The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-30
MUSIC IN SCHOOL.
Principal Haskell Fayors
1t On Educational and
Disciplinary Grounds.
OUR tPooR WAY OF PAYING.
The Cost of Song In Jersey City's
Schools Tax On the Chill
dren = Perhaps a
Change Soon.
OUR tP00R WAY OF PAYING

IHe report OF the discussion by HODO-
ken educators upon the advisabilty of
teaching music in the schools. which ap-
peared In last nights JERSEY CITY NEWS,
has aroused widespread interest," among
educators in the city, and has formed
their chief topic of conversation since it's
publication. In order to obtain the gem
eral opinion of those interested in this
long discussed question, JERSEY CITY
NEWS reporter has interviewed several
prominent school officials whose views
have weight in the discussion.
MUSIC IN JERSEY CITY.
PERHAPS there is no greater lover Of
music, or hrmer believer in its refining
properties than Principal Charles S.
Haskell. of No. IA School, on Union
steeet. Mr.. Haskell was at his cosy home
on Park street when called on him last
evening. He had read of the proceedings
OF the HoooKen' educators, and was ih a
| mood to discuss the matter as relating TO
the pubic schools of this city.
Is music taught in the Jersey City
schools?" / asked
lin sense of the word it is" he re-
Piled.
"Does the city pay for this teaching,
or are the instructors paid by voluntary
COQUlQueQ.
L am sorry to say that the city does not
pay the musical Instructors in our
schools. The course pursued in raising
sufficient money to pay the various in
structors is peculiar one, but one which
has been in operation for years. Years
ago, when Mr.. Victor Baier was the in
structor, he received his remuneration
from the school children. He finally OBJ
jected to this manner Of procedure, and
as a result the city lost his services and
he associated himself with Hasbrouck In
stitute. Matters are unchanged today
| and penny at Il time the money is raised
with which the musical Instructors are
paid. There is an assessment levied upon
the school children of about twenty five
cents a quarter This plan worked all
righJ for time. but one cannot imagine
what an annoyance it is to be forever
begging. 1t is nothing else and it Is
peeuliar principle. Inc children, in
Aay instances, would greatly prefer
4 taking that twenty-five cents and buying
peanuts. Some of them do not like music
and Will not learn it. ana 1t is from these
that deficits are caused in the fund made
up for the payment of the teachers"
HIGHLY BENEFICIAL
"Do you approve of music being taught
in public schools?" asked
Indeed l do" was the reply 81 be-
lieve it is attended always with good re-
suits. / am perfectly willing to teach it.
am willing to devote a certain time to
the training of the scholars. think
music in schools has a most beneficial
effect. would like very much to see the
Board of Education engage a musical in
structor and pay for the work. would
like to see a time set apart for musical
training and then permit no tagging. The
teachers In some cases, perhaps,
would object. but their objec-
tions could very easily be overcome.
When the idea of teaching drawing
was suggested, many of the teachers
were Mortified. Now, drawing has been
taught for some time and the result is
one to be proud of. Excellent work has
been accomplished in this direction and
there is no reason why it should not be
done in music. Let an Instructor give a
lesson and then nave the teachers drill
the children. / would like very much to
see one of the regular courses of the
schools the same as iG is In the city of
Brooklyn. We have the time to treat il
on moderate scale. and there is no rea-
son why we should not, while there are
almost innumerable reasons why we
should" !"
Has the study of music any disciplin-
ary value?" asked.
ut hasa most decided value. Music.
acting upon the average character, will
bring out all that is better and finer. 1t
will cultivate and refine, and where you
have these essential features you have
good order. I am a firm believer in music
AMI its chorus, and also fully believe
that the establish hment OF a musical course
in our schools would be long stride in
the walk of improvement and elevation"
IN FAVOR OF PROGRESS.
l also saw one Of the members of the
Board of Education last night When
spoken to upon the subject, he said:-
Our Board was never in
better financial condition than
now. I have considered the idea of
having regularly employed and paid
musical instructor in our schools, and l
believe that nothing but good could re-
suit from such an Improvement. In
other large cities, instructors are engaged,
and | see no reason why Jersey City
should fall behind in the march of i'm
provement. / will support any move
ment made in this direction. /"