St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-05
~ lat-,ga n69I
UTIVE MEETINGS FOR As 70
- ngo, ". TJarE, baI3
iIik - ~ I.l.- ndJL
s-.t- Il An C.
And Put It's Conclusions On Paner,
10 for the Benefit of the People sD
,"s ~ and Their Servants. Vii<

future sessions will be held behind
closed doors. The public will, there
fore, be deprived of the privilege of
attending these interesting meetings,
and the newspapers will be no long
er in position to tell of the spicy
queries and comments of Col. .Clough,
the practical suggestions of Chair
man Parker, the Skeptical inquiries
of Mr.. Lewis, the good-natured but
pertinent observations of Gen. San
born, the. pleasant demeanor of
Judge Lusk, the unobtrusive scru-
tiny of Aid. Markham and the So
icitude of Capt. Castle for City
Comptroller McCardy.
The committee continued it's in
quiry into the school system. AT the
opening Of the session yesterday aft
ernoon Supt. Gilbert was questioned
concerning the teachers training
school. ~
Supt. Gilbert said that at the pres
ent time 1913 graduates of the teach
ers' training school were employed
as teachers in the public schools.
This number represents about one
half of the total number of gradu-
ates of the teachers training school,
The graduates of this school were
given the preference if competent
On the same principle resident ap-
plicants for positions as teachers re-
ceive the preference, if capable of do
ing the work required. No teachers
are appointed unless qualified.
The superintendent said that pu-
pills of the teachers training school
were frequently detailed to teach as
substitutes for regular teachers
who are. absent. The substitutes re-
ceive no compensation, however, and
in this way saving of nearly 81 800
year was effected.
Supt. Gilbert explained to the COM
mittee that the principals of the
grade schools were in the habit of
teaching more or less. Col. Clough
asked if this resulted in saving of
the number of teachers. President
Abbott, Of the school board, said
that there was no saving in the NUM-
ber of teachers, but the regular
teacher had less work to do. This
caused Col. Clough to remark that
the rooms were not physically
crowded, but that the teachers We're
crowded.
The committee turned it's attention
to the supervisors or special teach
ers, who supervise the work Of the
teachers. The supervisors were con-
sidered separately. 1t was shown
that the supervisor. of penmanship
received $1,000 a year for instruct
ing teachers how to teach penman-
ship. Mr.. Lewis remarked that un-
der the system in vogue some years
ago teachers were able to teach PEN
manship without the aid of SUI
pervisor, and the results were just
as satisfactory
Supt. Gilbert was questioned concern.
ing the examination of applicants de-
string to become teachers. Graduates
of the local training school are not
examined. All others are. Supt. Gil
bert explained the manner of conduct
ing the examination and declared that
inasmuch as the names of the appli-
cants were indicated by numbers, no
favoritism was or could be shown to
any applicant. AS to the
SYSTEM OF PROMOTION
in vogue in the public schools, Supt.
Gilbert said it was customary to pro-
mote teachers employed In the st. Paul
schools in preference to giving outsid-
ers positions in the higher grades.
Col. Clough next inquired as to the
basis of compensation of the teachers.
1t appeared that there was no definite
basis other than that of comparison
with other cities of the same class. Re-
ferring to the supply and demand of
teachers, School Inspector Scholle said
that the board experienced difficulty in
securing qualified teachers. The de-
mand exceeded the supply. Supt. Gill
bert said that the average applicant
was deficient in literary attainments.
Many of them had received their only
education in country schools.
The matter of text books was in.
quired into. DR.. Abbott said that the
board appointed a committee to estab-
Hsh text books for the schools. Free
text books were then discussed. In
spector Scholle said that free text
books would cost $4,000 for the first
year, and that it would cost $1,000 a
year to maintain them during sue
ceeding years. The life of a text book
was only five years.
The matter of fuel supplies was then
taken up. AS in the cases of all the
other municipal departments, save the
city hospital and workhouse, the coal
is not weighed at the schools, nor in
the presence Of any representative bf
the city. 1t was the opinion of Col,
Clough, Capt. Castle and Mr.. Lewis
that the city was defrauded by false
weights.
Supt. Gilbert then submitted the plan
of reduction in expenses, which was
asked for on the previous day. Refer
ring first to the closing of the Tildsn,
Mattocks, Logan and Quincy schools,
Supt. Gilbert said this would save only
1885 year. Supt. Gilbert thought
that the Tilden school might be closed
in perfect fairness, as there was no
obligation to continue it. But there
was a question as to the justice of
closing the other three. Supt. Gilbert
thought that the mechanic arts
school might be closed or such a redis-
trlDutlOn OIL puplS at the nlSn ScnOOlS
arranged as would save about $4,000
or $4,000 a. year, by accommodating
many Of these pupils at the mechanic
arts school and thus dispensing with
high school teachers elsewhere.
A third suggestion of Supt. Gilbert
was a change in the method Of super
vision, by reduction in the number
of principals. One principal might SUI
pervise a number of schools. This
would save $1,000 or $4,000 year. Supt.
Gilbert said he did not believe that
salaries should be again reduced. II
they were, it would be impossible to
seeugs competent teachers. AS for the
number of teachers, Supt. Gilbert
thought that one teacher to forty pu-
pills was the proper proportion.
In answer to Mr.. Parker's question,
what would he do if the school fund
became completely exhausted a consid-
erable time before the expiration or
the school year, Supt. Gilbert said
that - such an event he would first
dispers& with SOME of fha teachers