The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-13
DIRECTOR PFINGsTEN,s PITCHER.

1t Was a Delicate Tribute of Affection TO
the Board of Education.
All the members of the Board oil
Education were present at the meeting
yesterday afternoon, excepting Presl-
dent Voorhees,. Director =. ID. Ben
son presided.
A communication inviting the Board
to be present at the exercises OF the
Ladies' Training Glass next Friday
afternoon, at three o'clock, and asking
that some member of the Board
deliver an address, was read and filed.
The absent president was appointed to
make the address.
Principal A. B. Gilbert, of Public
School No. 7, in a communication,
asked that two weeks relief from duty
be granted him, in order to allow him
to recuperate. The matter was referred
to the Committee on High Schools.
An abstract from the principals report
for the month of February was then
read. Superintendent Poland, after
reading the report, made extended
remarks upon the subject of manual
training in schools, during the course
of which he recited the results of his
close observation and study of the
various methods in vogue.
He seemed to favor the establish
ment of a High School of Mechanical
Art. As there are more young men
who go out from the schools to gain a
livelihood by following trades than
those who seek professions, he saw no
reason why extra exertions should not
be made in their behalf. The men who
opposed manual training five years
ago now favor it, and the contention
is not now over its good or ill effects,
but whether the grammar schools
should reap its advantages as we'll as
those of a higher grade. Two hours
per day in a technical course would hit
the scholar to graduate in one-half the
time in a course of civil engineering
and similar branches.
In accordance with suggestions con
tanned in the report of the Committee
on Teachers Salaries, Miss Lilly Wat
son, of School No. IA, was transferred
to School No. 10, and Miss Annie
Judge, from School No. 10 to
School No. IA. Margaret A. Sim
mons was appointed a teacher in the
grammar department of School No. 10.
School No. s was reported closed be-
cause of a lack of funds, and the cell
ing of School No. 1 was reported as
being in need of repairs.
Director Pfingsten, in moving that
the leave Of absence asked for by
Mr.. Gilbert be granted, took occasion
to speak well of the efforts of that
gentleman in behalf of public instruc-
ton, and said that the impaired condi-
ton of his health was due solely to his
efforts in that direction. He scored
the press for it's alertness in pointing
out the misconduct of public servants,
and said he noticed they seldom dis
played so much exertion to advertise
the good traits of one who does his
duty faithfully.
Director Pfingsten also, in a round
about manner, mildly berated the
press for not reporting that he had
been the recipient of a handsome silver
pitcher, a present from the scholars of
No. s night school. He desired to
state that he did not consider the pre-
sentation act as indicating sole appre-
citation on the part of the scholars for
his services, but was intended as a
testimonial of their regard for the
Board of Education, ~whereupon M
of his brother directors in a very neat
and humorous little speech claimed
the pitcher as property of the Board.
There are no indications that the
Board will get it.