The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-17
OVHRCROWDHD SCHOOLS
A Tour of the Places
Where Children Must
Study.
IF THEY CAN GET ADMISSION.
Many Turned Away--The Danger of
Fire in Number Two.

Among the promises which each gener
alton makes to that which follows, there
Is no other SO sacred as the pledge Of
free and adequate opportunity for educa-
tion. How is that promise kept in Jersey
City9
] made the tour of the city schools this
morning in quest of an answer to the
question, and it is here presented. THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS has never relaxed it's
interest in the welfare of the school
children, and endeavors to present in its
columns an absolute accurate account Of
the conditions existing now that after
silence of three months the school bells
have rung out again.
l first visited School No. on York
street, between Warren and Washington.
The hum and buzz of the little ones was
simply deafening, for school had not yet
been called to order. Principal George
ii. Lindsey was on deck, beaming with
good nature. and when / told him the
nature of my mission, he was lavish in
his praise of the enterprise of the JERSEY
CITY NEWS.
The grammar department." said Mr..
Linsley, has sufficient accommodations,
but the primary is sadly overtaxed. We
have not as yet refused any pupils, but
will be compelled to do so from now on.
Every seat is full"
took a glance at the primary depart
nent as was leaving, and the state Of
affairs was really pitiful. Every seat was
occupied, impromtu affairs had been
rugged up for many, and a number were
standing waiting. like Micawber, for
something to turn up, that they, too,
might be accommodated.
As / entered the doors of School No. 3,
on Bright street, between Barrow and
Jersey avenue, the familiar strains of the
"5wanee River" reached my ears and
the old song was well sung, too. When
the song was finished the children were
congratulated by Captain Brensinger, the
principal, and then, like clock work, with
military precision, the various divisions
OF the Grammar Department marched to
their proper class rooms.
In answer to my Interrogation as to the
sufficiency of accommodations, Mr.. Bren-
singer replied:-"The grammar classes
are all right; we can accommodate the
advanced scholars, but we have had to
refuse many of the primary children.
We are crowded, as you can see, but go
Kirby. He will probably give You some
material"
THE CROWD AT NO. TWO.
betook myself to School No. 2 on Erie,
between Third and Fourth streets. It is
an old ramshackle structure, hideous on
the outside and perfect barn on the in
side
1--WE are crowed in both departm ents.
grammar and primary" )" quoth Mr. Kirby.
.aThe building you can examine; and can
Judge for yourself as to its sanitary de-
fects and want of light. We have seat
ing capacity of 1894 and have now over
1,40O as on the roll. and the most serious
part of it is that this building is danger
Gus. How we should save the children in
case of fire do not know"
There was every indication of the
danger he spoke of. True the building
has two exits, but both are at the front,
and the stairs are narrow, crooked and
steep. The thought of 1400 children rush.
ing and tumbling down them in q fire
panic is enough to send a chill to ones
heart. And when the fire comes there
may be but one that is not closed by
fame and smoke-there may be none.
Think of itp'
'Why is it," enquired, that all the
schools can accommodate the grammar
scholars, but are so pressed for space in
their Primary Department.,
''Oh, that's easily explained A great
many-in fact the larger proportion of
oIr pupils are withdrawn from school
between the ages of twelve and fourteen
In number of cases at that tender age
the become the breadwinners of their
families or have to assist fathers, mothers
and sisters whose compensation, unaided,
is insufficient to meet the wants Of the
house."
Now, will introduce you to Mrs. Eve
land, who has charge OF the primary de-
partment, and she will point out TO you
the many defects and the bad sanitary
conditions of her rooms.
With Mrs. Eveland made tour of the
primary department. had seen many
school rooms in my time, but never had
witnessed such sight as l now beheld.
Every seat was occupied in all the class
rooms-three sat where two were meant
to sit: and many children were sitting on
the tops of the little desks.
LIKE MATCHES IN A BOX.
In one room, much too near the water
closets, We're crowoed III little children,
ranging in age from five to seven years.
They were all bright looking little young
sters and certainly showed the improve
ment that vacation had brought them in
the way of red cheeks, swapping eyes and
lively demeanOr. | am not prophet nor
the son of one, but unless some move
is made in the matter all the
win soon be lost. Think of it! 120 little
ones crowded together as tightly as
matches in box, with but one window
to let in the light of heaven, and door
for egress, connecting with other rooms
Just as badly ventilated, lighted and
crowded.
Il refused 150 applicants for admission
this morning." said Mrs. Eveland. I'VE
have no place for them. We are crowded
almost beyond the limit now; and isn't it
wrong that SO many dear little ones
should be compelled to suffer in this wayf
Mr.. Dugan has done all that lay IN his
power with the limited means at his COM
mand to help us; but then for any per-
manent improvement it Is absolutely
necessary that we should have a new, ca
pacieus building, with good light and
better sanitary qualities. Do urge this
matter in your paper and it will be q
great benefactor to the little ones.
At Training School No. 5 it was the
same old story-the little ones crushed
and crowded, gasping for want OF air and
room.
NUMBER FOUR IS Bad
At No. 4, on Eighth street, between
Grove and Henderson, the condition or
things is but slight improvement on
those of Mr.. Kirby's school. The SANTA
tion and ventilation is tride better, but
| there were the same throngs of unseated
| little ones, waiting with wistful, longing
ewes to be given some place in the class
In LAFAYETTE Miss Ballou had to deny
| the application of 101 scholars yesterday,
and from all parts of the city comes the
same cry-more schools, with better
| light and sanitary qualities.
In School No. l, with seating capacity
of 900, 900 scholars are already admitted,
and hundreds of little oneswho will come
after cannot be given place.
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