SIR-The statement in a recent issue of the Tribune that the annual cost of running the schools in New York city is less than $11.24 per pupil-a statement founded, I think, on a misapprehension-leads me to send you the result of some of my labors as a member of the School Committee of Good Government Club E, in which capacity I have made a study of statistics affecting the public schools of this city. The figure $11.24 in the article referred to in the Tribune, is arrived at by dividing the total amount paid for salaries of teachers and supervising officers, supplies, incidentals, etc. (but excluding sites and buildings), by the whole number of pupils taught, or, in other words, by the whole number of pupils admitted into the schools and registered.

According to the fifty-third annual report of the Board of Education of the City of New York for the year ending December 31, 1894, the whole number of pupils registered in the public schools was 324,256, whereas the average number in daily attendance was only 171,013, a falling off of 153,243, a number greater than the entire school population of either Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, Cincinnati or Cleveland. It is not the purpose of this communication to explain the cause for the great discrepancy between the total enrollment and the average daily attendance, but to point out the error that would be committed in considering each of the 153,243 pupils enrolled, but many of whom were not taught, or if taught then only for a short time, as costing the city the same amount per annum for running the schools, as the 171,013 who have not only enrolled but have been in daily attendance and have consequently received the full benefit of the instruction provided. Many of the 153,243 pupils have, perhaps, attended school only a month, a week, in many cases only a day, and in some cases after enrolling have failed to return at all. other cases, where parents have moved two or three times during the school year, not an unfrequent occurrence in this city, their children have been admitted to as many different schools, and thus included two or three times in the total number taught, for it will be seen at page 107 of the fiftythird annual report already referred to, that

In

"The whole number taught is ascertained by counting the whole number of admissions made to the several schools and departments, the same pupil being thus counted as often as he has been admitted.'

The evening schools of this city offer an even more glaring illustration of the point in question, for in those schools there is an enormous disparity between the total number taught and the whole number in average daily attendance. The fiftythird annual report shows that during the year 1893-1894 the whole number of pupils taught (or, in other words, the total registration), was 36,887, and yet the average daily attendance was only forty per cent. of that number, or only 14,628. In other words, sixty per cent. of the pupils registered have either been counted as admitted more than once, or as having attended school for a very short period only. Under the circumstances it would appear unfair to consider the sixty per cent., or 22,258 pupils as costing the city quite as much as the 14,628 pupils who have been in average daily attend

ance.

It cost the city, for instance, $14.77 per pupil to teach the 14,628 who were in average daily attendance at the Evening Schools, but if we were to base the cost on the 36,887 pupils, all of whom enrolled in the Evening Schools, but most of whom were not "taught," the result would be only $6.11 per pupil. Can there be any doubt which is the correct method? If the former be correct, then it follows that the $11.24 stated in the Tribune article to be the cost per pupil in all the schools, must necessarily be increased to $25.22, for the $4,312,891.03, the total annual expense of running the schools in New York city, will have to be divided, not by 324,256, the number of pupils alleged to have been taught, but by 171,013, the actual number of pupils in daily average attendance.

EVENING SCHOOL SALOONS.

I may add that in ascertaining the cost per pupil in the schools of this city, the Board of Education of this city bases the cost on the average daily attendance and not on the total enrollment. I regret to say that there is a growing tendency on the part of the authorities to reduce the cost per pupil of running the schools at the expense of the teachers. Recently a reduction was announced in the salaries of one-fifth of the instructors in the Evening Schools, apparently in order to effect a daily saving of less than one cent per pupil in those schools. The salaries paid to all teachers, both in day and in Evening Schools, should be liberal. It is a false notion of economy, a very niggardly policy, which induces the Board of Education to save a few dollars in the cost per pupil at the expense of the teachers.

Having taught in the Evening Schools of this city for five years, I can say from personal knowledge that their duties, conscientiously performed, entitle the instructors to a fair return for their labors. The spirit that seems to be so rife in our land at present, of employing labor for minimum compensation, should find no place in our school system. It is clearly unjust and unwise (when we contem

plate that the salaries of the police were recently raised at an extra expense to the city of hundreds of thousands of dollars) for the Board of Education to insist on reducing the salaries of instructors in the Evening Schools from $600 to $480 per annum. In one case the city effects a saving of some $12,000 per annum, while in the other it incurs an extra expenditure in salaries of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The principals of the evening schools affected by this reduction admit that ever since this cut in salaries absenteeism on the part of instructors has increased, and that the schools have suffered much by the resignation of a number of good men in consequence thereof, and that this condition of affairs is likely to continue unless the salaries are restored to the former basis. This should be done without delay.

