Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-30
new RULES WERE REJECTED.
At a Special Meeting Of the Board of
Education Last Night.
A Great Deal Of Hard Work, and
a Hundred Learned Speeches
Count for Naught--The Contract
for the New Clay Annex School
Building Awarded to the Lowest
Bidder-Proceedings of the Nee t
ing.

Building Awarded to the Lowest
Bidder-Proceedings of the Nee t
ing.
The new rules for the government Of
the Board Of Education and its en-
ployes, which represent many nights
of patient toll on the part of the COM
mittee, an expenditure Of several hun.
dred dollars for printers ink, and a
hundred more or less lengthy speeches,
were in effect rejected last night, when
the Board refused to adopt the report
of the Committee on Rules as a whole.
The old rules were printed in 1886,
and a copy presented to every teacher
and the officers of the Board. In 1895
he Board appointed a special commit
tee to revise the rules for publication,
as many had been adopted from time to
time, others were practically worthless
and few new ones were needed. The
presented a report at the
meeting 1896, which was
partially considered at the December
meeting. There was considerable oD-
position to some of the changes made
by the committee.
When the new Board went into Office,
a disposition was manifested by some
of the new members to complain be-
cause of the fact that they had no voice
in the selection of the rules by which
they were to be governed. There were
some nice legal points involved, which
were made the subject Of frequent de-
bates. The further consideration OF
the rules came up as unfinished buSl-
ness. but was postponed from time to
time. until a special meeting was called
for last night to conclude the consider
alton of the committees report. After
reading and acting upon the remain
ing rules. considerable time was spent
in wrangling over technicalities OF par
law, and motion was Hu-
ally made to ADOPT the rules as whole,
which was lost by tie vote.
1t was rather sudden and uneXpect-
ed disposition of a subject upon which
the Board has been divided for six
months Meanwhile there are no print
ed copies of the rules, and the copies
given out eleven years ago are lnaccur-
ate and incomplete.
The clerk resumed the reading Of the re-
port of the Committee on Rules, starting
with the course Of study in the grammar
department. The special Committee on
Rules was appointed about two years ago.
and presented its report last fall The old
Board adopted a portion of the report
and the remainder went over to the pres
ent Board.
Mr.. Bowers offered an amendment re-
curing an annual examination of teach
ers. before their names are submitted for
consideration by the Board. Or. Jepron
called attention 10 the fact that few
years ago an examination was held which
almost created a panic" on account OF
the amount of time required for them TO
study up the branches i'm which they were
examined. Mr. Maxwell thought an an
nual examination unnecessary and made
a strong argument against the amendment.
Mr.. Stanton made an appeal for the
teachers. arguing that if conscientious
their task is not a light one and the
amendment would be source of consid-
cradle hardship to them. Mr. Jepson
showed that the State law stipulates that
can only be given for one year
but may be renewed from year to year at
the option of the examining committees.
The amendment was lost
DR.. Jepson expressed disapproval OF the
course of study. because the last year Is
taken up entiNely in review Many pu-
nils. at the close of their junior years
would he able TO stand examinations ana
graduate. and the course of study would
be an invitation 10 juniors to quit at the
close of the third year, as they Will then
have completed their studies. Ihe course
OF study was adopted.
DR.. Birney offered an amendment pro-
viding that German be taught only IN the
grammar department instead of the TWO
lower grades. This was opposed by
N5sssrs Wiedner. Riheldaffer and Bowers
who argued that many pupils would be
deprived Of the opportunity TO learn Ger
man If the amendment prevailed. Mr.
Stanton thought there was no better rel-
son for teaching German than any other
,,odern language. unless it be because the
citv has a large German population. lie
favored the amendment also, because Ger
man interfered with some English
branches. The ayes and noes were called
on DR. Birneys amendment, resulting:
Aves-Birney. Hubbard, Maxwell and
Stanton.
Noes-Bowers. Brock Dudley. Jepson
11aslev. Miller. Mnlgan. Nesbitt. Noble
R.hsldaffer. Waterhouse, Widener' MI
President.
When the reading of the rules was COM
Melted Col. Miller called attention to the
fact that Rule II, relating to hours at the
library. was not legally adopted, and
moved 10 take it up for considerations
Adonted. Col. Miller moved to make the
library hours 10 a. m. 10 p. m. Or. Jep-
SON moved as a substitute the original
rule Of the Board, fixing the hours from
one TO o'clock He said he had never
heard any complaint about this rule, and
no did not approve of interfering with
church services.
Col. Miller argued that there are many
persons in Wheeling who cannot visit the
library any day except Sunday. and ne
thought they had a right to the use OF the
hooks. He disapproved of the idea of cut
ting down the hours. Dr. Jepsons motion
failed to secure two-thrds, the vote being
ayes 10. noes :. The chair ruled that Dr.
JeDson's substitute was adopted There
will therefore. be no change from the pres
ent library hours.
DR.. Jepson raised a question as TO the
right of the new Board TO reconsider any
of the rules adopted by the old Board.