The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-04
L-t
NEW JERSEYS SCHOOLS
Annual Report Of State Sup
erintendent Baxter Gives
Interesting Figures.
SEX IN SALARY ALLOTMENT
More Money Needed for Teachers
Institutes special Instruc-
tors Needed.
SEX IN SALARY ALLOTMENT
Special to the Jerseu cstu Ne,cs.


Special to the jersey CITY Nctss.
TRENTON, Dec. 4, 1S96.-The annual
report of the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction has been completed,
and besides the statistics contained in It.
there are some valuable suggestions
which viii be presented to the next Legis-
lature.
The amount appropriated from the in
come of the State School Fund is $780,
S06.SS, being an increase of S3a, Hob over
lest year. Among the other receipts
~were:-From State school tax, s2,196, 240;
from district and city tax, S2,599, 26S-46;
from sale of district bonds, SG2g, 554. So;
from county appropriations for salaries
and expenses of county superintendent,
$3l, 1892. 3s.
Among the disbursements were:-Teach-
Of ers' salaries, s3,o29, 1871; building and re-
All. pairing school houses, 1921, 6O5.63, debt
Id interest. sso5. 4sL6o; school census,
.So6.2S; text books and apparatus, $780,
F.5S; salaries of county superintendent,
R,20S.5O; current expenses and repairs of
br1nal School, SCISSOR; Deaf Mute
hool. $3S,07s.
NE average cost per pupil, calculated
the total school census, is $3.50, being
increase of sS cents. The average cost
pupil, calculated on the enrolled at
lance, is $l4s40. The average cost, cal
ted by thea average attendance, is
he number nof teachers is 79 males
4,S4l females, making a total Of
The a~veragessalary per month paid to
male teachers sis $SS.03. and to female
teachers, S4S.13.
The number of school buildings is
rent, q T Tbiefv- as5OSS are scO owned b ana s.
nave been erected -dnri1np fha Na1r a ND
So enlarged, refurnished or remodeled.
The number of private schools is 175, and
me total valuation of school property
IS u g2S22l being an increase of sos,
e5S. an increase. The total number Of
State and county teachers certificates
The total number of applicants rejected
was S6l. OF which SA were for county
The State superintendent says he is
p pf sec 70 report progress along all lines
eating a steadily increasing interest in
school affairs, and the constant growth
Of a healthful educational sentiment.
Considerations having no rightful bear
ing and influence upon educational mat
ters are finding less, and less place in the
publlc mind Our teachers are growing
more earnest and efficient, our education
al standards are becoming higher, and
Inrougn the unselfsh and generous ser
vices of our various school boards the ed
ucational interests of the State are ably
One of the interesting features of the
report are the views of the superin-
stitutes, Of which he says
According to general testimony there
ds a decided revival Of interest in this
educational factor. Excellent ~instruc-
tors are available, the exercises are of a
more practical nature, teachers are aided
interest awakened that in many cases
Leads to subsequent study. investigation
}Imbs-nenf comes far short Of accom-
fphshing as much as 1t should. It does
an that could be reasonably expected
under the circumstances. No State pos
sessing the means and the educational
standing of New Jersey makes so meagre
an appropriation for this purpose.
When making arrangements and en-
dspartment of public instruction is
how to make brick without straw
In many counties $500 will provide for
put a single days session. This necessi-
tates exercises of the most general char
acter, and does not afford opportunity to
give either specific instruction or awaken
benefit.
In view of the fact that the Institute
provides the principal educational aid
and stimulus to many of our teachers.
and also that there is a large yearly ac-
eesslon OF the young and inexperienced
70 our force. it is not only desirable but
necessary that it be maintained. and il
should be continued under more favor
No institute should be held for a
shorter period than five days, and the
1IShEuCIon SO allotted as TO keen all onr
educational forces in line. We can never
naye better teachers nor maintain better
schools than public sentiment demands
me taxpayer is willing to pay for.
Our schools belong to the public and f.
IS necessary that we keep the public in
eoueh With them and its interest in them
"A five days institute. in which the
HrsL shree are given to the teachers, the
iourth to the school officers and the fffg1
10 parents, will accomplish far more for
ou I, schoos than any ever vet held. This
VIII IN a measure help to supply the bond
q sympathy so often found missing be-
tween teachers and parents. Though At
lenoance on the part of school officers and
parents could not be made compuIsnr1r
I feel assured that there is NOT a coI,n}
IN the State in which good audiences
coud not be secured, and this feature of
Inc leac1erS' institute prove a decided
educational gain TO the State. To accom-
pilsh this the sum already allowed eacn
county should be increased to at least 500
per county. This would entail am addi-
tlonal expense to the State of but ~ 100
fno cannot conceive how this small sum
could be more judieiously expended.
In addition to the above feature which
the desired increase IN appropriation
would permit US to introduce, it would
also enable us in CAGES where two coun-
ties are united to organize ans institute
INTO primary, ANN school and high
school sections, and thus give instruction
more closely in the lines of the teachers
needs. The attention of the State Board
= most respectfully called to this much-
needed increase in appropriation. and
ffleir able cooperation in securing il most
earnestly solicited.
while we are looking forward to most
important improvements in our public
school system, such as the employment
OF State agents and the control of such
an available sum as would enable the De
Dartment of Public instruction to erauIoy
special institute instructors of its own.
we must not forget that 1t also behooves
Ws to make the most of present condi-
tons and opportunities, and that by so
doing we employ the most effective means
OF Fastening the desired reforms