Yours truly,

MARK J. KATZ.

THE SCHOOLMASTERS' CLUB.

REGULAR NOVEMBER MEETING-TICKET FOR NEXT

YEAR.

The November meeting will be held at the St. Denis, Broadway and 11th st., Saturday evening, November 9th. The dinner hour is 6 P.M, The programme includes an address by Larkin Dunton, LL.D., head master of the Boston Normal School, on the subject, Psychology and the Science of Education, with discussion by Edward R. Shaw, University of the City of New York; John J. McNulty, College of the City of New York; Thomas S. O'Brien, New York Public Schools.

The following members were proposed: Wm. H. H. Dunn, New York city, sponsors, Messrs. Ayers and Dorsey; Wm. Becker, Jr., Flatlands, N. Y., sponsors, Messrs. Thompson and Barringer; Theodore B. Barringer, New York city, sponsors, Messrs. Bagen and Ray; 'Frank S. Tisdale, East Orange, N. J.. sponsors, Messrs. Davey and Morse; Harry F. Towle, Brooklyn, N. Y., sponsors, Messrs. Haaren and Thompson; Dr. A. B. Woodford, New York city, sponsors, Messrs. Clark and Sherman; Edward H. Dutcher, East Orange, N. J., sponsors, Messrs. Morse and Davey; S. E. Manness, Camden, N. J., sponsors, Messrs. Willis and Ryan; Wm. A. McAndrew, Brooklyn, N. Y., sponsors, Messrs. Gallagher and Cusack; Irving P. Towne, Jersey City, N. J., sponsors, Messrs. Harris and Pease.

The following ticket will be presented by the committee for the offices for 1895:

Fresident, Addison B. Poland.
Vice-Presidents, William N. Barringer, Charles
R. Abbott.

Secretary, Charles A. Dorsey.
Treasurer, Martin H. Ray.
Librarian, Abner B. Holley.

Board of Governors, 1895-'98, John H. Haarзm, Hugh P. O'Neil, Joseph A. Hallock, Frank A. Schmidt.

Committee on Admissions, 1895-'98, George G. Ryan, James Cruikshank, Silas S. Packard, Vernon L. Davey.

TEACHERS' CONFERENCES.

The conferences of Teachers with the Assistant Superintendents to be held next Thursday afternoon, November 14, are as follows:

First District, Grammar No. 41, Superintendent Davis, Reading; Sixth to Eighth Grammar Grades.

Second District. Grammar No. 58, Superintendent Jameson, Drawing; Sixth to Eighth Grammar Grades.

Third District, Grammar No. 75, Superintendent Schauffler, Music; Fourth to Sixth Primary Grades.

Fourth District, Grammar No. 19, Superintendent Godwin, Arithmetic; First to Fifth Grammar Grades.

Fifth District, Grammar No. 76, Superintendent Farrell, Physics and Oral Lessons; First to Fifth Grammar Grades.

Sixth District, Grammar No. 39, Superintendent Bagen, Object Lessons; First to Third Primary Grades.

Seventh District, Grammar No. 85, Superintendent Straubenmuller, Numbers; Fourth to Sixth Primary Grades.

WHEN AUTUMN PASSETH BY.
Where purple elderberries vie
With sumac's crimson stain,
A flood of mellow minstrelsy
O'erflows the winding lane.
A myriad insect voices flute
And rival throats reply.

No tree, no tuft of grass is mute
When autumn passeth by.

A perfume rare of ripening leaves
On zephyr pinions floats,
And oft the scent of browning sheaves
Blends with the cricket's notes;
Each hanging bough a censer swings
Beneath the dreamful sky,
And at her feet rich fragrance flings
When autumn passeth by.

The spiders thrid their gossamer
With jewels for her head;
The thistles strew their down for her
That softly she may tread;
The brooklet stills its summur glee
Whene'er her feet draw nigh,
And gently drones the yellow bee
When autumn passeth by.

