The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-14
FEW CHANGES IN TEXT BOOKS.
COL. MERCER SAYS THEY ARE
MADE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

Superintendent Baker TO Submit a
Report to the school Board for
Publication, Showing the Changes
During the Last Five Years-Three
Days Holiday to Be Given the
school Children During May
Week-The Board to Ask for the
Same Appropriation From the
County as Last Year.
The April meeting of the board of edu-
cation was held last night at the Chatham
Academy. Col. George A. Mercer. presi-
dent DR.. J. B. Read, vice president,
and Messrs. Saussy, Denmark, Blum, Es-
till, Stovall and Charlton were present.
Superintendent Baker presented his re-
port, as follows:
THE present month has been one of
substantial progress in the schools. The
quarterly written examinations were held
during the last two days of March. The
results. upon the whole, were satisfac-
tory. Mr.. j. S. Sims, assistant in the
High school, is still absent sick. The
probability is that he will not be able to
resume his work this year. His place has
been temporarily filled by Mr.. John Gill
lespie. If Mr.. Sims cannot return ii is
important that some permanent arrange
ment should be made to supply his place.
Under the change made by the board
in relation to the May holidays the schools
are entitled to May day. This is an am
biguous term. 1t seems that the week be-
ginning May IL will be devoted to mill
tary exercises. l recommend that II only
one day is given as a holiday, it be one
do this A Yer
Der of pupils will no doubt absent them
selves from school during the entire week.
1t is for the board to decide what should
be done in the matter
Col Estill. from the finance committee,
stated that he had examined the bill of
the city for repairing the sidewalks on
Drayton street, which was referred to his
committee at the last meeting, and had
passed it for payment The action OF the
committee was confirmed.
Col Mercer called attention to charges
made by certain parties at a political
meeting that the board had put the parents
Of pupils attending the public schools to
unnecessary expense by frequent changes
of text books. He said that there had
been few changes made in books used
in the schools. and then only after care
full consideration of their necessity by the
committee on text books, OF which he
is chairman, and of which Mr.. Saussy,
DR.. Read, and Messrs. Lee Roy Myers
and O'Byrne, and Supt. Baker are MEM
bers.
intendent was instructed TO prepare full
report as to changes made in text books
during the last five years, and submit
it to the president, and that the latter be
requested 10 publish 1t for the informa-
ton of the public.
A letter was received from Mrs. NJ L.
Silva, teacher of music, asking for an
increase in salary. on motion OF Col
Estill, the salary Of the teacher of mu-
sic and that of the teacher of drawing
was made the same as that Of teachers
of the sixth grade, and that 1t be payable
on motion of Mr.. saussy, it was re-
solved that the board appear before the
grand jury and ask that the appropria-
ton for public education be made the
same as that of last year, $4,000.
Superintendent Baker called attention
to the interstate celebration and suggest
ed that as it was very probable the
| attendance on the schools would be very
small during the week, the usual May l
| holiday be not given, but that two or three
| days holiday be given during the cele-
| bratiOn.
on motion of Capt Blum May 10, IA and
! Is were set apart as holidays. Should
there be any change in the programme
| of the celebration, the superintendent is
| authorized to change the days Of vaca-
| ton accordingly.
| forming the board thar at an early day
| she proposed to give performance Of
! the opera or the PIRATES OF romance,
for the purpose of raising funds with
which to buy music books and charts for
| the use of the schools and asking its en-
| dorsement On motion the praiseworthy
! project of Mrs. Silva was commended to
| the patronage of the people of Savannah.
notice of the city treasurer Of past
| due taxes on the lot in Lowell ward was
! brought to the attention of the board, and
| the secretary was instructed TO write to
| the city council that the lot in question
was purchased for and is held for school
purposes.