The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-21

WANT MORE SCHOOLS
Board of Educalion's Re-
port Suggests Urgent
Reforms.
MUST ABANDON SOME BUILDINGS.
The Health of the Children Requires
the Substitution of New
Furniture for the Old.
lust ABANDON SOME BUILDINGS.

The Board of Education has just issued its
t~wenty-sixth annual report ending Novem-
Der 30, 1898, and the information contained
therein presents information valuable to
every citizen interested in the progress of
the educational department of Jersey City.
The report deals in extenso with the
statistical matters pertaining to the depart
men and the condition and work of the
schools; but more particularly emphasizes
the needs of the schools and traces with con-
siderable lucidity the tendencies of educa-
tional thought.
The first part of the report is a review
from the late President Mr.. John M. Jones
OF the work since the last report. From
such an interesting official it is not to be
wondered at that his statements, concerning
the states of the department and its needs,
are based upon an intelligent view of the
situation. With a perspicacity, not often
found in a public servant, he measures the
methods of our public school system in the
broadcast and most liberal sense.
MR.. sNYDER's REPoRT
From the City Superintendent (Mr.
Henry Snyder, however. a more detailed
account of matters in relation to the pres
ent needs of the schools is presented.
Mr.. Snyder, at the outset, states that
while there are very important matters to
be discussed, he can only give some atten-
ton, in the brief space at his command, to
the pressing needs of the schools. In care
fully prepared tables he shows that during
the year past there have been enrolled
1869 more pupils than during the year
previous. This phenomenal increase, he
points out, is not due to increased school &C
commodations, for no new schools were
opened during 1898, but to, curiously
enough, the prevailing business depression.
This he accounts for by the fact that the
manufacturing and commercial interests Of
the city render it easy for young people to
obtain employment in prosperous times who
at other times either remain In school or re-
turn to their studies.
Turning his attention to the school build
ings, he stated that the board owns twenty
three buildings and rents one School No. rs
has since been opened.)
SCHOOL FURNITURE WORN OUT.
The furniture of the schools, according to
Mr.. Snyder, should receive immediate at
tention. 1t is old in some schools and worn
out. In other schools it is not adapted to
the pupils who use it, and he cites cases.
Every desk, he thinks. should be supplied
with inkwells and covers and the absence of
the former is a hindrance to improved
methods of teaching penmanship. The
settees without desks should be emoved II
desks D1OVlQ6u. DeCduS6 WHICH, WI1tluR Ill
classes is done by pupils without desks, it is
awkwardly and with difficulty accomplished.
Other reasons, such as sanitary reasons, are
adduced in favor of the removal Of the
settee.
THE DANGERS OF THE sETTEE.
Among the sanitary reasons is thls:-"The
awkward positions which children must as
sumo and maintain for some time in writing,
seriously retard proper growth of body, and
at a time when the bones are soft. are liable
to produce deformities, which subsequent
growth exaggerates, of which the most seri
Gus and the most injurious perhaps, is cur
Nature of the spine. 1t is almost impossible
to maintain the proper relation between the
slate or paper written upon and the eye, so
that eye troubles result"
VALUE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY.
The City Superintendent mex centres his
attention on the value of school property,
which, in total, he places at Sa43, SIS The
sum is composedo of $89S. 4S9. 94 for lots and
buildings; value of furniture, $29,537.94,
and the value of books, SIS, $40 5.
NOT ENOUGH SEATS FOR PUPILS.
By accurately figured out tables Mr..
SNYDER shows that there are at least LIZA
seats to be provided for or children requir-
ing accommodation in our schools. While
this large. yet, to be exact, he says, 2,425
would be nearer the mark, and that num-
Der even would be larger If all who were
Ol1lC NaA A-S NNAS wa
cluded. He admits that many children do
not apply for admission because they know
they cannot be received, and in some schools
the crowding is so great that all children
under six years of age have been excluded,
although the law requires that accommoda-
tions be furnished for all over five.
H CITY SHOULD PROVIDE DOM
Moreover" says Mr.. Snyder, "owing to
prevailing conditions, the compulsory school
law is imperative in this city. Ii the CITY
would provide sufficient room so that all
who apply could be received, the law could
be enforced. This would add to the school
population a large number Of children who
now fail to secure an education because of
their own neglect and the Indifference of
their parents. That the number of these Is
quite large will be clear to anyone who ques-
tions the children of school age whom he
meets on the street during school hours.
Then, too, in the evening schools, men are
sometimes found who were born in this city
who cannot even read or write"
ABANDON THESE SCHOOLS
Reasoning, therefore, from the lack of &C
commodation of pupils, and the fact that
many of the schools are at present over
crowded, Mr.. Snyder argues that some Of
these should be rebuilt or abandoned. He
instances School No. l., which should no
longer be used for school purposes. Thu only
remedy is to abandon it. Schools Nos. II
and 10 should be Immediately abandoned,
because they were not designed to be used as
schools. These buildings are a menace to
/ the health of the children. In addition to
these, the High School building should be
rebuilt. 1t lacks adoption to the purpose of
the High School, because it is too small for
the large and constantly increasing nu her
of pupils attending.
VIA THE TUR DEMANDS.
From the foregoing statements 7 le City
Superintendent argues that, while he does
not intend to disparage in any way the value
of the many school buildings in the city,
which answe their purpose satisfactorily,
nor the great success of the work OF the
teachers, done as it is often under trying
circumstances, yet as far as the future is
concerned, sufficient provision for new de-
mands arise annually ct hiRc atae tdchry-
mae.
He sums up, therefore, the urgent needs
of the school department. of Jersey City in
this table: A
Additional room for 5000 children at
least.
A new building in place of No. 1.
A new building in place Of Nos. II and 10.
A new High School building.
The substitution of desks for all settees.
Much new furniture to replace that which
is old and worn out.
COMPANIONS OF THE FOREST.