Strange sorceries the spirit bind

And work a haunting spell; Weird voices echo on the wind, And whisper beauty's knell. At eventide a lonely star

Comes forth to mourn on high, And sheds its quivering light afar When autumn passeth by.

The sweetest song that ever flows
Hath sorrow in its strain;
The keenest joy that mortal knows
Is always half a pain.

So life and death combine their art
To charm the ear and eye,
And lovely pathos wins the heart
When autumn passeth by.

-Samuel Minturn Peck.

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM FLEMING.

The death of Mr. William Fleming, for the past fifteen years connected with the Truancy Department, was unexpected, although he was well advanced in years. Mr. Fleming was a man of remarkable character and wide attainments, cultivation and knowledge. He was a teacher for many years in the public schools of the city, but resigned on account of a difference between himself and the principal. Strictly temperate in his habits, though eccentric in many little personal traits, he was esteemed and valued by all who came to know him for the integrity of his character. He was born in the north of Ireland, educated there, and he came to this country while still a young man. He had no relatives living here, and among the friends who attended the quiet funeral was President Hunter of the Normal College, one of his oldest acquaintances.

LAW AND PEDAGOGY.

Governor Morton, while in the city last week, visited the University School of Pedagogy and School of Law, in Washington Square. Professor Shaw, the dean of the School of Pedagogy, showed him the principal features and explained the work carried on in the various departments. The chronoscope in the laboratory of the department of experimental psychology, in charge of Professor Chas. B. Bliss, seemed particularly to interest the chief executive. The manner of determining the reaction-time of the mind by means of that ingenious mechanism was new to him. He desired to have his reaction-time told, and found that in simple reaction he averaged 125 thousandths of a second, and 245-thousandths on double reaction. The governor was surprised to learn how much study was given to the subject of education in the school.

FOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

The long-needed effort on the part of the Board of Education, to secure the establishment of High Schools, seems at last about to materialize. It is probable that a clause in the bill, which is being prepared for the Legislature, will empower the Board to establish such schools in such a manner as may be deemed most exdedient. Until a few years ago, while the need was recognized, school authorities maintained an apathetic attitude on the subject. SCHOOL has urged this need repeatedly. The organization of Commercial Classes in the First Grade of the Grammar departments was a step in that direction. Now it is generally recognized that the High Schools must come, not merely as a relief to the overcrowded colleges, but as a desirable part of the public school course in which New York alone, of all the cities on the continent, is deficient.

The leap from the Grammar School to the colleges is too long. The strain which is imposed on teacher and pupil to fit the classes for this supreme effort is, and has been for some time, one of the most injurious to the system. Only a small portion of the thousands of boys. and girls who make the attempt can pass over the distance to the colleges; the remainder fall between, and out of the school system, although their efforts and their standing entitle them in most instances to as full a recognition as any of the successful candidates. No less an injury is caused to the whole school system by the annual promotions to the colleges. In all other grades the promotions are semi-annual, but to regulate the number of admissions to the colleges, the promotion from the first

Grammar

Grades are made only once a year. The First Grades hence act as an obstruction and congest the whole course of advance

ment.

Promotions being established semiannually from the first Grammar Grades to the High Schools, there will be increased room all along the line for pupils to move forward. The High School classes will have the most advanced and the best trained teachers. Pupils will have the advantage of their training in stead of two years preliminary work at the colleges. The colleges will receive from the High Schools a select and higher grade of students, which will benefit the entire course in those institutions.

Friends of the colleges now recognize the advantages that will come from the establishment of High Schools. Dr. Hunter, president of the Normal College, strongly approves of them. The Teachers' Association, and the teachers in the Female Grammar schools, have united in their efforts to present the measure fully to the Committee on School System, so that the power to establish the High School may be given to the Board of Education.

Three or four of these schools might be required at the beginning, and the number can be increased as the urgency makes them necessary, in the same manner that they are established in Brooklyn, Chicago and other cities.

