The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-01-23
NEW JERSEYS SCHOOL LAWS.
The Acts OF Last Winter Upheld by State
Educators-A Committees Report
on the Subject.


TRENTON, Jan. 81. AT Saturday, meet
ing of the Council of Education, held in
this city, those present listened to a report
Of the Committee on School Law, made
by John Enwright, the Chairman, who is
County Superintendent of Monmouth
county. 1t dealt with thee Of the laws
passed at the last session OF the Legisla-
ture, the one prescribing temperance text
books, known as the Narcotic law, the
Free book and the. Township laws. The
report was in substance as follows:
The public had mistaken the case and
had regarded all three as one law in the
discussions that followed their enactments,
and the Township law had TO bear what
ever of criticism was aimed at the other
two. The Narcotic law had been attack
delphia papers with zeal that excited
suspicion. The attacks were backed up
by deceptive figures, stating that the text
books for the Narcotic law would cost the
State $400, 900. The people were made
to believe that they had become the VIC
Tins Of scheme to enrich publishers Of
temperance books. The provision requir-
ing that children who could not read
should be taught orally was regarded by
educators as extreme and unpcdagogical.
As result, the Narcotic law was made
unpopular.
The question OF free textbooks came
next. The custom had been to furnish
every other article and requirement in
and about the school, and few stopped to
think how unreasonable it was that large
expenditures should be made 10 build and
maintain school. houses, furnish charts and
globes, etc., and stop short Of furnishing
the very things that would go to make
success-the tools Of the school-room-
the books; but the story about the $500,
900 brought terror and all school legisla-
ton was condemned indiscriminately.
The Township law was the first TO 60
into effect, aud the Township Board Of
Education was 10 take the place of the
District Trustees. Opposition was arous-
ed, and it was credit TO the people that
they behaved so well as they did.
One hundred aud fifty-nine reports Of
presidents of Boards Of Education show
that llS townships received the law with
favor, and forty-nine with opposition, a
few saying ii ought to be repealed. Cape
May, Passac and Salem were not exam
ined. Some Of the larger townships re-
commend that the boards be increased so
that each district may have a representa-
tive, while smaller townships recommend
that the number on the board be reduced
to FIVE. Some recommend that the boards
have the power to order taxes raised for
current expenses without having meet
ing of the taxpayers 10 order 1t raised.
This would be reasonable IL limited to
one dollar for each child on the school
census.
The old method OF apportionment was
based on the census. The new plan pro
vidcs for an apportionment OF $500 for
each teacher for the full time for which
the schools were maintained during the
next preceding npportionment. The re-
mainder OF the money is 10 be apportioned
on the basis OF the previous published
census.
The hostility 10 the township law has
in q great measure subsidized. There is
some yer, Dut IL Is no more tormiuaOle
than that of 1867, when there took place
that great change in the school legisla-
ton that set New Jersey in the foremost
rank OF States as 10 her educational
system.
When the defects incident to hasly
legislation shall have been corrected and
the public more generally enlightened on
the possibilities of its provisions, the Won
der,will be that there ever was any oppo-
sition to SO grand measure rs the Town.
ship School law of New Jersey.