The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-13
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
Supt. AshmOre's Report to the Board
of Education.

The April meeting of the board of edu-
cation was held last night at the Chatham
Academy. Col George A. Mercer, presid-
ed and Commissioners Denmark, Saussy,
Myers, Tattnall, Estill, Stovall and Charl-
ton were present.
After the reading of the minutes of the
last meeting, Superintendent Ashmore sub
mitted his report.
The schools are in good condition." he
said, and are accomplishing with reason
able success the purposes of their organi-
cation. Every means has been used to
accommodate the pupils applying for ad-
mission and the demand has been fairly
met, though there are a few small white
children still who cannot be seated for
want of room.
The recent examinations held
throughout all the classes show
that good work has been done and that
the teachers have been faithful in the
discharge of their duties.
A committee from the grand jury visited
every school in the city, with the excep-
ton of the West Broad street school.
The colored schools in the country were
closed March 81, and Notwithstanding the
difficulties under which these schools have
labored, on account of the damage done
by the storm of last September, the at
tendance has been greater than ever be-
fore, and the work, l trust, has been COM
mensurate with the means at hand for
their support. The teachers of these
schools, as well as those of the white
country schools, sadly need special instruc-
ton in better methods of teaching, and
although have been able, chiefly through
the help of my assistant, Mr.. Ferguson
to make considerable improvement in this
direction this year, it is my purpose to
lay before the board, at another time,
some plans for their further Improvement.
Il visited the school at Bethesda, in
company with several of the principals
and teachers of the city schools, and
after a thorough inspection of the school
and its work, 1 am glad to report to you
school at that place. I found
106 boys in attendance from the
orphan asylum proper, and seven children,
six of whom were girls, were from fami-
lies in the neighborhood. Two teachers
have charge of the children in two sepa-
rate and very comfortable rooms, and the
instruction given them was found upon
a thorough examination, to have produced
good results in mental development.
incidentally, I may mention the health
fulness and cheerfulness of the children,
and the comfortable conditions surround
ing them, rejecting credit both upon the
management and that unselfish interest
which has always characterized the good
people of Savannah in their generous sup
port of this most worthy institution"
Messrs. Denmark, Tattnall and Mercer
made reports regarding their visits to sew
eral of the schools.
The superintendent read communica-
ton from the state commissioner of edu-
cation in regard to uniformity in text
books, and requested the views of the
board. On motion of Mr.. Denmark the
superintendent was instructed to report
that the board was opposed to the project
There was considerable discussion as to
the finances of the board. The finance COM
mittee stated that it would hold a meeting
to-day and would make a report on the
receipts and expenditures Of the board at
an early date.