The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-10

engaged in the voluntary performance of
the duties of the service.
Education.
The condition of the educational interests
of the state of New Jersey is very crafty
ing. There has been additional school ac-
commodation provided for, as shown by
the report of the state superintendent of
public instruction, and the value of school
property has increased nearly S1,000,000.
The school property of the state now
amounts to $40, 0o4, 236. The total expendi-
lures for school purposes during the past
year was about $4,000 600. The sum of
S74S, rs. rs was expended during the past
year for new buildings and repairs, and adj
ditional accommodations were provided
for s,437 pupils. Our schools will now &C
pommodate 1886, $50 pupils. The enrolment
Of children has been increased 1854 during
the past year, and 766 male and 4,015 fe-
male teachers were employed, being an in
crease of IA over the preceding year. The
average salary paid per month to the men
is SIS. "a and to the women S43.54.
Under the efficient management of the
new board there has been a decrease in the
expenditures of the deaf mute school of
SlS,0SS, while its general usefulness has
been increased. The addition to the State
z 4NOTHldt tSSuOO1 AbS OcCn GOLlR i6bCu tuQ
furnished and is now in use. 1t has greatly
improved the efficiency of the school. The
total amount expended for this building
and its furniture was $4,000.
The new state census taken under the SUI
peryision of Hon. John J.. Mathews, ap
pointed for that purpose, has enabled the
state board to obtain a correct statement of
the children of school age in the state, and
will enable the board to distribute the 10
per cent. of the school tax upon a more
equitable basis than heretofore. The old
method of taking the school census, it was
well known, was unreliable, n the new
census has demonstrated that great injus-
tice has been lone certain portions of the
state by the distribution made under it.
We now lave a census on which we can
rely.
The incorporation of industrial features
into the schools has been of great practical
benefit and is growing in public favor. Fcr
manual and industrial training there has
been paid by the state during the past year
s24, 325. 95, and the localities have raised q
like sum for these purposes.
I take pleasure in calling attic ntion to the
work of the state board of education dur
ing the past year. l cannot summarize it
better than by referring to the statement
made by DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler, chair
man of the committee on education. He
said at the last meeting of the state board
of education that greater progress had been
made during the past three years in educa-
tional matters than in any preceding dec
ade in the history of schools in this state;
that the normal school during that time
had doubled its attendance, extended its
buildings, enlarged its facilities and had
reached an unexampled era of prosperity;
that many economies had been introduced,
SO that despite its rapid development ithad
become TO a considerable extent self sup
porting; that the model school had in
creased its number of pupils and was more
popular than ever; that the deaf mute
school had been fully re~organized, the ex-
penses reduced and the efficiency of the
school largely increased. During the same
period a new and correct census of children
of school age had been taken under the re-
cent act of the legislature, which was a
great advance on previous methods; that
the whole system of state examinations
and the licensing of teachers had been re-
arranged and improved, and the standard
of efficiency throughout the state had been
raised.
I call particular attention to the recon-
mendations and suggestions made in the
report of the state superintendent and the
committees of the board to still further
advance our free school system. Our peo-
pie have never complained of any tax m
posed upon them under fair rules for the
education of the children of the state. Tax
alton for this purposes willingly borne, be-
cause tbe prosperity and the advancement
of the state depend upon the education OF
its children. In my messages of 1891 and
1892 l dealt fully with this subject, and
call attention thereto in connection with
what / have here stated.
Normal and Model Schools.
The normal school was established under
the act of 1856 (P. L. 1856, page 25) for the
training and education of teachers in the
art of ipstructing and governing the COM
mon schools of the state. The school has
had an exceptionally prosperous and sue
cessful year. Its course of study has been
enriched, the standard of scholarship
raised and the methods of teaching sensi-
bly, improved by the new facilities placed
at the disposal Of the instructors. Since
the establishment of the school it has grad
uated 1929 teachers. The annual enroll
ment has increased from 43 to 398. Of this
growth 143 lave been added during the
last three years, contemporaneous with an
increase in the length of the course of study
and the requirements for admission. Dur
ing these three years the annual gradua-
ton has grown from 35 to 11S. A very
large percentage of the graduates are en-
gagged in the actual work of teaching.
They are well equipped for their worl as
is amply demonstrated by the increa Led
favor with which they are received I'd
the larger compensation which is paid
them from year to year. The supply of
these teachers is not equal to the present
demand. An addition to the annual ap-
preparation is asked because of the enlarge
ment of the corps of teachers rendered nee
essary by its growth.
The model school is maintained as a pat
tern school wherein the normal students
can witness the best principles of teaching
in practice and gain experience therein.
This school is self supporting. Its annual
enrolment since its organization has in
creased from 125 to COB, there being a
growth of 1853 during the past three years.
During these three years the annual earn
ings of the school nave advanced from $751;
959.46 to $40, 1896.
The total receipts of the two schools for
the past year, including the balance from
last account, annual appropriations, books
and tuition, were $4S, 762. Oh; disburse-
ments, $s44, 567. II; balance, n, 194.84. Dur
ing the past year the residence formerly
occupied by the principal was added to band