The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-12
N.B.F.CLOSE ELECTED
SUCCEEDS II. p. GLENN AS PRINCI-
PAL OF ANDERSON SCHOOL.
WILL TAKE CHARGE AT ONCE.
BOARD OF EDUCATION CHOSE HIM
FROM SEVENTEEN APPLICANTS.

The New Principal Is at Present in
Charge of Public Education in the
Town of WaynesbOrO-An Edu-
Gator of Ability and Prominence.
BOARD Chose Temporary Sue
cessOr for Miss CIaGhOrn-Grip and
bad weather Cut Down school At
tendance During Last MOnth-Fis-
cal Year TO Begin in Future on
Jan. 1.
At the March meeting of the Board of
Education last night, MIR. n. B. F. Close,
superintendent of Public Education in
Waynesboro, and a well-known educator
was chosen to succeed the late Bascom
= Glenn, as principal of the Anderson
Street School.
President George A. Mercer presided at
the meeting and there were present, be-
sides Messrs. Saussy, Estill, Denmark,
Blum, Lee Roy Myers, OBrien. Herman
Myers and Stovan. When the president
announced that the election of a success
sor to Mr. Glenn was in order. Superin-
tendent Ashmore, the secretary of the
hoard, read the applications of seventeen
more or less prominent teachers, who
wanted the position.
With so many from whom to choose, it
may be understood that the fact that the
election of Mr.. Close on the first ballot
was not unanimous, was not eXtraordi-
nary or less creditable. 1t was made,
unanimous, however, on motion of a
member of the board. A number of the
other applicants were Endorsed highly
and they include several of the best
known educators in the state.
MIR. Close, the newly-elected principal,
is Sc years Old and married. He is a
graduate of the University of Nashville
and of the Peabody Normal College of
that city. He has made teaching his bus
mess and profession, and has achieved
marked success. He is wei known in Sa-
Vannah. and the members of the Board
of Education regard him as a distinct
acquisition to the teaching force. Mr..
Close will assume the discharge of his
new duties as soon as he can wind up his
affairs in Waynesboro
At the meeting of the board Supt. Ash
more submitted his report for the month
of February. 1t deals with a number of
matters of current educational interest,
and is as follows:
The attendance upon the schools dur
iSg the past month was somewhat reduc-
ed on account of bad weather and grip,
which prevailed quite extensively
throughout the city during the months
of January and February The enrolment
for the city is ninety more than at the
corresponding period of last year, and
for the country it is exactly the same.
The three new classes at the Thirty
eighth Street School are about full, there
being an enrolment of 140
Il regret to announce to you the death
of two of our teachers since your last
meeting-Mr. B. p. Green, principal of
The Anderson School, ana Miss Anna S.
Claghorn, teacher of the Fourth Grade
in Chatham School No. ]. In the death
of these two excellent teachers the
schools have suffered a great loss Both
were sympathetic and kind, and devoted
TO their school work. Mr.. Glenn, in the
first year of his work as principal, exhib-
tied in high degree those excellent
qualities of culture, scholarship and good
judgment. which / had observed in him
for several years, 'and which prompted
me to recommend him with confidence %
the board one year ago.
THE filling of the vacancies caused by
the death of these two teachers Is a mat
ter of very great Importance at this time
The vacancy in Chatham No 1 has been
filled by a temporary substitute till your
action should be taken in the matter. Ac-
cording to the rule of promotion. the low
er grade teachers would be promoted in
order and a new assistant appointed. I
believe, however that this step would
be unwise if taken now. In my opinion,
IL would be best for the schools fo~ the
IN a for
the balance of the school year. 10 81 the
vacancy in Chatham No. l, caused by the
death OF Miss Claghorn. and TO Let the
lower grades remain as they now
are My reasons for this are
that the application of the usual
rule of promotion at this time would cause
a change of several teachers at critical
period ofthe school year. which would pro-
duce bad effects in discipline and methods.
The children and teachers have now be-
come accustomed to each other, and the
attachments formed could not be broken
without considerable sacrifice of discipline
and efficiency. l am satisfied that it
would be best for the schools not to make
a change in number of teachers now,
and the majority of the teachers concern
ed have expressed a wish that they be
allowed TO remain with their present
calsses. The slight gain in their salaries
= (sbout Sl6) for the remainder OF the year
is more than counterbalanced by the new
conditions they would have to meet and
the extra trouble incident upon the
change. Should the board see 1t to follow
the suggestions here set forth / think ii
should be clearly understood that the
teachers who are now entitled to pro-
motion under the general rule
should be advanced next October
10 the relative positions to which they are
now entitled, and that the temporary
teacher fall back to her legitimate place
on the roll.
applications have been filed for
the principaiship Of Anderson Street
School, and from my knowledge of
the men and the testimonials submitted,
believe the board can make a wise
choice.
1.-THE selection of a principal for one OF
our grammar schools is a very important
duty. The effect is serious and far-reach-
ing upon the educational welfare of our
city A wise choice viii be a Blessing
perhaps TO a generation-an unwise one
on evil difficult to estimate and still more
difficult TO remedy. The duties required
OF a principal demand broad and accurate
scholarship. for right knowing is a neces-
sary prerequisite OF right doing: culture
for he should be a man of good address
in meeting parents. as a model for chill
dren, and H as worthy rep
resentative OF our school system
experience and professional training. for