Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-25
PROCEEDINGS OF
SCHOOL BOARD

The proceedings at a regular meet
ing of the School Board Monday nigh
We're slightly out of the ordinary. The
present method of marking employed
where absence from school is concern
ed, which is distasteful to some of the
/ patrons, again came up before the
] board.
/ James Scarlet, Esq. appeared before
the Board to protest against the rule
in force in the schools, which i'll its
operation as generally understood takes
| off five for every recitation missed.
He inveighed very heavily against the
rule, which he considers very PERM
ciOus
First, because on children who are
sick, in effect, it operates to retard re-
covery, keeping them in a continual
worry over the loss of percentage.
Secondly, because the rule is coer-
Give and in effect operates to keep
children in school when they are in
disposed and ought to be at home He
cited cases where pupils developing
infectious diseases, fearing loss of per-
centage, were constrained to remain
i'll school until very i'll, thereby jeop-
ardiZing their own lives and expos
ing the other pupils to the contagion.
Mr.. Scarlet said he was not before
the Board to urge return to the form
er test of final examinations. He did
insist, however, that the rule be mOdifi-
ed and he raised a question whether
in the case of pupils kept out of school
by illness, on their return, taking up
their studies and making the usual
good averages, some plan could not be
adopted whereby the boy or girl might
be permitted to pass and be obliged to
stand examination only in those
branches or portions of the studies af-
fected by the period of absence
\ protracted discussion followed in
which the members generally took
part. They took Mr.. Scarlet's sugges-
tions very kindly. They explained to
the attorney the real difficulty of the
problem that they are facing, taking
care to show that the present system
of marking was adopted as substitute
for the final examination, which when
1t was in force proved as big bugbear
to the public as the present system.
DR.. Harpel took the view that the
system Of marking is imperfect ly un-
lerstood and is unjustly criticized
He denied that five" is taken off,
for being absent. The fact is, he said.
that the pupil is simply credited with
the time present, full attendance
a hundred. When he is alb |
sent, of course, he receives no mark for |
his recitatiOns, on the principle that |
the laborer receives no pay for work
not done.
After Mr. Scarlet's departure the |
subject was discussed in all its bear |
ngs, nearly an hour being spent in
his way. The Board would like to
please the public, which was so feel
ngly and ably represented by Mr.. |
Scarlet. At the same time it feels that |
Is own experience and that of the |
aculty and Borough Superintendent
must not be ignored The Board is
considering the matter deeply and just
What course it may decide to pursue
n the premises will not be known for
| day or so.
On motion it was ordered that the
anitor of the First ward hereafter at
end to fumigation of school buildings
Il the First and Second wards, and
hat the janitor of the Third ward at
end to fumigating the Third and
Fourth Ward buildings.
There are now two generators en-
,loyed in the district and they are be-
ng kept III pretty constant use.
Some doubt was expressed whether
he generators are properly used and
he best results obtained. The fact was
,ited that in several instances janitors
rave been seen seated in the rooms be-
ng fumigated while the apparatus was
II operation. Under the circumstances
t was not believed that fumigation
vas thorough.
A committee representing the Senior
lass, of the High School, appeared be-
ore the Board, asking the consent of
hat body to inaugurate a departure
It the coming High School commence
nent The proposition is to have a
lass day, which implies a cutting
Iown of the regular commencement
Program, and having a class play,
which in all probability will be
performance.
On motion the proposition was re
erred to the High School committee
f the School Board, i'll conjunction
With the faculty of the High School
nd the Borough Superintendent.
The committee of the Senior class
made the further request that the
senior class be permitted to place
is class pennant on the High School
'uilding. The privilege was refused.
5 it was believed that it would lead
o the usual rivalry and contention
mong the classes that would initiate
cry strongly against the success of the
chools
The following members were pres
mt: Adams, Orth, Harpel, Burns,
Fischer, Trumbower, Heiss
nd GrOne.
The following bills were approved
or payment:
| G. Salmon .... . 81. 50
,zra S. Haas. ................. 80
}. NJ. Leniger ............ 6.40
Stove q Mfg. Co. ... LOS