board was held last evening in
the directors room of the school building
on South West street, and was attended
by Messrs Hanna, Stanton, Lynch,
Baugh, Trezise, Hooks, Morgan, Burke,
Manley, Lee, Dewitt, Solicitor Coyle and
Superintendent Whitaker. In the absence
of Mr., Conry, the president, Mr.. Lynch
was made temporary chairman.
The session was a brief one 8pd but
little routine business, outside of'hearing
the reading ofthe superintendent's report
and bills, was transacted. Nevertheless
two very important questions were
settled. One is that school books that
have been in houses where contagious
disease existed must be destroyed. The
other, that the board will not allow tht
public schools to be opened on Washing
toms Birthday. :
The book question was brought up by
the superintendent who asked whether
books used by children of families in
which typhoid fever had existed should
be continued in use in the schools, or
whether he should have them destroyed.
Mr.. Whitaker said that one of the main
points made against the passage of the
free text book law was that the promis-
cuous distribution and exchange of
books would tend to spread disease, as
the germs would easily be carried from
one place to another.
| Mr.. Lee, after stating that scientists
had decided that contagious diseases
could be transmitted by books, moved
that all books used by children of fami-
lies where such diseases exist be destroyed,
and that the superintendent have power
at all times to act in such cases. The
motion was carried.
The superintendent then asked what
the board proposed doing in regard to the
observance of Washington's Birthday.
He recalled the custom of closing the
public schools of this town on that day,
but cited a circular issued by the State
Superin of Public Instruction, in
which it is stated that the day is not a
legal holiday and recommending that the
schools be kept open a part of the day, to
be devoted to special exercises of pa
triotic nature.
1
Mr., Manley, the board decided that the
schools be closed on Wsshington's Birth
day.
The contract and bond of NJ P. Fowler
for the construction of the new school
building, at the corner of Jardin and
Cherry streets. were accepted.
Superinteud Whitaker made Mi
monthly report, stating that the attend
an1e at the day schools has been re
markably good considering the hare
times and severe weather. There ha
been decided improvement in the even
ing school attendance. During the pres
ent and previous month the attend
ance has been the largest ii the history o
the system. The employment of tw
additional teachers and the lengtheninj
of the time to 2H hours ha
resulted in the accomplishment of mucl
good work. The following statistic
of day school attendance were furnished
} Term enrollment-boys, 1907 girls, 1475
, totpl, $780, Monthly enrolment boys
1176; girls, 1887; total, 25lS. Averag
#, daily attendance-boys, 1905; girls, 1924
& total, 2l30. Percentage-boys, ol; girls
: SO total, 80. Pupils present every session
1 749. Visits by citizens, 1sl; by directors
3 les. The following night school statistic
were also presented Term enrollmen
500. Monthly enrolment, 1856, Averag
!. attendance, $50. Percentage, 81. Visit
by citizens, 80; by directors, o. Pupil
present every night 81.