Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-03
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

DOAhl OI E1l 1C-N.
 Had Little Disagreement About Plac-
 ing Teachers Name on Waiting List
 The meeting which the board of idA ucation held last evening was short, but intensely interesting. It was Win some difficulty that q quorum was se- cured, and when the meeting sat down to business there were present. Com missioners Hayes. who presided. Rus sell. Mcdonald. Chapman and Cowell. Things went along smoothly for I time. The minutes of the past meet ings were found to be accurate and 1he prospects of harmonious gathering of this expiring organization were all that could be. when Commissioner COwell pushed written motion across the table to Clerk Fitzgerald. The motion was to the effect that Miss Mary Cleveland, an eX-teacher in tue city schools, but at present engaged in the Town Plot school. be put on the waiting list. As this list is always open there could be not the slightest objection to putting Miss Cleyeland's name thereon. but there seemed to be so much personal inclination on the part of Commissioner Cowell to see his last moment as q member of this
  Miss Cleveland's name on the waiting list that it evoked q storm of objection from Commissioner Russell.
 In a tWinkling the members of the board took sides and Commissioner Russell was alone in his contention. Commissioner Hayes took the reins from Commissioner Cowell and .is- stunned the leadership of the lady's cause. Commissioner Hayes said she was once a principal in the city schools and there could be no reason why she could not be appointed to such q posi- ton again.
 Commissioner Russell expressed wonder why she should he chosen from the number who failed of recom- mendatiOn to be reappointed some years ago. Commissioner Hayes took the dilemma by the horns and sat upon the dilemma thus:
 There is no reason for such won der. She simply has been persistent in her application to be given d room in our city schools. She applied two years ago to be reappointed. The others who with her failed of recom- mendation had not applied. Thrac principals say she is q filEt-class teach CT and would like to have her in their schools. In her position in the Town Plot school she gives perfect satisfac- tion and there could be no reason why she should not be put on the list she knows her work
 Commissioner Russell: ..AIr Tinker ought to be the best judge of this mat ter whether or not this lady ought to De put on the list" !.
 Commissioners Mcdonald: ''8Ir Llnker Tinker has taken some off the list, I. AIr Tinker: "They were graduates or the Normal school"
 Commissioner Mcdonald. .sSomo Were not"
 MT Tinker: "All who were taken or during the past two years were graduates of the Normal school.''
 commissioner Cowelfs motion vas getting so warm by this time that if Was deemed advisable to give it some exposure by way of reading it again. and the members learned little more about it. That was that Miss Clayn. land be engaged at her former salary.
 The motion was put and carried. Commissioner Russell alone voting in the negative. There was then q good deal of talk and some one remarked that it would take four votes to have Miss Cleveland assiened to a school.
 Commissioner Chapman remarked that four voices had voted for the mo- ton. including Chairman Hayes. Com missioner Russell remarked that Chair man Hayes had no vote when he was in the chair. Thereupon Chairman Hayes claimed he had q vote and cast it for the motion.
 The customary bills and pay rolls were then approved and the board would have adjourned without further argument when some of the members. Who will not be members month hence. remarked with q sigh that they hoped Superintendent Tinker would not forget the vote which had created so much discussion. Some one also said that the vote was not imperative or direct. i'll fac4. implied that nothing more would be heard of it. Some member then said that he had no doubt MT Tinker would do his duty. This seemed to arouse Mir Tinker. During me above discussion lie sat quietly in his chair listening. but now he seemed aroused and forcibly stated ha wonIi do his duty. fairly and unbiased. to the public in the future. as b.a hoped he had tried to do in the past He was aware of the position he was holding and its responsibilities to the public. and all he hoped to be able to do was to render good account of his work.
 Commissioner Mcdonald said no member doubted he would do other wise. and then again there was q laugh. and the meeting adjourned 10 December 10.