New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
TIE Old SCHOOLHOTSE AND THE NEW.

A STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO BUILD
INGs IN BERGEN COUNTY
Less than two miles apart In Bergen County are
two public buildings that represent. forcib.y
than words describe. the difference between
the past and present in school architecture and
facilities for the FREE education Of children.
The building is at Oakland, pretty town on
the NewYork, Susquehanna and Western Railroad,
the summer home OF Marion Harland. the
shores Of Pompton Lake and not far from the his
torc old Ponds Church. where the Dutch Reformed
creed Is maintained in its ancient purity. The
schooihouse, strangely enough stands 10
the home OF Swearing Jim, OF Oakland"-a man
whose profanity has given him public notoriety
throughout the county that appears to hatter his
vanity-than 10 either Of the other places men
toned 1t is crossroad. off the main highway,
and is type OF the ol4-fashioned box building
familiar in song and story 1.-The little red school
house the hill only that it stands in a valley
surrounded by towering peaks of the Ramapo
Mountains. and painted white 1t was
built about fifty years ago. and in furniture and
all accessories retains the primitive style then in
vogue including the disregard OF any rule Of yea
tilation except that Of opening a window ana
holding it up with stick Tie surroundings are in
accord with the building tsef-On zone side a stag
nant pool. on the other a country saughter-house
poisons the air. especially in warm weather, with
s!ckening exhalations and odors. These nuisances
have grown so unbearabe that the better c.ass OF
people in the vicinity send their children to Hack
ensack. Paterson. or the private school OF Mrs De
Mile in Pompton Marcus jenkins, leading citizen
has long protested against this condition without
effect The school is in Franklin Township. the tax
payers Of which held nine meetings last year at
each OF which they voted not to appropriate any
money for school purposes, and were only brought
to change OF view this fa.l by notice that the
State appropriation would be withheld unless they
appropriated money TO purchase textbooks and
for other minor expenses. Mr.. jenkins appea.ed
TO County Superintendent Terhune have the
nuisances surrounding Oakland school abated but
without effect. Then he notified the State Board
OF Health. with like result. Mr.. Jenkins Gains
that Oakland Is the most illiterate community In
New-Jersey.
In marked contrast to this is the public school,
house at Darlington. two miles distant Here
architectural lines. with the latest scientific
methods Of ventilation. modern educational APP
Services and public meetings The building STANDS
at a crossroad where two main thoroughfares
aofe ana am and the
equally famous breeding farm OF A. b. Darling
fashioned ramshackle schoolhouse stood near by
until recent date. the majority of taxpayers In the
land being too Indifferent to the educational inter
ss,s Of the community to care whether school
raising their children above the prevailing intellect
Nj iisvemeyer. who spent about $4,000 building
fine public roads through his estate and 10 Mo-
hawk station. concluded to take upon himself the
task OF radically improving the school TO conform
10 the surroundings. With the permission OF the
Board OF Education. the location OF the school
house was changed 10 a spo near a sparkling
spring brook that dashes away In meod.ous mur
muir TO Kamapo River. which, in turn, winds down
the valley along the base of the mountain. The
structure Is two stories high, and cost over $1,000
being presented 10 the district fully equipped IL
is constructed in the most substantial manner ana
has accommodations for greater increase IN
schoo.-gong population than the district Is likely
10 nave In many years: . .
The. summer home of Mr.. Hayemeyes and toe
100000 residence OF his son-n-aw, john Mayer, who
superintendent of Mountainside Farm but
a SHORT distance from the schoohonse During
every holiday season there Is gathering OF chill
dren connected with the day school and Sunday
school that Is also held in the bu.-..ng, at which
Mrs Havemeyer dispenses liberal hospitality,
every. individual receiving token
mnder Of the happy Christmastide.
There IL perhaps other community In the
State Of New-Jersey where the past and present
methods of free public school education are so
strikingy portrayed as between Oakland and Oar
lingtOn.