West-Jersey pioneer., 1875-05-13
EDUCATIONAL.

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we regret the inaction of our Board of Edu-
cation in regard to proper school facilities.
Bridgeton ought to have a school system
far in the advance, while it is generally ad-
lingering in the ancient ruts of fogyism.-
Within the past five years it is true, great
advance has been made, and many reforms
inaugurated, and yet all this is in a great
measure due to the untiring industry and
ability of such men as DR.. r. W. Elmer,
FL. B. Shoemaker, T. G. Dunn, Samuel
Applegit, Prof. B. G. Ames, G. G. Hamp-
ton and others. Through their efforts much
good has been done, Notwithstanding all
which, however, we have to record the la
mentable fact that we are still in the rear
of many of our sister cities. The reason of
this is because our School Trustees, (al-
though composed in the main of good men)
have as yet had too much of the hesitating,
'spenny wise and pound foolish policy in
connection with the schools. For the sake
of economy, teachers were selected at the
lowest possible figure. This seems to have
been done with an eye only to the saving
of a few dollars to be squandered on the
roads for instance, endeavoring to make
water run up hill, or laying out some new
street which never was needed or never will
be. The most important matter in munich
pal affairs is the education of the young
We are called upon annually to pay our
burden of school taxation, and as people
we expect to have the monies so collected,
put to the best attainable purpose. The
common school is the great educator of the
people. Without it, the State would soon
decay and pass away. The more education
the better the nation. 1t is therefore, an
important matter that our children be prop
erly trained. In training them we should
have the best talent and most cultivated
minds. To get it we must pay for it. No
teacher of superior ability can be secured
for mere stipend. The principle ought to
betoget competent, thorough going teachers,
and pay them literally. There is no pro-
fession that is more poorly paid than that
of teaching, while as a rule, the instructors
of the youth of our land perform more labor
and have more difficult work than almost
any other class. They must labor arduous-
ly for the proper instruction of their pupils,
patiently overlooking many things that
would have tried even the patience of Job.
Of late, Bridgeton has been favored with
cQuora1 ovoo11apf faan ntorc xrhor, &c
Prof. Ames, one of the most talented and
successful instructors it has ever been our
privilege to know. As Principal of the
Third ward School, he has performed a
noble work, inaugurating a model educa-
tional system, and introducing many needed
reforms. By his genial manners and ear
nest work, he has built up splendid school
and gathered around him a large circle of
warm friends, the majority Of whom are
the parents and relatives of the children
he has had under his supervision. Prof.
Ames is a man of worth, and the people of
Columbia, Pa, appreciate him, as shown
by the unanimous vote of their School
Board in calling him to the Professorship
of that borough. They know the value of
the man, and intend to have him if posi-
BILE. 1t seems to us that we should endeavor
to retain Mr.. Ames by all means. 1t will
be a matter of economy to do SO, even if
additional salary should be given him, and
we believe that the great mass of our peo-
pie want him to remain. To have good
schools we must have good teachers, there
fore, let us begin at the foundation, and re-
tain the good that we have and add thereto
as fast as possible. With a thorough corps
of instructors, and High School, to be
located in the centre of this city, to which
the advanced scholars of the intermediate
departments could be sent to graduate, a
long step would be taken toward the build
ing up of better system of education
Let the Board of Education act, and act
speedily in these matters.