The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-10-31
eco hnri REruRMs
To THE VOTERS or THE lsr ASSEMBLY DIS
TRIcT OF HUNTERDoN COUNTY.

FSs9eo- Citizens Having been honored by the
Republican Convention of this District, with
the nomination for Assemblyman, it would
afford me pleasure to meet the people in every
lay before them my honest views of some
measures which, in my humble opinion, de-
sDand radical reform but as the shortness
of The time that must elapse between now and
election, will prevent me from meeting with
but a small proportion Of my felow-citizens,
even in my own District, adopt the only
course that is left me to reach their ears 1.-The
medium Of the press of the District.
lst In my opinion (as lntimated briefly
at the conyention) our school system is in
want of great modification; and while dis
claim any wish CO letard the cause of Educa-
ton, iclaim thai the education of the chill
ly and effectually advanced by having the $780,
600 year that now go to officers and man
ayers of the school fund. who are employed to
distribute the balance of 5000, 900 appropriat-
ed by the State, to the district schools, where
the people have tight to demand that the
WHOLE sum should go--for out OF this annual
appropriation of $200,000, 40 per cent, or
$50, 600, are absorbed by officers and managers
before it reaches the districts !; and the conse-
divided among the many districts in the State,
the sum allowed to each is so meagre that it
leaves a great many OF the larger districts in
nalf starved condition--fof by the present
bad arrangement the small districts receive as
much. and in some cases think more, than
many of the larger ones. Now, let the law De
so modified as to do away with all useless Of
ficers and managers OF the school fund, and
let tile whole 100000 come directly to the
D:a&...&. 1,a a nnortiouad according to the
number of children therein, and it will be but
a few years before we can have substantial
school house in every district dwelling
house for the teacher, and we'll paid and eff
ficient teacher to occupy it. This accomplish
ed, the taxes that are now imposed for these
purposes could be done away with, and the
now heavy burdens of the people so much
lightened. In my humble opinion, the only
Board of Education necessary is competent
Teachers the only Board of Examiners, in
tellgent District Trustees; and the only Su-
perintendents, the employers of the District
Schools. So.
I'd. The State Normal School, professedly
established TO teach teachers to teach our dis
trict schools has virtually failed in its object,
and should be abolished as State institution.
Do You ask whys I reply Because while 1t
processes to fit and provide teachers for our
District Schools, the facts show that very
men who are educated In a great measure By
the State for teachers, never follow that avo-
cation; but very large majority of them
soon engage in other occupations, and but
few OF them ever teach at ALL at least in this
State. = look around you, and see how many
of the teachers Of public schools you know
who have been educated at our State Normal
School. For my part confess that do not
know, the first one, although / HAYES made
effort to find them. The fact is, gentlemen,
that while you are heavily taxed every year
for the ostensible purpose of educating per-
sons for teachers, most Of your money is spent
to educate the sons and daughters of persons
in easy circumstances, for the, professions, or
the wives Of professional m IN; and our dis
trict schools are mostly taught by our settled
ucated sons and daughters. or by teachers
brought from neighboring States.
Again ask you to look around you, and
see how many students of, the Normal School
you can find who are the children of parents
unable to give them an education Such ones
are total strangers to me.
3d. The State Model School is another
costly luxury, imposing burdens on the peo-
pie grievous to be borne and as it too has
failed of its professed object, should be abol-
ished, at least as State institutions. Do not
understand me to be opposed to Education
4 Not at all. believe that our school system
should be so regulated that every child in the
State (rich and poor) could attend FREE
school until they are IA or is years Of age
and 1also believe that our present State appro-
priation is amply sufficient for that purpose,
IL properly managed, and not gobbled up by
useless officers and managers.
4th The salaries of our officials are en-.
tirely too high, as rule, aid should be ma