The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-15
At THE NIGHT SCHOOLS.
Pupils of All Ages and Of
Many Different
Nations.
ONE IGSoR ANT OF ENGLISH.
But All Anxious to Acquire Knowl-
edge-0ne Family Represented
by Three Generations.

One needs but a peep into any one
OF the seven night schools now in oper-
alton fn this city to convince him that
not solitary cent of the taxpayers
money Is more wisely expended than In
the direction of maintaining these worthy
institutions and of which the residents Of
Jersey City are so largely availing them
selves.
In the course o. the writer's inves ti-
CATIONS of the success of the night school
project, he was told many amusing incl
dents that would make far more enter
tanning sketch than this. which Is rather
OF a statistical turn. He found the teach
ers unwilling to allow anything
to go In print calculated to dis
courage their pupils or disparage
their efforts. All with whom he con-
versed upon the subject he found enthusi-
astic, even to standpoint of jealousy
in their work. In one of the schools
on the Hill he was informed
three generations of one family
were represented as pupils, and in the
lower section Of the city he was told OF
several instances where parents, jealO US
of the good fortune of their children in
acquiring knowledge denied them in
their youth, sent word to The teachers to
know II they could come and enjoy the
same privileges. The teachers are only
TOO glad to accord this privilege.
The seven night schools were re-opened
on the evening of Novembar after hav-
ing been closed several years. They are
distributed as follows:-NO. . IN Erie
street, No. 8 In Bright street, No. 8 in
sherman avenue, No. IL in Bergen square.
No. IA in Union street, No. 20 IN Danforth
avenue (Greenville), No. 81 in Twelfth
street.
THE STUDIES PURSUED.
The usual grade of studies is what is
known as the .'Three RS" In some of
the schools the higher grades include
bookkeeping anu mechanical drawing,
with commercial arithmetic. The girls
departments are separated from the
mems. While music Is not taught 1t fs
customary in nearly all the schools
to open and close the exercises with
singing. Comrades" has been ,'tabooed"
Dy The girls, but the boys still sing it with
vim. National airs are in great favor.
AS to how the night school project il
appreciated by the beneficiaries, the fol-
lowing figures speak more eloquently
than words
Superintendent Poland, at the meeting
Of the Board of Education Thursday
night. reported the average register III
dll bu6 Sctcu 6CuOOlS WAS S,uoO-ul6itSs
1,670; females, 1855. Average attendance
AZ all the schools, 1,593-males, 1928;
females, 300 Total register November
30 Qn all the schOols). 1,S07-males, 1.455;
females. 352. Total number of teachers
Elm loyed, %; per cent. of attendance. IS.
No 2 School in Erie street appears to
be the banner school, having total reg
lister November 80 of 34s-maies, 29l; fe-
males. 81; No. 8 Sch ,oI in the
Elevator district at first had
the highest register-4l6. November 30
the registry of No s school dropped TO
347. just QUE below No. 2. The smallest
school appears TO have been No. 20. In
Danforth avenue with total registry ar
first Of IT'S, which dropped to I'll before
November g.
This dropping Off is uniform and is ac-
counted for by several good reasons.
Naturally there was at first rush for ad-
mission. Some were not sincere. Others
various vocations to take advantage OF
the holiday rush of trnde.
AT SCHOOL NO. 2.
On Friday evening the writer dropped
into No. 2 School. He was met at the
door by Professor Snyder. who said. after
the writer had explained his mission:-
Come In. am glad you have called.
want you to tell the readers OF
The NEWS just what you see
here" and the writer was
usnered into the presence OF nearly three
hundred eager-faced boys and men. who
occupied the nine class rooms on the first
Iioor. BY system of sliding doors
these rooms had all been thrown
into one, and the principal with a
bell in hand took the platform. The
pupils were not dressed in broadcloth
anu here and there the battered garments
of even street arab were observed; on 3
raised platform fronting the desks of
toll
teacher, with features aglow with en-
thusiasm. The majority OF the pupils
were neatly dressed. These teachers
were Mlss Jennie Garry, first grade;
Misses Vida Mains and Lille Howell,
second grade; Misses Mary Shaffer and
Julia Perrin, Ada Park, Emeline Hyatt
and Laura Ennis, fourth grade.
The pupils and teachers had just as
sembled and the evenings session mad
not been called. II want you all TO sing
for me-" SAID Principal Snyder, rs he
mounted the rostrum. Miss Mains, will
you be kind enough to accompany the
Singers" Miss Maius, sweet faced 6ru-
nelte. stepped forward to the piano.
"Messrs Lynch, Bruce and Kelly, will
you be kind enough to step forward and
lead the singing. You sing the verses.
let the pupils join in the chorous."
The three young men, who wore flannel
Sunday coats, stepped forward. and ac-
companied by the fair pianist broke in
upon Comrades" The pupils joined in
the chorus. Some of them away back in
the corners came in on the nome stretch.
but they came in with the other comrades
just the same.
AN EXAMPLE OF DISCIPLINE.
"Doorsp' shouted the principal, tapping
bell. Four strappng young fellows
stepped forward from each class roonl.
Another tap of the bell, the doors coni-
menced to slide; the next moment the
writer was alone in a room with Princi-
pal Snyder. Somehow the writer felt he
wasn't in it, so to speak. But ne was
thus given a splendid opportunity to talk
with the Professor about night schools
before strolling through the various class
rooms. The Professor said his oldest
pupil was fifty years old-a colored man.
He could neither read nor write. Inc
professor was pleased with the eager
name in which the pupils took up their
studies. The school would close for Jhe
holidays Wednesday evening. December
%. and reopen January 4. PrluciDais
were receiving $50 month for their SER
vices, teachers SO month. 1T Is ex4ra
hours. you will bear III mind. h. sail.
.'day workers usually want doube pay
for night work, but we don't get 1t. the
teachers are enthusiastic in tneir WORK.
The pupils are equally enthusiasts. Tiie
professor counted niueteen pupils on mis-
register that could neltuer read nor write
when they applied for admission to his
night school.