Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-02
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Several Lively Little Tits at
Tuesdays Meeting.
Some of the Members Criticise Methods
of eaching-Additiona Accommoda-
tions Needed for High School
Pupils.

Pupils.
The regular monthly meeting of the
school committee was held Tuesday
evening, with light attendance. The
first part of the evening was given up
to an uninteresting and almost childish
discussion of the disposition of rec
ommendation from the committee on
music and kindergarten, regarding the
purchase of a piano for the Providence
street kindergarten. The members dis
cussed at much length whether the rec
ommendation should be presented to the
board for action or handed to the COM
mittee on books, supplies and appara-
tus. 1t was even intimated that there
was a ''cat in the bag" and that the
committee desired to push the matter
out
The report of the committee on draw
ing met with some objection in the rec
ommendation that it was deemed mad
Vlsable to reduce the number of teach
ers of drawing in the public schools
The opposition shows that there is op-
position in the committee to paying so
much for drawing, music and manual
training. An attempt is to be made to
cut these departments down probably
by removing all aligh-salaried teachers
with the exception of the supervisors
The committee evidently objects to a
reduction The vote showed that there
was a strong feeling against paying
FTxsn Ns,r,a Oh Il.
tendent Carroll and Mr.. Gallagher had
a few words when the latter stated
that arithmetic was not taught as we'll
as it used to be, owing to a crowded
curriculum. The attempt to get the
boards endorsement for a big exhibit
of the work of drawing manual train
ing, and the like, failed, and, instead Of
acting, the matter was referred to a
committee.
Superintendent Calroll's monthly re-
port was received, and the requests
designations and reconrne nendations en-
bodied were adopted after discussion.
The report contained the following in
formation:
1t will be necessary to provide quar-
ters for a part Of the children to be ad-
mitted to the high schools in September
outside of the present buildings. The
number already enrolled should not be
further increased in either building
The increase in attendance the present
year over last year was about 1870. AS has
been frequently stated to the school
committee, not more than 800 pupils
should attend the English high school,
and not more than 800 should attend the
classical. If we are to find quarters for
those who will make up the probable in
crease in September, the question may
be fairly raised whether we should not
at the same time provide temporary
quarters for a larger number in order
that the attendance in the two high
schools may be brought as far as possi-
bic into normal condition.
If the school committee agree that it
will be necessary to provide temporary
quarters for the children, it is not too
early 10 make some careful inquiries.
In order to bring the question properly
before the board, / recommend that the
question of temporary accommodations
for the class to be admitted to the high
schools in September be referred to q
joint committee, consisting of the COM
mittee on school houses, the high school
committee and the special committee on
high school accommodations.
l have already lodged in the hands of
the chairman of the committee on high
school accommodations some sugges-
tions bearing upon this subject. There
are at present some vacant rooms in the
third story of school buildings that have
been vacated. These rooms constitute
the only available quarters at present
under the control Of the school commit
tee. During the month just closed I have
made constant inquiries relating to the
heating and ventilation of the different
school buildings. In response to my re-
quest the superintendent of public
buildings has requested the janitors to
visit every school room under their care
once each hour so long as the fires are
kent running have also asked the prin-
cipals to make the same request to the
ianitors. and to report any instance
where this request is not complied with.
1t still remains true, however, that the
authority of the school committee, in re-
gard to the care of the buildings, is so
slight, that it is impossible to hold the
board or any committee on the board
responsible.
Many of the principals can testify
that the tanitor service in their build
ines is of the very highest order. I am
certain that many janitors have pride in
meeting the principals more than half
way and that their work IS of a model
order.
In what 1 have said am seeking to
place the responsibility of the numerous
defects in the care of our buildings up
on the system. Every day in the year |
cr.stIcisnn rsrsJ made nv teachers and minis
- - ittSis'ia tSa affant fbaf thev are snfferine
49,. NJ Is-lg ,f rronar. oversight In this
5,o,na+ion ~, z ,''0A VIII Iaree n,,n,bar Of
eIhoaI III oIioi l,o,s ~, 1,,iti dtSidnd and con-
s.'oi,+I,, I9,esl,"rad ,,,+bdritr az
ties are doing the best in their power
~ M 90 ,,,.;,
mus sIow Worse - utisll hn
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