Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-01-26
PROCEEDINGS OF
SCHOOL BOARD

| The proceedings at regular meet
ing of the School Board Monday. night
were 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 in its
operation as generally understood takes
off five for every recitation missed.
He inveighed very heavily against the
rule, which he considers very perni-
| cious.
First, because on children who are
sick, in effect, it operates to retard re-
covery, keeping them in 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
in school until very ill, 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 a return to the form
er test of final examinations. He did
insist, however, that the rule be modifi-
| ed and he raised 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.
A protracted discussion followed in
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
it 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-
derstood 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
counting 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
ings, nearly an hour being spent in
this way. The Board would like to
please the public, which was so feel
ingly and ably represented by Mr..
Scarlet At the same time it feels that
it's own experience and that of the
faculty and Borough Superintendent
must not be ignored. The Board is
considering the matter deeply and just
what course it may decide to pursue
in the premises will not be known for
day or so.
On motion it was ordered that the
janitor of the First ward hereafter at
tend to fumigation of school buildings
in the First and Second wards, and
that the janitor of the Third ward at
tend to fumigating the Third and
Fourth Ward buildings.
There are now two generators en-
ployed in the district and they are be-
ing kept in pretty constant use.
Some doubt was expressed whether
the generators are properly used and
the best results obtained. The fact was
cited that in several instances janitors
have been seen seated in the rooms be-
ing fumigated while the apparatus was
in operation. Under the circumstances
it was not believed that fumigation
was thorough.
A committee representing the Senior
class, of the High School, appeared be.
fore the Board, asking the consent of
that body to inaugurate departure
at the coming High School commence.
ment. The proposition is to have q
class day, which implies a cutting
down of the regular commencement
program, and having a class play,
which in all probability will be a
Shakespearean performance.
On motion the proposition was re-
ferred to the High School committee
of the School Board, in conjunction
with the faculty of the High Schoo
and the Borough Superintendent.
The committee of the Senior olas.
made the further request that the
J Senior class be permitted to place
its class pennant on the High Schoo
building, The privilege was refused
: as it was believed that it would leat
to the usual rivalry and contention
among the classes that would initiate
| very strongly against the success of tn,
} schools.
The following members were pres
5 ent: Adams, Orth, Harpel, Burns
Werkheiser, Fischer, Trumbower, Heis
and Grone.
The following bills were approves
for payment
H G.. Salmon ..................$2 81. 8
Ezra s. Haas s.............. d
. o. M. Leniger er............. GA
Danville Stove & Mfg. Co. ...-. 10
/. MOntour Democrat