The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-14
SCHOOLS TO CLOSE TEN DAYS
PUPILS WILL HAVE A WEEK AND A
HALF CHRISTMAS VACATION.

teal MFit1ng-mtSS " mites race
in Massie school FiIIed-PrOmO-
tiOns in All the Grades-superin-
tendent AshemOre's Report of the
Condition of the Schools.
be glad to know that the com
missioners of education acted the
part of good Santa Clauses last
night, by directing the treasurer
to pay their salaries for December
on the 22d inst, and also to close the
schools from Thursday afternoon. the sd,
until Monday. Jan. 3. This will give the
teachers money for Christmas. and an ex-
ira day to get rid of it in.
The meeting of the board was
well attended, and every member
present seemed to be in the best
Of humor with himself and the
others. Col. Mercer. president, presided,
and DIR. Read and Messrs. Denmark, TAFT
nall, Esdn, saussy, Myers. Stovall and
OByrne were present.
Superintendent Ashmore's report was
read, and that part of it upon the new sys-
tenn penmanship-vertical writing upon
which he enlarged, by quoting from his
remarks on the subject in his report pre-
sented at the July meeting, was listened
to with great interest. The members of
the board had been made somewhat IA
miliar with the new system by circulars
from several publishers.
The report was as follows:
"Since your last meeting the work of the
schools has progressed in the usual salts
factory manner and in this connection
there is nothing that needs to be brought
specially to your attention. 1t is my sad
duty to announce to you the death of Miss
Alice May White, a teacher in one of the
fourth grades of the Nassie school. This
sad event took place on Dec. 6, and since
that date the vacancy has been filled by
a substitute appointed by the superintend-
ent. 1t is important that you take some
action al this meeting IN regard to filling
the vacancy. Miss White was a most wor-
thy, conscious and successful teacher,
whose death is a loss alike to her many
friends and to our schools. In behalf of
the board of education and the teachers,
1 addressed a suitable letter of coincidence
to her parents, and the normal class also
took appropriate action
AT the meeting Of the board in July I
called your attention to the merits of YER
teal writing, which 1 had Investigated
very thoroughly, and stated that l was
ready to give the board my own views
about the matter, as well as those of a
number of our leading teachers, who faY-
ored me with their opinions about Verti-
cal writing, after investigating a number
of different systems. At the request of one
of your body 1 again call the matter to
your attention. 1 think it deserves at least
your consideration"
President Mercer, on the call for reports
from committees on visiting schools
stated that during the month, in company
with the superintendent he had visited
the High School and the Chatham gram
mar schools and also the Henry street
school, and was greatly pleased. The
scholars were attentive and well-behaved,
and all the teachers are proficient in their
work.
The subject of adopting the system OF
vertical writing, already referred to- was
taken up, and though no vote was taken,
ii was very evident from the tenor of what
was said that a majority of the
board was in favor of the
straight up and down" method of
penmanship. The matter was dis
posed of temporarily by a resolution by
Mr.. O'Byrne directing the superintendent
to request the teachers to investigate the
new system and report to the superintend-
ent, the latter to report the result to
the board at its next meeting.
on motion of Col Estill the board de.
cided that the teachers be paid their De-
| cember salaries on the 22nd and the schools
be closed for the holidays Thursday al
ternoon, the 2Srd, to be reopened Monday
| Jan. 8, 1898.
DR.. Read moved that the board proceed
| to fill the vacancy caused by the death OF
Miss White, by promoting the teachers OF
! the Massie school in regular order, which
| was agreed to.
on motion of Mr.. Denmark, Miss Els
| beth Schuster was elected assistant to fill
| the vacancy caused by the promotions.
The petition of the residents of Wheat
Hill for a school was laid on the table for
the reason that the building offered for a
school house was not suitable.
The matter of a new school hous@ al
Bloomingdale was brought to the atten-
| ton of the board and on motion of Mr.
Myers, the citizens of that place were re-
| quested to submit plans and estimates for
| a suitable building and the superinte
! was directed to notify the proper parties
| of this action.
On motion of Mr.. Stovall the treasurer
was directed to pay to the mother of the
| late Miss White the full amount of Deem
| Der salary, which would have been due
! the deceased lady.
The meeting, which had been very
! Christmas-like throughout its proce edings
! adjourned after the president told some
Estate secrets" regarding his expectations
! of seeing before long a handsome high
| school building erected on the southwest
| corner of the Chatham academy lot A
| suggestion was thrown out by one of thu
members that possibly the trustees of the
| Chatham academy might be induced tc
! put down stone sidewalks on Bull street