The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-07
SCHOOLS AND CHOLERA.
STATE SUPERIN1ENDENT CHAPMAN
EXPLAINS.

What Hudson County Draws-Dtscus-
sing Plans For Improving schools
Am Extra Long Vacation.
A special meeting of the Board of Educa-
ton was held yesterday afternoon. The
schools are to undergo repair during vaca-
ton, and Chief Engineer Ruggles had pre-
pared specifications for the Board of Edu-
cation to approve. The work is to be fin
ished by the time the school sessions are
resumed. They include such repairs as
flooring, fencing, lathing, and other general
work. The specifications are to go before
the Board of Works tomorrow.
In discussing the specifications, the new
Education Board worked without gloves.
All six were present, and the way IN which
they showed up some of the buildings
would have suited q majority of the pupils,
The Chairman of the Committee on Local
Schools, which includes No. 10, pronounced
that building in an unsafe condition, the
stslrs being so rotten that in places the
childrens feet go through the boards. The
water closet, not being connected with the
sewer. produces an unwholesome stencil.
An almost similar complaint was made of
School ID. The gentleman from the Sixth
District, speaking of the Greenville section,
expressed it as his opinion that the new
school would not be ready within q year.
Meantime, the foundation of the old school
mo. 20) is going apart. the fences have dis
appeared. and waste water from the pump,
instead of being drained off, returns to the
we'll. Professor Barton said that the old
Committee, in making their examination,
did not visit No. 20, because of the new
building to be,put up.
School No. Is, in West Bergen, not mem
toned in the list, was pronounced in
shocking condition. ''We pay S240 year
for that building" said the representative
from that section of the city, s.but would
not give $3.50 for the ownership of it. We
could put up building that would be
cheaper for the city. In addition there is
not seating capacity enough. 1t appears
that this building, which is leased from
the Pequannock Land and Building Asso-
citation, has old style vault, and the stencil
therefrom is pronounced almost unbear-
able. The same state of affairs exists at
No. 10 school, one of the members declar-
ing that he would not live within 100 feet
of the building rent free, eve ought" he
urged, "to be indicted unless these defects
are remedied."
At this point State Superintendent of
Schools Chapman was introduced. Mr.
Chapman spoke well of the condition of
the schools of this citys but introduced
subject which needs the careful attention
of the Board. Speaking of his work he
said, in substance: Hudson County is the
only county in New Jersey that receives
more than she contributes for the School
Fund. Under the new plan, ninety per
cent. of the school fund is distributed, the
remaining ten per cent. being held for the
districts most needing assistance. For in
stance, Somerset receives, all told, but 80
per cent of what she contributes; Essex
yields up eight per cent, while Hudson
County, IN clear cash, gets $1,000 more
than she contributes" Mr.. Chapman
thought there might be difficulty in secur-
ing this appropriation for the next year.
ssThere is feeling abroad, he continued,
ssthat the Hudson County school census is
swelled, that there are more children
credited to the county than there should
be-" He advised that the most scrupulous
care be taken with the new census
Mr.. Laird was of almost the same opin-
ion as the President. He had noticed, he
said, that the populations of districts
fuctuated, and was of opinion that a
A motion was adopted that the Commit
local committees, look after the four leased
school buildings.
The specifications for repairs to the
schools then came up. A resolution was
adopted concurring in the engineers re-
port, after some amendments had been
added. These were that bannisters and
stairs were to be fixed, water closets con-
nected with the sewers, such repairs made
in school IS as the city is legally bound to
make, and that school 20 be rendered habit
able until the new building is ready for oc-
cupancy; also that Georgia pine be used
for flooring. white pine for fences.
The question of vacation followed.
Professor Barton stated that he would like
to close the schools on Friday, the 26th
inst. The members agreed with him, sew
eral speaking in favor of long vacations,
and it was decided to extend play time to
the 7th of September The Board adj
journed after fling several applications for
teaching.