The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-27

from the State school tax is less to the ex-
tent OF fifty cents per child than it was 1--WE
years ago.
Here we may state that the whole num-
Der OF children registered by the school
census was upward OF $4,000, nearly two
thirds of whom, or 10000, were regularly
enrolled in the public schools. or the latter.
rather more than third attended less than
four months, and the average attendance
was 100000. If, however, the number OF
children between the ages OF five and seven
and OF sixteen and eighteen years be de-
Quoted from the census, 1t will be found that
nearly all between seven and sixteen years
OF age receive instruction during a part of
the year. We may add that the provision
of the law requiring the schools to be kept
open at least nine months IL more than
complied with in almost all the districts OF
the State It is also satisfactory to learn
that improved desks and seats are being
rapidly introduced Already some nine
hundred school buildings, or about three
flfths OF the whole number, are equipped
with furniture constructed on hygenio
principles.
As we have said, the force engaged in
public instruction was somewhat larger,
although the means available for payment
were less. The number Of male teachers
employed during the year was 94 and that
OF female teachers 1856; the former re-
ceiving on an average about 500 month
and the latter $37. We observe that tho
salaries in Essex County range higher than
in any other part Of the State, Hudson
and Union ranking next, while the lowest
stpends are paid in Salem and Huntcrdon.
Naturally the curtailed amounts derived
from taxation are reflected in q general re-
duction OF teachers pay throughout the
State. As n result, some Of the male teach
crs have left the profession and their
places have been taken by women. Never
theless, there is reason to believe that the
standard OF scholarship required for license
has been considerably raised, and that
examinations are made moro rigid. There is
no doubt that this Improvement in the quail
ity Of tuition, which we should hardly ex-
pect to be coincdent with decline in sala-
rics, must be mainly attributed to the Nor
NAL School. This institution, which appears
to perform the part Of driving wheel In
q well-adjusted scheme OF public education,
furnished during the year 1877 one hundred
and eighty-two graduates and one hundred
and forty-eight undergraduates to the State
corps OF instruction. The pupils in this es-
tablishment pledge themselves to teach
two years within the State but It is COM
| puted that ON an average the graduates OIL
ciate in the public schools four years and a
half, and the undergraduates more than two
and a half years.
The New Jersey Board ass igns some ex-
cellent reasons for not recommending uni
form series OF school books for the State.
The measure has some obvious advantages,
| but 1t devolves an onerous responsibility
upon the committee or individual authorized
TO make the selection Moreover. it is not
economical, for 1t gives the monopoly of
sale TO single publishing house, which Is
likely to exact monopoly prices. Amore de-
cisive objection IS the fact almost invaria-
bly, observed where the experiment has been
tried, namely, that the secret and pecuniary
pressure brought to bear by publishers upon
the arbiter tends 10 make the latters Office
a coveted prize Of politicians. The most inn
portant argument in favor Of State uni
formity is that children moving from one
district to another are not obliged TO buy
new books; but this reason would have nc
force If the purchases were made, not by the
parents. but by the district The latter
method. We may mention, has already beon
adopted in l57 districts OF the State.
Another question. which deserves more
attention than it commonly receives, is dis
cussed by the New Jersey Board. More
than one-third OF the teachers in the State
proved upon inquiry TO be accustomed 10
coniine themselves TO text books while
conducting Rotations. II this constitutes
teaching, it is pertinently urged, then to
know how to read should go far to sum up
the qualifications OF an instructor. For
arithmetic, keys giving solutions OF the
problems can be secured, and for most OF
the other studies the teacher need only SO,
that the language Of the text book is fol
lowed. II will scarcely be gainsaid that TIA,
book In tho hands Of the teacher must pre-
vent his giving proper attention to the class
and cramp the free activity OF his mind
With his eyes riveted upon the page, he vii
not perceive the difficulties under which
pupils may be laboring nor will he be likel!
10 devise apt illustrations, or suggest thu
needed explanations. This is a matter whicl
school committees will do well to look a
somewhat narrowly; and the New Jerse,
Board OF Education have rendered substan
tlal service by bringing it to public notice.
DE GOlyer Garfield.
| a H.