The sentiment with regard to extending the time of the noon recess in the schools one half hour, is generally unfavorable. While the time might be taken from the forenoon session, it does not appear that this would be wise. The morning session in the school is shortened by the opening exercises, and the time is too frequently broken into. The present school hours seem to be one of the things that can best be let alone, particularly when there are many other things that need correction. In this connection the practice of keeping children in at noon as a punishment, which Commissioner Strauss called attention to, should be checked as a positive violation of the by-laws.

**

It is widely repeated that in some instance schools are never dismissed until ten minutes after twelve, and children are obliged to be back in line by fifteen minutes of one o'clock. A principal who persistently maintains this practice, or punishes a child by keeping him in at this hour, does not know his or her duty. It is no less reprehensible than the infliction of corporal punishment, and any principal incapable of understanding this fact could be retired with benefit to the school system.

**

It is to be regretted that the Committee on Trustees at the last moment should have been influenced to overlook the renomination of Mr. L. M. Hornthal in the

Nineteenth Ward. No school officer in the city has given more liberally of his time, as a busy man, to school work, and with unvarying fairness. He cannot be charged with the political use of his place, as he has never been known as a member of political organizations; but his merits as school officer caused his name to be considered by Mayor Strong for the Board of Education, with a view to appointment, if other appointments had been made. His position toward the teachers in their opposition to obnoxious legislation last spring, was a matter of individual opinion and judgment. effort was made to conceal it, and the present Board of Education cannot afford to place itself on record as punishing criticism on itself. Women, as trustees, are desirable, but officers of experience and value to the schools need not be sacrificed to find places for them.

TWELFTH WARD CHANGES.

No

The following is a list of recent appointments and changes in the Twelfth Ward:

Miss Elsie M. Cable of the Primary of No. 83, transferred to No. 10, the vacancy thus caused filled by Miss Elizabeth A. Hieb.

Miss Louisa Burns and Mr. Gilbert F. Burnett were appointed in the Grammar department of No. 89, Dr. Elijah A. Howland, principal; Miss Ella M. Vanderboget was also made permanent substitute in that department.

In Grammar No. 10, of which Dr Ernest R. Birkins is principal, the following appointments were made last month: Mr. Michael J. Morrisy as male assistant, and Miss Beatrice C. Youmans to the lowest female grade.

The additional teachers appointed in the Primary department, of which Miss Hester A. Roberts is principal, are Misses Louise F. Kern, Nellie L. Godley, Helen Gans, Mary C. Crowley, Agnes Clare, Augusta Wagner, Miss Edna Hixon, Eliza Whiting and Annette M. Black.

Miss Louie R. Heller is first general assistant, Miss Mattie A. Carolan, second assistant and music teacher, and Miss Harriet D. Hart, permanent substitute in the Grammar department, and Miss Elois M. Tierney permanent substitute in the Primary.

Miss Jennie Jacobs was recently appointed a teacher in Miss Sara Smith's department of No. 72. Miss Teresa F. Bergen, a bright young lady, was appointed to the lowest grade in the Primary of No. 83.

Mr. Fred. E. Bellows received the appointment recently as fifth male assistant in No. 39, of which Dr. Thomas J. Meighan is principal. Miss Hermine Mamlok was transferred from the Grammar department of No. 39 to ninth assistant in Primary department of No. 28, Miss Kate A. Walsh, principal.

Miss Elmor F. Reilly was appointed to the lowest grade in the Primary of No. 57, and Miss Josie Hogan as permanent substitute; Miss Charlotte H. Stearns, principal.

BEDFORD PARK SITE.

Bedford Park is getting excited over its failure to obtain a school site. Three years have now passed and still no relief. It is estimated that 100 children in that locality are barred from school for the lack of proper accommodations.—New York Advance.

If Bedford Park residents would reach any definite understanding among themselves on this subject the trustees of the ward would be able to make the selection of a site. The three years delay has been due to their own uncertainty.

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TRUSTEES NOMINATED FOR THE FULL TERM-A SURPRISE IN THE NINETEENTH WARD-THE

NOON RECESS NOT EXTENDED

SALARIES OF FEMALE
TEACHERS.

