Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-01-21
BOARD OF EDUCATION.


Board of Education was held on Mon
day evening, Jan. 18th
Members present :-Messrs. Miner,
Stiles, Siivers, Applegit, Peck, Kienzle
and Supt. Cox.
The President, Mr.. Bright, being alb
sent, Mr.. Miner was chosen President
pro temp.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and adopted.
Mr.. Miner reported that owing to a
press of business the past month he
had not been able to visit the schools
during their sessions. As member
of the Visiting Committee he had in
vestigated the crowded condition of
the Second ward school, and ascer-
tanned that there were 80 children who
claimed to want school accommoda-
ton. The committee were not success
full in securing a suitable room in the
Second ward, therefore made arrange
ments for their accommodation in the
Bank street school, and notified the
parents of the children to send them
there. Notwithstanding they professed
a desire to be accommodated, but eight
children had availed themselves of the
opportunity afforded
Mr.. Bright, being unable to be pres
ent, sent a written report. He said.
at the last meeting of the Board it was
reported that there were large num-
Der of children who could not gain ad-
mission to the Second ward school.
Since that time l have visited the Pri-
mary department of said school and [
find that there is not such a crowded
condition as to warrant the outlay of
an amount of money sufficient to open
another school in the ward. As the
Visiting Committee were appointed to
ascertain whether or not place could
be procured for school purposes
either at the Mission School room or
Perseverance Sunday School room
we would report as follows: That we
called on Mrs Fithian and asked her
if there was any show of our getting
the Mission Rooms for the purpose
and she said that she did not know
that they could be rented for the pur-
pose of holding weekday school, hat
that she had hoped to have night
school opened; that she would lay the
case before the Board of Directors, and
report to us afterward. We called
again. getting no definite answer, but
rather the refusal of renting the rooms
at ALL The same trouble was had in
relation to the other place, and we de-
cided that as the season was growing
rather inclement we might safely trust
scholars to the Bank street school, and
thus make room for those who might
wish to send their children to school
regularly. We also find that many
parents send their small children to
school very irregularly, only just
enough to keep their seats for them,
and the remainder of the time they are
out of school, thereby making it very
unpleasant for the teachers, and at the
same time keeping Others out who
might come more regularly. We have
requested the principal of the Second
ward school to send any who really
desired to attend school, and who
could not be accommodated, to the
Bank street school for the present.
To-day, while visiting Bank ST. school,
we found only seven scholars who have
presented themselves from the Second
ward school, mostly colored children
We did not find any of the schools
over-crowded in our visits and we are
of the opinion that there are several
who are under school age, and who
should have been in the nursery at
home instead of at school We have
visited all the schools during the month
excepting the Vine street Primary de-
partment of the Third ward school,
and are pleased at the progress of the
schools, and the order maintained by the
teachers in their several departments.
There has been some feeling on the
part of some parents in regard to their
children, and some complaint, but we
believe that the scholars have invaria-
bly, deserved all that they have received,
and in some cases they ought to have
received still more severe punishment
for insubordination. l sincerely hope
that the Board will always stand by
the principals in the proper discharge
of duty. We think that those who
take the census should be very careful
about enrolling children of tender age,
| g years. who are too young to be
sent away to school, but rather require
a nurse than teacher. We need legis-
lation in this matter more than we do
in some others that are of less serious
import to the community, and the
sooner we have it the better. Let the
members of the Board, and the parents
onI taNnavorS visit tho schools mora