The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-04

BOARD !
Regular Meeting of the Directors Held
Last Night.
THE REPORTS ON The SCHOOLS !
Superintendent Cooper Refers to Troubles
With Parents of Pupils Directors
Invited to Participate at a
Banquet With the su-
perintendent.

The School Board held a regular meeting
last night, but transacted little business, the
most important matters being deferred until
the Board meets again tomorrow evening.
The Directors in attendance were Messrs.
Coughin, Hanna, Baugh, Dove, Malick,
Holvey, Whitaker, Conners and Dewitt.
Joseph Karpell, a man crippled by the loss
of one of his arms, appeared and asked that
his personal tax, which had been deducted
from his wages at one of the collieries, be re-
mitted. He said he had family to support
and his earnings are small on account of his
crippled condition. After discussing the
matter the Board decided that dangerous
precedent would be made by granting the
request.
A request by the graduating class Of '99
for permission to place advertisements on the
commencement program was referred to the
High School committee, with power to act
member of the Board suggested that the
committee give the request careful attention
as he understood the class was divided as to
the advisability of having program Of that
kind.
An invitation from Watkin Waters Post
No. 146, q. A. r., to participate in the
Memorial exercises was accepted and filed.
The following interesting and important
report was submitted by Superintendent
Cooper; The Sth month of the school year
closed April 9th, 1899 with the following re-
suit Monthly enrullment-Boy 1877; girls.
14O7 total, 26S4. Average daily attendance
Boys, 1923 girls, 1175; total 229s Per-
centage of attendance-Boys. 81: girls. 81
total, SO. There were 56S pupils who at
tended every session, 81 visits by citizens and
visits by directors. There are few things
that the office desires to call to your notice.
The first is a case from room seven, Centre
street building The teachers in that room
sent note to tho superintendent's office.
The pupil, instead of bringing the note to the
office, carried it to the parent who saw fit TO
prate the matter about the streets and raise
the cry that the teacher should be censured.
until the rumors reached the office. The
gentleman complaining was requested to see
the superintendent. When he failed TO do
so the superintendent sent him a communi-
cation, part of which is the following
Permit the office to ask you some questions:
DO you not hold the only evidence, if there
is any evidence. against the teacherP When
you seize and hold an official note.
are you not holding the property
of anOther2 If you are hold
ing note which may contain language
unbecoming teacher, are you not in honor
bound to present the same against said
teacher2 Can you be a true citizen, lover of
our free school system, and not present such
matter to the official head of your schools
Is it not more honorable to come to the Office
and talk the matter over than it is to prate
the matter about the streets If you were
an officer of the law, would you decide things
upon rumor?" The office quotes this that
our patrons may know that the office is al
ways open to any who may think that they
have just cause to complain. The office de-
sires to say that, while the language may
have been displeasing to the parent the
error committed by the teacher lies in not
suspending the pupil at once for disObedience.
1t desires to say further, that it will not act
on rumors; that all complaints should be
filed at the office, and that the office will
hear both sides and try to adjust all difficult
ties satisfactorily. The second case is from
room five, Lloyd street building. Tive boys
wrote a note unbecOming pupils. They were
sent to the Office for their conduct. One
came and took his punishment. The other
went home. After the boy who dis
obeyed had been absent nearly month |
the teacher suspended him for non-attend- |
ance. The teacher erred in not suspending
the boy Immediately for disObedience (Rule |
81, or at the end of the third day, for non
attendance (Rule p. As that boy has failed |
to return to school, and as he is under |
thirteen years of age, he is violating the |
Compulsory Education Act. The office asks |
you to permit the truant officer to proceed |
according to law in this case.
The report was accepted and the recon-
70
mittees.
Truant Officer Smith presented the follow |
ing report; During the school month end
ing April 9th I called on the parents of 251 |
absent pupils. The reasons given for alb
sence in most of those cases was sickness.
Others were kept at home to do housework.
Some parents are too indulgent to their chill.
dren. They keep them at home for little, or
no reason. have served printed legal no.
tiees on number of these people with good
results. There were eight cases of truancy
during the month. Seven of these 1 put
back in school. One, Willie O'Bren, re-
turned his books and went to work. He
being of the legal age, 13 years, could not
proceed to do anything more in his case.
The report was accepted and iled.
Director Whitaker, of the finance COM
mittee, presented a problem relating to the
of bonds. The law requires the
Board to redeem eight per cent of them in
each term. Thus far but four per cent. have
been redeemed, and there is a doubt as to
what funds can be applied TO the redemption
of the balance. The committee was unable
to make definite recommendation on the
natter and 1t was deferred until the next
meeting, pending the receipt of advice from
the solicitor.
On motion of Director Dove a committee of |
three was appointed to draft resolutions pro-
testing against ths proposed reduction of the |
state appropriation to the public schools |
They will be presented at the next meeting !