At the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday, the report of the Committee on Trustees, nominating trustees for the different wards for the full term of five years, was presented. There were other reports on trustees to receive immediate action, and these occupied the important part of the proceedings of the session. Those members present were Commissioners Adams, Beneville, Goulden, Holt, Hubbell, Hunt, Hurlbut, Kelly, Ketchum, Little, McSweeny, Meirowitz, Montant, Peaslee, Prentiss, Rogers, Strauss, Van Arsdale, Wehrum, and President Maclay, Commissioner Mack alone being absent.

A TENTH WARD TRUSTEE.

The Board approved the report of the Committee on Trustees nominating D. Freed in the Sixth Ward for a vacancy, but on the motion of Mr. Strauss it went into executive session to consider the nomination of James K. Paulding in the Tenth Ward. Commissioner Hubbell stated that Mr. Paulding was a graduate of Harvard and had lived for several years in the Tenth Ward, where he taught in the Hebrew Technical Institute. He s understood to be engaged in the University Settlement work, and his nomination was to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Stover, who has been active in this work.

THE ANNUAL NOMINATIONS

of trustees were as follows:

First Ward-Dr. E. P. Turner, 30 State st., physician.

Second-H. M. Gescheidt, 33 Park Row, lawyer. Third-Thomas Morris, 261 Broadway, janitor. Fourth-James O'Connor, 50 Roosevelt st., coal. Fifth-Henry Newman, 141 West Broadway, bak

In addition to this there was a report nominating for vacancies Henry Newman in the Fifth Ward, Robert J. Hubbard in the Seventh, Nathan Magee, Thirteenth, of 476 Grand st.; Mrs. Chas. H. Smith, Fourteenth, of 336 Grand st.; and Lockwood de Forest in the Fifteenth. A minority report was also reported in favor of John McWilliams, No. 6 West 96th st., Twelfth Ward, a dealer in coke, in place of William E. Stillings, for the long term. The minority report was signed by Commissioners Hubbell, Prentiss, Peaslee and Rogers. The report on the full term showed a variety of opinions on the part of each member of the committee. Commissioner Hubbell, chairman of the committee, and Commissioners Rogers, Prentiss and Peaslee signed for presentation only in the case of Mr. Stillings; Commissioner Adams for presentation only in the Twelfth and Twenty-second Wards; Commissioner Little in the Twenty-second Ward; Dr. McSweeny in the Eighteenth and Twenty-second, and Mr. Strauss, without making any individual exception, signed for consideration only.

The changes made by the report are, Mr. Brownell in the Eighteenth, for Mr. Flaccus, Mrs. Houston in the Nineteenth for L. M. Hornthal, N. B. Putney, in the Twenty-second for Dr. Byrnes, and F. W. Jackson in the Twenty-fourth for Joseph H. Godwin, Jr. That of Mr. Godwin, who has made a good officer, was due to the need of a teacher in the new territory. That Mr. Flaccus was omitted was unexpected, and a warm contest is under way with regard to Dr. Byrnes in the Twenty-second. But the chief surprise was that Mr. Hornthal's name should have been dropped at the last moment, as it was known that a majority of the commissioners had already decided to report on him up to this week. Mrs. Houston named is a daughter of Presi

dent Houston, of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. In Mr. Hornthal's case the report of the Committee was severely criticised last evening. The action was attributed to the aid given by Mr. Hornthal to teachers who were opposing school legislation last winter, and at his request it was stated that Mr. Lauterbach offered his services to the teachers. Mr. Hornthal has, however, many friends in the Board who recognize his services as a school officer, and will urge that his name be returned when the report is considered. Mr. Strauss will also support Mr. Hornthal.

Mr. Beneville presented the following report in regard to extending the noon recess. To the Board of Education:

The Committee on By-laws begs leave to present the following report on the resolution of Commis. sioner Strauss, relative to the noon recess. Your committee has given the matter the most serious consideration, and in order to have all the facts properly presented, has sought data and information, bearing upon the subject matter from every quarter. In reaching a conclusion it has considered: First, the welfare of the children committed to our care. Second, the wishes and preferences of parents and guardians. Third, the good of the system.

