Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-02-23
SCHOOL BOARDS
MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Board
of Education was held Tuesday
Those members present were :-Messrs.
Lambert, Watson, Erickson, Coyle,
Service, Trenchard (President), Lam
ing, Reeves, and Custer.
The resignation of Miss Ruth E.
Chew was presented and accepted to
take effect at the convenience of the
Teachers Committee.
Superintendent Hitchner presented
his report, from which extract the
following:
In former report it was shown
that choice of course other than
Latin was working most satisfactorily.
You will recall that ssManual Of
English. published and used by the
Peirce Business School, was adopted
and is being used by those who do not
study Latin.
Something will need to be provided
for this part of the class for next
years work. In thinking over our
pupils attachments and Deeds, and in
studying many coursesssof study pur-
sued in other places, am inclined to
the belief that brief course in bust
ness arithmetic, for half Of the twelfth
or last year, and elements of COM
mercial law for the other half, would
be most beneficial, and fittingly round
up sthe course. This needs no action
now, but the subject must demand
your attention before tie summer vaca-
tion. It is mentioned at this time
that you may be ready with-any sug-
gestions, or be prepared with satisfy
ing questions whenever or whatever
the committee may recommend in this
connection. Furthermore, it is neces-
sary for all such details to be met and
settled before the new course of study
is presented for your approval.
Under such stress of weather as
has prevailed for month, no doubt
but that business of all kinds has been
affected considerably, but it seems to
me that the schools and trolley service
have had troubles that are possibly
their own. Details of every irregular
ity since your last meeting would be
wearisome. At times it has been
feared that the chairman of teachers
committee would be worn with the
recitals of what our rules demanded
me to report, therefore I tried to be
tactful. and reported by installments,
and on such days when crime Of some
sort did not seem to fully possess one.
The teachers in all have been off
duty. lasting from one-half day to two
weeks. The long absences being
caused by sickness, the shorter ones by
snow blockades and funerals. Two
one session days from storm, for all
schools, and several rooms dismissed
because the buildings could not be
heated. Two buildings that were i'm.
mune from the last are Vine street
and Irving avenue.
From these conditions, the attend
ance, particularly inythesl grades,
was wretched. Advantage was taken
of the poor attendance to combine
rooms,g one teacher taking charge of
two grades, and still having room
not half full.
The Normal practice teacher, Miss
Mulford, helped greatly, all her work
being creditably performed. Mrs.
Hubbs and Miss Service were called
upon, while I substituted for Mr..
Platts.
The month has brought case in re-
gard to sickness that compels me again
to open the question of teachers pay
for absence. A similar case occurred
three years ago, which was settled
favorably to the teacher, in the hope
that another would not arise.
In the books of the Secretarysis a
resolution that teachers may draw one
weeks pay for sickness.
1t is asked that the Board relieve
the superintendent from interpreting
this resolution under the following
described conditions:
A teacher is sick week, and draws
full pay. She returns to work and be-
fore the year ends is again sick a
week. What is her status? If sick a
day or SO at a time after the week of
absence for which she was paid, should
she forfeit for this?
The Secretary reported the balance
IN the several appropriations.
Mr.. Watson made detailed report
OF the work of the Committee on
Buildings and Repairs.
The following bills were ordered
paid when approved by the Finance
Committee IS. II. Gaskill, 1853,
for repairs; Grosscup 6 Son, $34. so,