The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-23

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Interesting Annual Report
of President John M.
Jones to His Col
leagues.
WORK OF THE BOARD
Evening Schools Condition Of
Buildings ---Gook-
ing and Typewriting.

The Board of Education had a session this
morning to listen to the annual report Oh
Director Jones and say adieu to two OF It's
prominent members as directors, as they
nave earned another title and been advanced
to q more important office to watch the
city's purse. All the members were present
except DR.. Allen, who is Ill. A little rou'
tine business was transacted. Applications
for appointment as principals were received
from c. d. Bogart of Hackensack. Homer
Bristol of Paterson, and E. L. LAYERS OF
New York City. Permission was given to
allow the teachers to use the High School
assembly room this afternoon. They VIII
listen to a lecture. Some bills were passed,
and the interesting annual report was read.
1t was as follows
PRESIDENT JONES' REPORT.
To the Board of Educdtion.-
GENTLEMEN shall ~endeavor, in brief
report. to review the work of the Board since
the last annual report of the Board of Edu-
cation.
/ win refer, first. to the most important
work to be considered. This board is fully
In accord with the public sentiment in favor
Gof a broad and thorough system of public
Education, and has exercised vigilance and
good sense in regard to methods and changes,
(which have increased the efficiency OF the
schools, and particularly in regard to exam
.tinations and promotions and in adopting a
new course of mathematics for grammar and
primary schools.
These changes have met with the approval
and hearty cooperation of principals and
teachers and the result has been a marked
improvement In the study Of mathematics
and an easier and more sensible method Of
promotion, and will be referred to, In detail,
by the Superintendent in his tabulassd re-
ports, and, In general, information as TO the
advantages as made apparent by these
changes viii be given by him.
A cooking class was started as al exreri-
ment, but the board did not consider 10 wise
to establish it permanently.
Experiments in typewrlting have also been
made. In my opinion this should be dropped.
The money and time devoted to this line of
teaching would be of greater benefit il de-
voted to other studies. The city should not
be compelled to pay for instruction in this
branch.
vENING CHOOLS.
It has been demonstrated that the evening
schools are important and efficient in our
system of public instruction. They are ap-
preciated by q very large number who have
been deprived of the advantages OF educa-
ton. The great consideration has besu: How
to render them more efficient. With this in
view a course of study and rules were adopt
ed during the past winter which were prac-
teal and of great advantage.
seven SCHOOLS were mdluUAiu9u. SIX bedCI-
ing the ordinary branches and one designat-
ed a central school, teaching higher grades
or ENTHUSIASTICALLY, bookkeeping,
mathematics, mechanical drawing and Eng
lsh. The sessions of the night schools We're
heightened fifteen minutes. This proved
very beneficial to the pupils.
The board used good Judgment and wis
dom in selecting and limiting the number Of
teachers in each school, providing for the
release of teachers when attendance fell OF,
and their services were no longer required.
The result was efficient administration on an
economical basis.
Much of the success of the evening schools
is owing to the fact that the Board of Fl
nance made appropriation for them at the
same time the appropriation was made for
day schools, which gave the Board Of Edu-
cation time to prepare.
Liberal appropriations increase the use
fulness of these schools and commend them
to young people, and attract their attention
to the advantages to he obtained. a consid-
GRAFTON well worthy of the government of
any city.
BUILDINGS.
The location of school buildings, their
condition and improvements are matters OF
great Importance, and it is a source of graft
fcation to know that this board appreciated
the fact. There are many things TO be con-
sidered in the selection of q site for a school
house, among which may be mentioned its
location as to convenience for present as well
as for future requirements. The ground
should be spacious TO insure unrestricted
light and the free circulation of pure air.
In the selection of the site for No. ID
School, all these requirements i've been full
filled. The site was selected on the recon-
mendation of the Board of Education. The
land first purchased was considered insuffl-
Gent; the Board of Street and Water Com
missioners were requested, by resolution of
this board, to buy additional land, which
they did, giving us a plot of land 200 feet
front on Van Cleef street, and 40 feet deep
on Dwight street and 6tegman avenue. 1t is
the largest plot of ground used for school
purposes in Hudson County, and was pnr-
chased for the Insignificant sum of $3.50.
The plans recommended by the Board of
Education were adopted. The plan of this
building is entirely and radically different
from any school building in Hudson
County. They were devised and draughted
by direction of this board, after long and
mature deliberation, after visiting the most
improved school houses of recent construc-
ton in other cities, and it is believed that
we will nave a school house that will
be an manner to our city and a credit to
the present Board of Education. A building
constructed on the most improved methods,
with large airy rooms, which will give 225
cubic feet of cir space to each child. The
average In other schools is not over 1855, and
in many cases is much less; in No. 25, q new
school it is I76. The air will be changed
every eight minutes, II times in one hour.
Under such conditions, the children will en-
joy good health and lay the foundation of
fine constitutions. Every room has solid
partitions and perfect hight. Til desks will
be SO arranged that the pupils in all the
rooms viii have the advantage of the light
from the left side.
The class rooms are all contained in the
first two stories of the building and have as
much floor space as the three floors in No.
q School, in the Fourth district, which has
just been completed.
The third story Is thrown into one large
assembly room, where all the pupils can be
assembled at one time. The greatest atten-
rion has been given to heating, ventilation
and means of access and egress. There are
eight entrances to the main, or first, floor.
The Fuller-W Warren system of heating and
ventilating Is to be used. The air shafts and
fues are constructed under their direction
and supervision.
The hat and cloak rooms are arranged
with separate compartments for each pupil
and are thoroughly ventilated, as are also
the water closets, which are hygienic IN con-
struction. The floor OF the cellar, which is
under the whole building, is only ! foot be
low the level of the sidewalk. 1t is to be
conereted and win serve for a play room IN
stormy weather. The walls of the building
are ~ feet from the street lines, leaving
space Ion a handsome lawn. The trout OF
this magnificent, imposing building fills up
the entire block on a Cleef street, between
Dwight and Stegman avenues.
School No. % was finished and opened dur