As to the first, your committee is of the opinion that the health of our public school children is not imperilled by reason of the one hour recess, neither does it appear that their physical well being would be promoted by a longer recess. A visit to any of our schools will make it evident that the general health of the pupils is flourishing, and if there be here and there a victim of dyspepsia, a slight exam. ination into the cases will in all probability reveal the fact that the ailment is produced not by the shortness of the lunch hour, but by the character of the lunch itself. If parents would see to it that a properly cooked luncheon were prepared for their children, instead of placing the candy, cake and pie shop under contribution for the midday meal, there would be little reason to fear that we were rearing a nation of dyspeptics. As for the parents, your committee has well grounded reasons for believing that at the lowest estimate, seventy-five per cent. of them are opposed to the proposed change for divers reasons, among which may be mentioned that fully sixty per cent. of the children over eight years of age take lessons in the afternoon in music, Hebrew, dancing, drawing, French or German, while the other forty per cent. aid and assist their parents in various ways. These studies and duties would be seriously interfered with by lengthening the afternoon school session.

Although the teachers have modestly kept in the background in the discussion, yet, being a part, perhaps the most important part of our school system, your committee felt that they could not be ignored in the determination of this matter. Without referring to their preferences, the attention of this Board is called to the fact that our Evening Schools depend for tuition upon our day school teachers. We are all aware that the sessions of the Evening Schools begin at 7 P. M. If, now, the day school sessions were prolonged to 3.30 P. M., in most cases it would be 3.40 to 3.50 P. M. before the teachers could leave the school building, which would barely leave an intermission of two hours, after making due allowance for travel between their day school and night school duties. The health of but few could resist such a strain if long protracted, and the character of their work would assuredly deteriorate. Your committee therefore begs to recommend the adoption of the following resolution:

"Resolved, That it is inexpedient to make any change in the present length of the sessions of the public schools of this city."

EMILE BENEVILLE,
CHARLES L. HOLT,

CHARLES BULKLEY HUBBELL,
NATHANIEL A. PRENTISS,

Committee on By-Laws. Mr. Strauss said that he did not wish to disagree with the report, but he presented a resolution directing that the City Superintendent make inquiries to ascertain whether pupils were given the full noon hour, and report to the Board.

THE SALARIES OF FEMALE TEACHERS.

The following communication from the_Female Teachers' Association was referred to the By-Laws Committee.

GENTLEMEN:

We, the undersigned, representing the Association of Female Teachers of the Mixed Grammar Schools of New York, do hereby petition you to the effect that after the word "male" on the sixth line of paragraph 55, page 179, manual of 1895, be inserted the word "mixed," so the line shall read "Male and Mixed Grammar Schools." And that the schedule for salaries of Mixed Grammar Schools on the bottom of page 179 and top of page 180 be omitted from the by-laws.

Respectfully submitted.
HATTIE E. DAVIDSON,
Grammar School No. 60.
ADELAIDE RORK,

Grammar School No. 43.
MARY A. CONLON,

Grammar School. No. 60.

In endorsing the above request as an honorary member of this Association, I do so because I know by actual personal experience that the teacher of a class containing both boys and girls is obliged to adopt methods used in exclusively boys' classes, and in addition to supplement her work by variations of such methods to meet the requirements of the girls in his or her class. Edward H. Boyer, Principal Grammar School No. 87; David E. Gaddis, G. S. No. 54; Henry P. O'Neil, G. S. No. 1.

I know that the Board of Education will be as happy to grant this request to my sisters in the profession, as they were to grant it to us, the male assistants in Mixed Department Schools.

Respectfully,

JOHN T. NICHOLSON, 1st Asst. G. S. No. 10.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The following books were added to the Supply List: The Werner Primer.

The New Script Reading Chart, H. B. Guilford, Potter & Putnam.

Standard Arithmetic, William J. Milne.
Damrosch's Popular Sight Singing Method.
Anderson's New Grammar.

History of the United States.

Books for the Library Supply were also adopted. Commissioner Hubbell called up his resolution to fix a date for a Public Parade of School Children in the Spring, and Mr. Holt observed that if this were to be made a holiday, the resolution should go to the Committee on By-Laws, as that committee had only passed on the general character of such a parade, stating that the Board had no power to require such a parade of the children, and it should simply be permissive, but all holidays were fixed by by-laws. The matter was so referred, with all papers, objecting to such a parade, some of which, President Maclay said, were from trustees. Dr. Hunt presented a resolution providing that substi tuted teachers should not be employed by principals in clerical work, or in any other work than teaching; referred. John T. Nicholson was appointed general assistant in the Harlem Evening High School; other appointments were Wm. Simm and Plowden Stevens; H. C. Boehme, general assistant; Abram Fischlowitz, temporarily; F. Roecher, New York Evening High School, and William Fox, East Side School. The transfer of Miss Adelaide Haight from Primary No. 23 to Primary No. 28 was approved, but the nomination of Miss Mary Shiels for principal was again rejected without prejudice, owing to the date of the nomination.

