Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-01-19
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secured much valuable climatic data will
be obtained from its corps Of ffty-four we'll
trained meteorological observers. One
hundred and eighty-three persons are now
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 pratify-
ing. There has been additional school &c.
commodation provided for, as shown by
the report of the state superintendent of
/ public instruction, and the value of school
property has increased nearly 81, 100000.
1 The school property Of the state now
amounts to $1,000, ,236 The total expendi-
lures for school purposes during the past
year was about s4,000O0 The sum Of
4 $74S, us. Is was expended during the past
4 year for new buildings and repairs, and ad.
dltional accommodations were provided
\ for ,437 pupils. Our schools will now ac-
1 commodate 235, $50 pupils. The enrolment
4 Of children has been increased 5,754 during
the past year, and 765 male and 4,0I5 fe-
male teachers were employed, being an in
crease OIL Ia over the preceding year. The
/ average salary paid per month to the men
] is s15. "a and to the women $43.54.
Under the efficient management Of the
new board there has been decrease in the
expenditures of the deaf mute school of
S1S,0SS, while it,s general usefulness has
4 been increased. The addition to the State
I Normal school has been completed and
furnished and is now in use 1t has greatly
1 improved the efficiency Of the school. The
total amount expended for this building
and its furniture was $4S 000
The new state census taken under the sll-
pervision of Hon. John j. Mathews, ap
pointed for that purpose, has enabled the
state board to obtain 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 more
equitable basis than heretofore. The Old
method of taking the school census. il was
well known, was unreliable, and the new
census has demonstrated that great inius-
tice has been done certain portions Of the
state by the distribution made under il.
\ We now have 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. For
manual and industrial training there has
been paid by the state during the past year
$24, 1856, and the localities have raised
/ like sum for these purposes
4 / take pleasure in calling atte ntion to the
work of the state board of education dur
ing the past year. I cannot summarize it
better than by referring to the statement
made by DR.. 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 it
buildings, enlarged its facilities and had
reached an unexampled era Of prosperity;
that many economies had been introduced,
SO that despite its rapid development it had
\ become to a considerable extent sess sup
porting; that the model school hid in
creased its number Of pupils and was moro
popular than ever; that the deaf mute
I school had been fully recognized, the ex-
/ penses reduced and the efficiency of the
4 school largely increased. During the same
| period a new and correct census Of children
of school age had been taken under the re-
4 cent act of the legislature, which was q
great advance on previous methods that
the whole system OF state examinations
and the licensing of teachers had been re
q
of efficiency throughout the state had been
raised.
4 call particular attention to the recon-
mendations and suggestions made in the
report of the state superintendent and the
1 committees of the board to still further
\ advance our free school system. Our peo-
pie have never complained of any tax i'm
posed upon them under fair rules fer the
education OF the children of the state Tax
alton for this purpose is willingly borne, be-
/ cause the prosperity and the advancement
of the state depend upon the education OF
\ its children. In my messages of 1891 and
1892 ! 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 1865 (P. l.. 1856, page 90 for the
training and education Of teachers in the
art Of instructing 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 l., ,420 teachers. The annual enroll
ment has increased from 43 to 39S. OF this
\ growth 143 have 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-
tion has grown from 80 to lis. A very
large percentage of the graduates are en-
gagged in the actual work Of teaching
They are well equipped for their work, as
is amply demonstrated by the increased
favor with which they are received and
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 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 I25 to 603, there being
growth of 15S during the past three years.
! During these three years the annual earn
| ings of the school have advanced from 3d.
959. 46 to $40. T9465.
The total receipts Of the two schools for
the past year, including the balance from
last account, annual appropriations, books
and tuition, were SIS, ,7620l; dishurse-
mcnts, 81 SCI Il; balance, 81, 194S4 Dur
ing the past year the residence formerly
occupied By the principal was added to and
taken as an extension to the boarding halls
and new residence purchased for the
principal The capacity Of the halls was
thus increased to accommodate 10 addi-
tional students.
The receipts Of the boarding halls for the
past year were $50, ,659. .43; disbursements,
/ S56, OH 80; balance, 1854. o.
The total valuation Of the property OF
these schools is estimated at S345,00O.
Farnum Preparatory School.
The total enrolment of the Farnum
school during the last year was l24 The
total receipts for the year were s., ,337 33:
4 expenditures, s4, ,3T9 IS; balance, s957. .45-an
increase in the balance of $l5S27 over that
of last year. A small sum was spent for
repairs during the year.
Deaf Mute schools.
4 The school for deaf mutes is, on the
whole, in satisfactory condition. It's in
ternal organization has been completely
\ remodeled during the year, greatly to its
advantage. The enrolment of pupils has
remained practically stationary, although
l think it reasonably certain that there are
many deaf mute children in the state who
have not yet shared in the opportunities
/ that it affords.
VI The number Of punils Mt tl1e school d1Ir