Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-15

Grade OF No. "a school VINO Were Not
Promoted at the Eud of the school Year.
The Fourth ward vacancy in the
Beard of Education, caused by the
resignation of John r. Hartman, was
filled at Monday nights meeting of the
board by the election of William
Turner, a former member, who de-
feated John G. McCabe by vote of 8
to Z. When the matter came up under
the head of unfinished business, Mr..
Ford, the member from the ward, moved
that the matter be deferred until the
next meeting. Mr.. Morrow thought the
vacancy should be filled without further
delay, as the board has more work
now than for some time, and he made |
q motion TO go into an election at once.
which prevailed. Mr.. Ford nominated |
John o. McCabe and Mr.. Morrow |
nominated Mr.. Turner. Mi. Ford said |
he had been informed by Mr. Hart |
man, the retiring member, that MIR.
Turner had said he would not serve.
Mr.. Morrow said he understood Mr..
Turner would serve and the vote was
taken, with the result as stated above.
The failure Of Is boys out of a class
of SO in the sixth grammar grade at
INO. ct CChOol W bb lic
close of the school year just ended, was
the cause of o protracted controversy.
Mr.. Ross brought the matter up. He
said it looked to him like discrimina-
tion against the sixth grade. In that
grade, he said, if the scholars have
term average CT rs or 50 per cent, but
are lower than rs in one study, they
cannot be promoted, while in the GLASSES
below the sixth grade they are gro
NOTED on general term average of 70
per cent. Two of the boys who failed of
promotion we've above rs per cent in
their term averages. but were held back
because they failed in studies which,
probably, will never be needed by them
in after life. Ten of the boys had
term averages between 10 and 70 per
cent, four were between 65 and 10, one
was between go and 60 and only one was
below CO. Some were low on their
term averages because of absence on
account of sickness, Mr.. Ross thought
those who failed should have an oppor-
tunity to take new examinations
Superintendent Harlan and President
Shortlidge said the rules gave that
privilege. Mr.. Ross did not think,
however, that the rules covered the case
and believed the boys should have a
chance to go to the principal Of the
High School and be examined and pro-
noted. il found competent. He said
Principal Berlin was willing and
anxious to examine the boys and
wanted them at his school il they
should prove competent. Mr.. Ross Of
fered resolution permitting all pupils
in the sixth grammar grade, who failed
to pass to be re-examined il they SC
desire. by the principal Of the High
School or some teacher designated by
him and be promoted, if found quail.
fed, to the first High School grade.
The motion was seconded by Mr..
.O'Donnell. Mr.. Ross, in support o.
his motion, called attention to the fac
that there was a great difference be
tween No. "a and the other grammar
schools in the matter of scholars in thu
sixth grade failing to pass, the mum
bers passing and failing being as fol
lows: No. l School, Is passed and
failed; No. 4, passed and l failed
No. "a, 10 passed and IL failed.
Mr.. Morrow objected to the reso
luton. He said it was seriou
matter to establish such precedent
and moved, as a substitute, to refe
the whole matter to the committee Of
teachers.
Mr.. o'Donnell said there was to
much guess-wotk in marking th
pupils averages in some OF the schools
He said he heard of one case where a.
but two or three members of a fift
grade class were held back because tn
teacher had not personally examine
the work each day and marked lareel
by guess, her excuse being that it wa
an impossibiity to examine "a SLATE
every day.
, Dr.. F'rantz favored Mr.. Ross rest
luton and thought the rules should /
suspended, il necessary.
Mr.. O'Donnell thought the matt,
should be referred TO the superb
tendent, as he was the proper person.
Mr.. Carter agreed with HIM, b,
thought it would be too great +
sponsibility on him, as the san
trouble would arise at the end of eat
term.
DR.. Frantz made vigorous speet
in favor of the resolution. He sa
this was special case and it would
right to have a special examination.
The motion to adopt the resoluti'
giving the boys special examinatio
was carried, after the motion to ref
the matter to the committee on teaohe
had been lost.
1t was finally decided, however,
motion of Mr.. Morrow, to have t
committee on teachers ascertain W
there had been SO many failures at N
"a School, and report at the ne
meeting.
The following rules for promotion
the High School were adopted:
Sec. ]. Pupils in the High Sch'
who shall receive an average of rs
each branch except one il which IL
shall have an average of 10, shall
promoted.
Sec. 2. Pupils who fail in one or
branches shall be promoted with c,
ditions in the branch or branches
which they have failed.
Sec. 3. Pupils who shall fail
obtain promotion may take exai
nations the first week in September
the branch or branches in which L
have failed.
Sec. 4. Pupils who fail in more Il
two branches shall be assigned to
same class, w.
Sec. 5. PUPILS must finish all
branches in the prescribed course
fore diplomas shall be granted.
The committee on teachers repoi
that it had made the following chang
Flora ii. Woodson, to be teacher
cooking and sewing to take the p
made vacant by the resignation
Helen w. Wormley; Julia Il. il
transferred from School No. % to
lowest position in No. 81; Law
Queen appointed to the lowest posi-
in No. 26. The report was adopted
was also the recommendation that
L. Arnott be appointed to the posi-