Mrs. Eva Monahan was reported by the Committee on By-laws for Attendance Officer, in the place of Wm. Fleming, who died last week; adopted.

REPORTS ADOPTED.

The following reports were adopted:

School Furniture, authorizing the trustees of the Twentieth Ward to advertise for proposals for supplying new furniture for the assembly room of Primary No. 27; denying the application from the trustees of the Twenty second Ward for a new piano for Primary department Grammar No. 51. Buildings, appropriating $525.90, for extra work on the contract of Thomas Cockerill & Son for erecting an addition to Grammar No. 87; appropriating $30, to pay bill of William H. Housner, Jr., for furnishing help and supervising the same as acting janitor Primary No. 22; denying the application from the Twelfth Ward to pay bills of John H. Van Tine, and suggesting that said bills be paid from the Incidental Expense Account. Sites and New Schools, relative to the acquisition of site on Trinity ave., between 135th and 136th sts.

FOR PRIMARY PRINCIPAL NO 54.

The Trustees of the Twelfth Ward have as yet made no nominations for principal of the Primary department of No. 54, the position from which Miss Eliza R. Knapp was recently retired. The school is in charge of Mrs. Henrietta L. Wood. Mrs. Wood will not be an applicant for principalship on account of ill health, and she will probably make an application to be retired in a short time. Miss Lizzie A. Shields, a capable teacher, is next in order of promotion. Among other first assistants in the ward who are eligible for the appointment to this position, are, Agnes M. Dunne, No. 93; Elizabeth C. Kelly, No. 86; Miss Grace De Forest and Miss Lizzie W. Garside, No. 39; Mrs. Eliza Silkman, No. 72; Miss Mary C. Meehan, No. 78; Miss Elizabeth B. O'Brien, No. 83, and Mrs. Lillie A. Farrell, 89. In the Primary schools in the ward are Miss Louise Moores, No. 3; Miss Rose C. Farley, of No. 9, and Miss Annie M. Dunphy, No. 21.

SCHOOL TOPICS.

Those who desire to subscribe to SCHOOL may do so by sending a postal card to our office, 154 5th ave. Grammar No. 5, of which Mr. Cassidy is principal, has had a tender of colors from Lafayette Post, G. A..R., and from Alexander Hamilton Post.

The contract for the supply of flags for the New York schools will probably be awarded in gross to the lowest bidder next year. It will amount to about $8,000.

The Building Committee is inclined to take the view that it can grant no licenses to janitors of the New District before January 1st. All the janitors of the district were summoned for examination before the committee last Wednesday. The new janitors will have to pass the regular examination for these places.

SHE CAUGHT THE THIEF.

Miss Harriet Benjamin, a teacher in the Allen Street Grammar of No. 42, of Miss Loss' department, who lives at No. 68 Sixth ave., was riding on a Lexington ave. cable car last Saturday afternoon, when Joseph Harris, alias Allen, twentynine years old, of No. 175 East 77th st., whose picture is No. 2,517 in the Rogues' Gallery, came in and sat down beside her.

Harris picked her pocket, she says, so neatly that the first intimation she had that anything was wrong was on seeing him hastily pushing his way out of the car. She then put her hand in her pocket, and, discovering her loss, pointed to Harris, who had jumped off the car, and shouted: "Catch him! He stole my pocketbook."

Several passengers pursued the thief, and Policeman McCauley, after a sharp run, caught him. Harris waived examination before Magistrate Cornell and was held for trial in $1,000.— New York Press.

WANTED A TEACHER.

There is a vacancy in Grammar School No. 52. The teacher must take charge of the vocal music of the school, in addition to her class-room duties. The position pays over fifty dollars a month, and the opportunity for rapid promotion is, perhaps, better in this school than in almost any other in the city.

