Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-16


committee has recommended" At this
point DIR. Wilmer withdrew from the meet
ing. The chair urged him to remain, and
Mr.. Barnard asked him If he would rot
record his vote on the report of he COM
mittee before leaving, but DR.. Wilmer re-
piled that the claims Of superior duty COM
PEELED him to leave, and, moreover. he
felt that the committees report would be
rejected without his vote.
Mr.. Barnard-"There Is no use to take
vote, as there are but seven members OF
the board now here. and, under the ruling
of the chair at the last meeting. it re-
quires the votes OF two-thirds of all the
members of the board to change a text
book. which would be the effect of the re-
port. and 1t is quite evident We cannot get
even that of all those present.
Mr.. Harries' Position.
Mr.. HARDEST have the utmost respect
for numbers. do not want to be regard
ed as stubborn; do not want to be consid-
cred as beyond the reach of reason. but
I must say that I have not yet had any
reason shown to me In this matter but
numbers II the committee wanted to
make a compromise why did they not COM
promise on the Holt and the other book?
We have two readers and we play with two
grammars and l do not think there could
be very serious harm done by having two
copy books
DR.: Hazen-"We did talk about that. but
finally decided otherwise
opinions of Major Harries, who is one of
the most painstaking members OF the
board and am always sorry when can
not agree with him, but II each Of us is
we go back to where we began. we will
never agree on a book. For myself favor
the Silver Burdett book"
Mr.. Bruce gave several other reasons
why he thought the report of the COM
mittee ought to be adopted
President Whelpley asked IL the board
was ready for the question, and Mr.. Cor
nish. who had entered the meeting few
moments before, inquired what the Ques-
ton was
The chair stated that 1t was on the adop-
ton of the report of the joint committee
on text books and penmanship.
Mr.. Whelpley Changes His Ruling.
President Whelpley explained how the
present system of penmanship got Into the
schools and stated that there mad never
| been any legal action by the board in the
matter until last week, but that the time
| has come when the board must adopt some
| text book.
Continuing Mr.. Wnelpley said: Last
week l decided that it would require a
vote of two-thirds to adopt a text book,
| Tut l made that decision under mis-
apprehension. and l now decide that a
| majority vote is sufficient
Mr. Harries-"The matter was fully dis
| cussed last week and il was decided that
| a two-thirds vote was needed to change
| a text book
DIR. Shadd-"If 1t does not require a two
| third vote to accomplish the change, then
we adopted the Merrill book last week
Why not take botn the Merrill and CHM
books?
| At the request of the chair Mr.. Barnard
read the rule as to the number of votes
| required to change a text book. The rule
stated plainly that two-thirds vote was
| required.
DIR. Shadd-"You had better not read
too many rules or we will get in a worse
muddle than We are now"
Mrs Stowell-"I think the use of two
books would be Objectionable" Mrs. Stow.
| ell then made some remarks which were
| personal to the superintendent.
| Mr.. Harries-''I fail TO see why our re-
| spected superintendent should be brought
into this discussion. 1t is question OF
| books, not of men or publishers"
| President Whelpley-.1 now rule that II
requires two-thirds vote to charge {
| text book
| Mr.. Bruce-"It seems to me we viii
never get an adoption of the committee
| report, and, as the day for making a com
promise has passed. will vote for my frs
| love. which is the present system. In view
of the fact that we now have a system
| that has worked well for several years
there is no reason, in my judgment. for
change"
Mr.. Harries-"We have a system, bu
no books
DIR. Hazen-"Can the report of the com
mittee. if rejected now, be brought up a
a future meeting of the board?"
The Chair-"It can"
Il The Report ON the Table.
Mr.. Harries-"In order to make the sue
gestion of DIR. Hazen a certainty, 1 NOV
that the report lie on the table until tn
next meeting of the board
The motion was adopted.
Mr.. Barnard said: We have now rattle
the action of the superintendent in intro
ducing the present system Of penmanshiI
and we must provide more books Of tn
| kind heretofore In USE
Mr.. Cornish stated that he and Mrs. Tel
rell had agreed that DR.. ]. II. n. Warning
supervising principal of No. IL division
Brown of No. 10. The board approved I'll
! change and adjourned.