The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-04
CITIZENS MAY ASK QUESTIONS
OF SCHOOL BOARD OFFICERS ON
 SUPERYJSORY SYSTEM.
The Special Committee of Inquiry so Voted Last Night-NIcmbers of the Board of Education Object to the Stu.
 pcrintcndent of Schools Being Ques.
 tiuMeI-Neyt Ms.fI,,r Tc-~r...~

Board of Education Object to the Stu.
 pcrintcndent of Schools Being Cues.
 Evening.
 The special committee appointed by
 the common council to inquire into the
 supervisory system in the city schools
 held another meeting last night and
 heard Harry w. Asher of the board of
 education committee on schools and Su-
 perintendent Kendall in explanation of
 the system of supervisors. MT. Asher
 was first heard, and in answer to ques-
 tions by members of the committee said
 that he thought supervisors were neces-
 sary for the welfare Of the schools. He
 did not think that the public schools
 could be as well served as now in the supervision of musical instruction fol
 less money than 1t now costs. He thought that cheaper man could be secured for supervisor, but he did not think that man with the experience of Professor Jepson could be secured for less money. He thought it benefl- cial to the children of the city to be in- structed in drawing. He said that un- der the present system of teaching pen manship only one copy book year was used instead of two, as formerly, and said that the saving of one copy-book for each pupil made saving enough to pay for supervisor of penmanship.
 Alderman Brennan of the committee Does MT. Kendall have power to d!s- charge teachers without first reporting to the committee on schools?"
 MT. Asher-"No, sir.''
 Alderman Hogan, who attended the meeting as an interested citizen, at this point asked the. chairman of the conl- mittee if he would please ask MT. Asher if the superintendent had discharged any teachers prior to reporting to the on schools. MT. Moran and MT. Asher objected to this question be- ing asked the superintendent MT. Mo- ran stated that MT. Kendall was re- sponsible to the board of education and that the board would be responsible for his actions.
 MT. Asher said that the members of the school committee stood ready to an- swer any questions any one desired to ask. The question was not put to MT. and ex-Alderman J. ID. Dewell, IT,, asked If he was to understand that citizens would not be allowed to ques- fion members of the board of education and school officers who appeared before the committee. Mr. Moran again said hat questions should not be put to Mr. Kendall by citizens, but to members of he board of education. He said that hey would be responsible for the su- i
 MT. Dewell asked: "Is not the super- ntendent, under the charter, relieved ,f all responsibility to the board of ed lcation? Is he not practically under 1is own control?"
 MT. Moran--"We have power to re- move him. He is practically under our ,ontrol."
 The question proposed by Alderman Hogan was not asked, and MT. Kendall proceeded to tell the committee why su- ,ervisors were needed. Among other hings he said: "The question of teach ng music in the public schools is prac- ically settled. It has been taught here n New Haven for thirty-flve years. I hink that it should be taught for the raining and development of the mind f the children, for an intellectual exer- ise, to train the powers of thinking, judgment and perception. It teaches he power of doing difficult thing, and oing it well. The moral value of mu- ic is great in the schools. It cheers the 1hole life in the schools. Take out mu- ic and you take out an ennobling and piritual influence. The musical educa. ion here is above the average of thl ublic schools of the country It was 0 when I came here" He said that ,hile 1t was true that the regular aachers might do the special work of he schools, it could not be so thorough / done az under supervisors. He said nat in the last twenty-five years draw. lg had taken a place in the public ,hools along with geography and mu- c, and characterized it as the basis of ne industrial arts. He said that in rawing mistakes are seen and it serves overcome egotism and conceit and to lrow child on his own resources here he can see what he has done.
 Alderman Brennan-"Can child turn le writing he learns in the city schools practical use when he leaves school?" MT. KendallZ"That depends on what 9 does. Pupils learn many things in ,hool which they have no practical use IT when they leave school"
 Alderman Staub-"Can't you explain ny it is necessary to go outside of New aven to get supervisor in drawing? ant you get one here?"
 MT. Kendali-"When vacancy oc- 1rred it was the duty of the super tendent of schools to get the best erson he could get in New Haven If } was here. answer your question by tying, I don't think so."
 At this point, as it was 10 o'clock, the 3ur at which the committee adjourns,
 e committee decided to adjourn to eet again at 8 o'clock tomorrow 'ening.
 MT Dewell asked to be allowed to ,eak, and the committee acquiescing , said: Tt seems unjust to citizens hen these gentlemen come here as ports, not to allow citizens to ques- on them I never heard of such oceeding here in committee meet g. If citizens are allowed to ask