DID NOT SEE IT.

A recruit wishing to evade service, was brought up for medical inspection, and the doctor asked kim:

"Have you any defects?"
"Yes, sir; I am short-sighted."

"How can you prove it?"

"Easily enough, doctor. Do you see that nail up yonder in the wall?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't."-Tit-Bits.

PLAINTS AND QUERIES.

ONLY WHAT IS DUE.

Editor of School:

DEAR SIR:-Permit me to decline the unmerited compliment conferred on Twelfth st. school in your last issue, when stating that Mlle. Camenen, recently appointed to the position of French tutor at the Normal College, was a pupil of No. 47.

We have the honor of claiming as a graduate, Mlle. Marie Constant, who took the highest per cent. at the competitive examination to fill that vacancy, but beg that the unintentional mistake, above quoted, may be corrected, having no desire to appropriate any tribute of laudation which is not justly our due.

Accepted praise, unfairly won,
Confesses weakness; for the sun
Shines not by a light reflected-
The dead moon is thus affected.
Warmth all gone, from Sol she snatches
The sole radience she flashes.
Unlike pale Luna, we would beam
And be the very thing we seem.
Very respectfully,

F. A. GRIFFIN. 36 East 12th st., New York, Oct. 28, 1895.

HE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

Editor School: DEAR SIR.-I think you make a mistake in giv. ing too much attention to the matter of making the salaries of women teachers the same as those of men, and if Mayor Strong would keep mere sentiment out of his administration in this respect, as he does out of his private business, he would get more credit in the end and obtain more practical results.

Do you not know that the biggest part of all this gush about equal salaries for women's work is undiluted gush and unpractical sentiment? It is absolutely opposed to the laws of Nature as they have been developed by 10,000 years of civilization. The woman is not the equal of man for toil and struggle. She has been, she is, and she will continue to be, despite all this gush, the able and efficient helpmate of man. This is recognized by science. It is recognized by every business man in his experience. It is recognized by teachers themselves in the city who do not want women as school superintendents, or school commissioners. The marriage rite is founded on a recognition of man's fitness to lead and direct; so are most other social laws, and that Episcopal bishop is not far out of the way when he says that the fad about the "New Woman" would turn public morals and everything else topsy turvey, if carried out. It never will be, and taxpayers are

not going to increase the school expenditures by raising woman teachers' salaries. What they will do if anything, and that is the tendency of all this ado, will be to bring male teachers' salaries down to the level of women's salaries. A MALE TEACHER.

NEW YORK, November 5th.

THE SALARIES OF MEN AND WOMEN TEACHERS. Editor of School:

I

DEAR SIR-With the deepest interest possible, have been looking towards any form of measures taken by the female teachers of our great system regarding the equalizing of salaries between male and female teachers. His Honor, Mayor Strong, sides with us-every noble, righteous man must? why not urge the matter now while all are awake to the injustice done. If we do equal work we should get equal pay.

It is urged that the male teachers are supposed to support families on their salaries; what of the vast number of female teachers on whom families depend for sole support out of a salary at least one-third smaller than that of our male friends? We all know, at least the principals all must admit that, all in all, our discipline and the character of instruction given by us is not below that of the gentlemen (in many cases quite the reverse). Yet I have heard of several cases where, when a lady and gentleman are instructing the same grade, with the best of success in each case, the salary received shows a difference of at least $20 in favor of the gentleman. I feel sure that this is unjust!

Besides, instructors in evening schools are all paid on an equal standard; special work is paid alike-hence, why such a vast difference in day school teaching?

Earnestly hoping that this may find favor and that you will lend us your able support, I am, Yours truly, ELEANOR SMITH,

NORMAL COLLEGE NOTES.

The Executive Committee has under consideration the establishment of an eligible list to fill vacancies in the different departments by competitive examinations. The sub-committee to whom this has been referred consists of Mr. Hubbell, chairman; Mr. Prentiss and President Hunter. The establishment of such a list will enable the Executive Committee to fill a vacancy without delay, instead of waiting sometimes five or six weeks until notice has been given of the vacancies, and all the necessary preparations made for examination. In the meantime the students suffer more or less by being taught by substitutes.

PIANO HAS NO EQUAL.

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