Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-06-27
THAT CENTRAL SCHOOL.
A subject which admits OF Ar.
yUmenE.

WAS hppOlulou 10 CO1Sluer tue maUCer
of better school accommodations, but in
Difference to gentlemen on the COM
mittee representing both sides of the
question, who thought it best not to
make public the result of the meeting
until after it was submitted to Council,
we refrained from giving it publca-
give one-sided report, it is but just
that the arguments in favor of a Gen.
trail school, should be heard.
1t is claimed that there is a pressing
need for more accommodations in the
Third ward, and new school house is
desired ON the Vine street property
The report as handed in from Third
ward school to the Board of Education
last winter, when the schools were full
est, gives the whole number in attend
ance to be 367, while in 1887 it was 373
A comparison of figures show that the
average attendance last winter was
lsss than the year previous. Of the
367 reported in attendance, 214 were in
the Primary department and SO in the
Secondary department.. 1t will be
seen that the great pressure is in the
Primary department., and yet there
was but one room-No. (which re-
ported Sc, the limit prescribed by the
rules for a teacher in the Primary de-
partment. The numbers reported
were: No. /, SO; No 2, SO; No. 3, 40; No.
4, SO.
If the Grammar departments of the
city were consolidated, the two rooms
occupied by the Grammar department
could be taken by the Secondary and
leave two rooms for the Primary, af-
fordipg accommodation for 112 scholars
OF the 2.735 children in the city,
2,o9S reside east of the Cohansey and
west of Burlington avenue-more than
three-fourths. The census of school
children in the Third ward, for 1889. is
637; while in 1880 the number returned
was 1888; 1884, 65S; 1887, 725.
The Third ward has accommodation
for SO per cent. of the entire census of
the ward, while cas- of the Cohansey
there are accommodations for only 81
per cent.
If the new school house in the Third
ward, is asked for because the present
ones are worn out, lei it be built al
once; but if it is because of lack of &C.
commodation, figures seem to indicate
that such is not the case, as in 1880
they accommodated 733, while in 1889
they are compelled to accommodate
only 6G7.
We do not think that the advocates
of a Central school are prompted by
any jealousy or any desire to deal un-
justly with the people of the Third
ward, but believing that the greatest
good for the entire city can be accom-.
plished with a Central Grammar
School, they are desirous that their ar
guments be made public.
The last report Of the National Board
of Education, shows that 80 per cent
of the cities the size of Bridgeton, have
Central Grammar schools, and that
the best results are attained in these
schools, while the poorest results come
from a city about the size of Bridgeton,
when they maintain Grammar de-
partment in each ward.
Outside of the first cost of a new
building, the schools with Central
Grammar department can be conduct
ed with less expense, both as to salar-
les and school supplies 1t is a we'll
known fact that the total number Of
children in the Grammar departments
of the three schools of this city, does
not exceed 300. In fact the enrolment
reported last winter was" Bank street
school. no; Second ward; %: Third
ward, 81. Total 1919. Now to teach
this number, it requires three primo
pals and three assistants, whose COM
bined salaries amount to $3, 975; or for
each scholar per year, in Bank street
Grammar department., $16; Second
ward, $41; Third ward, $21. With
Central school and principal with
three assistants, this same number
could be taught at great saving, even
if the principal should receive 81, 200
year.
Then again, under the present sys-
tenn, if globes, charts, encyclopedias
and other necessary appliances are
bought, it requires just three timesl as
much as with a Central school.
1t does not follow that because the
school is to be central that it should
cost any more money than if built for
one ward. Neither is it necessary for
any studies to be taught beyond what
are now prescribed by the rules of the
Board of Education; besides no such
innovation could be made except by
two-thirds vote of the entire Board.
We do not know of a single advocate
of a central school who so desires.
The idea is not to carry the scholars
beyond what is prescribed in the pre-
sent course of study, but to make the
present system more effective by GEN.
tralizing all the grammar school
pupils. The Board of Education has
wise provision in its rules requiring
a two-thirds vote of the entire Board
to elect teachers, change salaries or
textbooks or amend the rules. This
is safeguard against the extravagant
ideas which the opponents of the
central school claim will follow.