Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26
TEE BOARD OF EDUCATION
An Interesting Session of That
Body Monday Night.
COLLECTING MONEY FOR PIANOS
The Nuisance to be DIscon-
tinued Soon.



oughly discussed at the meeting Of the
members finally decided that at the
cember 14th. final move will be made
which will put a stop to the nuisance.
During the three weeks previous to De-
cember l4th the pupils now collecting
money will have accomplished their
embark in the undertaking. Mr. Nor
row brought the matter up last night by
asking for the authority which per-
mitted the children to go begging, and
with the same breath he made motion
that the board enter remonstrance
against school committees and teachers
who had sanctioned the action of the
pupils. Mr.. Baynard seconded the
motion. and in making his personal pro-
test said that merchant had told him
that IL the board did not have the beg
ging stopped he would be compelled to
close his store until after the pianos
had been obtained. Mr.. Morrow said
be thought it was too late to stop the
schools which had embarked into the
scheme, but the board should prevent
others from taking it up. Mr. Ross
moved as substitute for the original
motion that the matter be referred to
the committee on teachers, with in
structions to ascertain just what was
being done and report at the next
meeting. DR.. Shortlidge made few
remarks, referring to the informal talk
which followed the last meeting of the
board, when nearly all of the members
thought it would 10 no harm to allow
the man who asked permission to
operate among the schools to try his
plan in one or two of them, and 1t was
the general opinion hat it should be
left with the several visiting com
mittees. He stated. however, that he
had been opposed to any such scheme
from the start, believing 1t would make
beggars out of the pupils. Mr.. Belts
thought the board need take no action.
The parents could stop their children
from soliciting money II they desired to
do SO. Senator Pyle, referring to the
informal talk after the last meeting, said
that at the time he was opposed to the
scheme, but as a majority of those
present appeared to favor 1t, he had
given consent to have it tried at No. 1
School, provided the teachers were
willing. He said the boys at that
school now were allowed to collect the
money and were nearly through, but
he had decidedto stop it after the boys
had finished. lie had become con-
WINGED that it, was nuisance and
demoralizing. Mr.. BaypBrd thought a
stop should be put to the whole thing
at once. At the last meeting nothing was
known Of the practical working OF the
scheme, but now all knew what 1t was no
better evidence having been furnished
than that all Of tho newspapers and
everybody with whom he had talked
were opposing it. He thought 1t was only
stepping stone to other things, ana
serious complications might arise. He
moved as substitute that the board
prohibit any pianos from being placed
in the schools under any such plan.
Mr.. Turner said that while he did not
favor the children begging ON the
street, they were to get something for
their money. They were working for
tickets for concert, which is to be
given on the. Sd Of next month. Mr..
Morrow called attention to the fact
that he had heard of one Of the
schools where the pupils were collect
ing money writing to another school
and asking the pupils there to assist
them. Some reference having been
made to the method of obtaining the
piano at No. "a School, of which com
mittee Mr.. Morrow is chairman, that
gentleman stated that the plan pursued
in that case was entirely different.
The children were not sent out on the
street to beg. A concert was given to
raise the money, and each pupil was
given two tickets to sell to his or her
parents, II the latter desired to pur-
chase them; IL not, they were to be
returned to the school. Mr.. Baynard
read section 67, which is as follows:
"No teacher shall read or distribute
any advertisement, or allow any adver-
tisement to be read or distributed in
any of the public schools. Nor ehall
any agent or other person be permitted
to enter any school premises for the
purpose of exhibiting, either to teachers
or pupils, any new book, map or article
of apparatus, or to announce in any
manner any public entertainment.
The teachers shall not permit any
books, tracts, or other publications
to BIO distributed in their schools %
Senator Pyle Thought the rule a
good one and said he had made
up HE mIntl to draw the line In the
future. He made the statement that
he Is down ON schemes, but thought it
would be dishonorable to go back on
his word. Mr.. Leitch thought the
matter had better go through, 80 far as
the two schools were concerned, as any
decisive action at present would en-
barrass the teachers and pupils, but
was in favor of prohibiting it in the
future. Mr.. Turner offered a substitute
motion to postpone action until the next
meeting, by which time the two schools
will have accomplished their object,
and at the expiration of that time the
board can shut down on the matter
altogether. Mr.. Baynard desired to
put himself ON record, as an agent of
the Taxpayers, as being in favor of
calling a halt at once, as he was of
the opinion that such was the wish OF
the general public. Senator Pyle said
that he would see that no more ,pianos
are procured for No. School in such a
manner. Mr.. Turner said he would
not stop the collections at No. School,
as he had given the permission for
that institution. The motion to post
pone action until the next meeting
was carried, after which President
Baird said he had not fully understood
the plan at the last meeting. Mr.. Ross
made a motion that the committee on
teachers look into the matter and make
a report at the next meeting, but the
motion was not seconded.
As Thursday will be Thanksgiving
Day, and legal holiday, it was
decided to have no sessions Of school
on Friday.