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336   NEW YORK AFRICAN SCHOOL FOR BOYS.   337


NEW YORK AFRICAN SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
COMMUNICATED TO THE COMPLIER.

IN the African school for boys, in Mulberry-street, a class has long been established, which is perhaps the only one of the kind in the city of New York. It is composed of such boys as are the best behaved, and most advanced in their learning, say in arithmetic, as far as the Rule of Three. They are distinguished in school, by a medal suspended to the neck, on which are engraved the words, "Class of Merit."

2. This class has a regular meeting once a month, to transact business, and to hear the reports of standing and other committees. It is allowed one hour each session to conduct its business. Its officers are a chairman, secretary, register, and treasurer. The class, by a vote, determines in what branch of learning a member shall excel, to entitle him to the chair at the next succeeding meeting-the teacher always deciding. I have seen some specimens of penmanship, map drawing, composition, both in prose and verse, the performance of those lads, the result of this laudable emulation. 

3. The chairman preserves order and decorum at the meetings of the class; the secretary records, in a neat manner, their proceedings; the register enters in his book the names, qualifications, character, and other particulars of every member when admitted; and the treasurer collects the voluntary contributions* of the members at every stated meeting. On the admission of a new member, he is addressed by the chairman, and received in due form, in presence of the whole school.

4. The class appoints a committee at each stated meeting, whose duty it is to take notice of the general deportment of the members when out of school, and to report to the class, if they discover any thing in the conduct of a member immoral, or unbecoming; and the member so reported, is dealt with in such manner as the circumstances of the case may require; such as the suspension, expulsion, or otherwise : even reproof by the chairman has been know to have a very striking effect.

5. Another committee observe the appearances of the members, as it respects cleanliness, and report, if occasion require; and a third is called the Health Committee, who, on hearing of the sickness of any member, visit him, and render service of kindness, visit him, and render services of kindness, and report on such subjects at every regular meeting. 

*These contributions chiefly consist of school tickets of reward, bearing a nominal value, which the teacher receives for cash, and places to the credit of the class.  These funds, with the consent of the teacher, are disposed of by the class in purchasing books for the library, &c.

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