The herald., 1898-09-27
SUPT. EOSHAY TALKS ABOUT IT
TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
MISS MACH0LD'S CASE AIRED
The Board Sits Down on Petitions
Presented in Behalf Of Deposed
Teachers-General Business

CITY opened on the 10th inst, and today
there are 16,421 pupils enrolled. 1t is
very difficult to organize our schools
IN those portions of the city which were
already overcrowded and now receive
applications in several cases of over
one hundred additional children at the
beginning Of the new term. There are
many elements which must be cons!d-
cred in transferring pupils from one
building to another and in determining
what grades shall be placed in the
buildings. Persons outside the super
:ntendent's office cannot realize our
need for additional rooms. Your honor
able body has done much, 1t is true.
to give us room by taking out part!-
tons and partiton!ng of parts OF halls
and in making necessary improve
ments in the buildings and Their equip
ment, and these have been paid for
from funds intended for other pur-
poses; yet on account Of the large num-
bers in many buildings and the fact
that IN some cases primary pupils must
be crowded m buildings Intended for ali
grades, the sanitary conditions are in
adequate. Our people are awakening
the school department for several
years. that Los Angeles needs another
high school building.
In the address Of the president OF the
board Of education in June. 1898. he says:
~ would furthermore respectfully call
your attention to the fact that the high
school is crowded to replet!on its
greatest capacity Is GOO; there are now
there $50 pupils. We estimate that for
1898 there will be 250 promotions to the
high school. This means that for the
year 1894 go high school pupils will be
unable to gain admission" We open our
schools this year with over 1900 high
school pupils and the same accommo-
dations as in 1898, except the pavilion
and flve rooms IN the Sand-street build
ing. l am glad the people are taking
such an interest not only for additional
room for high school work, but for the
lower grades also. and hope the inter-
est will continue until sufficient rooms
are provided for every child Of school
age in our city.
The school for deaf children in the
Spr.ng-stree building, I believe will
prove a great blessing to those thus
afflicted. The teachers show deep n
terest in and careful preparation for
their work. The matter Of tuition for
deaf children who live outside the city
should be decided at this meeting.
The matter of tuition fer non-res.dents
who desired to attend the school fer the
deaf was discussed a leagth and Will be
the subject of special report from the
teachers committee at an adjourned scs-
s'on of the board on Wedn esdny afternoon
at o'clock.
The following report was submitted by
the teachers committee n the pet.tion for
the reinstatement of Mss Machold
dropped from the Est Of teachers many
months ago:
There was referred to us a petition
signed by somewhat more than 200 ct.-
zens. requesting that Mss Ernestine
Machold be reinstated as a teacher In
this department. Your committee has
consulted many times with the super.n-
tendent and the deputy superintendent
Of schools concerning the case of Mss
Machold Her certificate as a teacher
is a primary certificate only. The de-
partment is very positively Of the op.n-
ION that this teacher IS not adapted to
meet the requirements of cur graded
system. She was informed fully year
ago that If she would take the addi-
tional training necessary to obtain
grammar grade certificate she would
be recommended for another trial In
the schools. but that condition has not
been complied with.
In making report upon the petition
<t-v1 =
not leave cut Of cons deration the fact
that Mss Machold was faithful and
conscientious in her work as a teacher
and that upon all other cons.dera tiors
than that Of adaptability to our school
work her case IS a most deserving one.
but believing. as we do. that we are en-
titled to rely upon the opinions Of those
who supervise the work Of education In
the city schools. we are compelled to
return the petition to the board with
out recommending her reinstatement.
Mr.. Poor took exception to the report
and made motion that the matter be
again referred to- the committee for fur
Iher investigation. The motion precipi-
lated a very warm discussion and redis-
,ussion and more discussion It lasted for
an hour and half. Mr.. Bragg charged
the teachers committee with star chamber
methods In the matter, against which
charge Mr. Braly of the committee de-
INJURED In very warm terms. Mr. Smonton
said he did not believe In petitions; that
they were too easy to get and to empha-
size the statement he added, "Why you
could easily get a hundred men to sign
petition to hang Mr.. Braly" The last
named gentleman was somewhat astound-
I'd to be thus frankly informed OF the fate
which may possibly await him. When the
vote on Mr.. Poor's motion finally came II
was lost by tie A motion to approve the
eport then prevailed. During the areu.
ment preceding the final action President
Davis made a most scathing talk on the
petition method as employed by teachers
IT ex-teachers in attempting to influence
he board to do that which 1t has decided
S best not to do.
Another part of the teachers COMMITTEES
report did not fare so WELL It was that
part which provided for the appointment
Of a principal for the Ninth street school
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Mrs. Hanchette. The report follows:
We recommend that W. W. Tritt be
transferred from the principalship of
the Amelia street school to the princi-
palship of the Ninth street school, and
that Miss Vesta Olmstead be made
principal of the Amelia street school,
Miss Cowan, now acting principal Of the
Ninth street school. Is an applicant for the
position and she has several supporters