The Portland daily press., 1895-05-28

about to discard. The Practice school
would be flooded with pupils
Mr.. Brownson said that in all the
letters read, it had been evident that the
Springfield system had done just what it
was hoped to do in Portland, viz, to
secure sufficient teachers. At present the
Training school was suffering from a
lack of pupils. Nine came in at the first
of the year; but four had to drop out.
Mr.. MCGOWAN said that examinations
might then be held twice year.
Mr.. Talbot said that the examination
seemed to be desirable as affording test
of character. The young women who had
not the courage to face an examination
would seem to lack the character to make
a good teacher
Mr.. Allan asid that it had been found
very difficult to get good material to
enter the Practice school The city was
suffering from dearth of teachers, and
this amendment seemed likely to improve
the situation.
DR.. Vose was of the same opinion. He
said that it was very difficult to get good
teachers to supply the places of those who
were going out He favored trying the
plan for year, to see how it would re-
suit
Mr.. Hall said he believed that course
of four years at the Portland High scohoi,
during which rank of S5 had been OBJ
tained, was better Indication Of fitness
than any examination could be. He
should therefore vote for the amendment.
The vote was then taken, resulting as
follows:
Yeas-Hail, Brownson, Vose, Allan-4
Nays-McGowan, Talbot Bradley, Bax-
ter
So the amendment failed.
HEALTH OF SCHOLARS.
DR.. George II. Cummings of the Board
of Health, appeared in favor of some
regulation by the school board which
should enable the more prompt dealing
with suspected cases on contagious
diseases. 1t is proposed that whenever
scholar is found with suspicious
symptoms the teacher shall not send the
pupil at home at once, but call the city
physician, so that the case may be de-
tected and stamped If the child is sent
home the case may be lost sight of and
become source of further contagion. He
therefore recommended the passage of a
definite rule.
On suggestion of Superintendent Lord
a rule was presen ted that whenever a
teacher suspects a case of contagious
disease rash, sore throat or Group, the
pupil shall be sent home and the city
physician notified. Then the pupil is to
be readmitted to school only on certifl-
cate of the city physician and attending
physician.
This rule will lie over until the next
meeting.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Mr.. MCGOWAN brought up the subject
of school libraries. Most of the schools
were now getting libraries; but there was
little discrimination in the selection of
books, and many of a wishy -washy
nature Were to be found in these
libraries AS the libraries were becoming
an adjunct to school training, he thought
they should be under supervision. There
fore, he would propose the following rule,
which would lie over until the next meet
ing.
Libraries for the use of teachers and
pupils may be established in any of the
public schools, provided that said libraries
be maintained by the teachers, pupils or
other persons, without expense to the
city.
All school library books should be care
fully selected and of nature calculated
to edify and instruct pupils
No books of a sectarian character or
other publications which are apt to en-
gender religious prejudice or mi sunder-
standings among pupils, will be per-
mitted in public school libraries.
School principals shall submit list of
all books in their respective libraries to
the school board on the fourth Mondays
of January and September in each year
and no book will be returned in school
libraries which is not approved of by the
school board.
OTHER MATTERS.
1t was voted that all pupils who drop
out during the summer term, shall be
subject to examination for promotion in
the fall
1t was voted that there be no session of
the schools on Friday after Memorial day.
There will of course be no school on
Memorial day, which is holiday
Bills and pay roll amounting to $11, :
$50 "a were approved
THE GRIDlRON.