New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-26
SCHOOL MASTERS IN ARMS.
PROPOSED REVISION OF THE SCHOOL
LAW MEETS WITH OPPOSITION.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT ARGUE IN FAVOR OF
RETAINING TIE TOWNSHIP sYsTEM-PRo-

COUNTY sUPERINTENDENTs ARGUE IN FAVOR OF
RETAINING TIE TOWNSHIP sYsTEM-PRo-
FEssOR PoLAND's ABLE SPEECH.
Trenton Feb % (SpeclaD-The Committee on Re-
| vision of Laws held somewhat stormy meeting
IN the Assembly Chamber the repeal of the
| Township School law after the morning adjourn
ment. The chamber was fairly well filled with edu-
Gators from all parts OK the State. who came 10
Trenton to speak either for against the repeal OF
the law OF 1894.
The opponents Of the repeal were led by State
Superintendent Poland. ard those anxious to return
the old system piiotsd along the rocky road
| by Assemblyman Fighter.
Superintendent Poland made an able speech for the
retention of the township system. in which he dis
cussed the efforts of New-York and ia prospects
for securing a similar law in the near future. He
said:
| | would cali tho attention OF your committee to
the fact that Ncw-Jciaey Is by no means the nrst
State TO abolish the district system ana 10 adOpt IN
stead the township system All the New england
States, Pennsylvania. ONO. Indlana-in all about
| twenty Statcs-have already abolished the school
district system and adopted the township system IN
and east OF Illinois, with the single exception
| of New York. working under the township
| system Bin providing for the township system
passed both branches OF the New York Legsia ture
a few years ago. but vetoed by Governor Hill
for reasons admittedly political. The State super
intendent Of Public Instruction of New,York the
| New York State Teachers Association the county
School Commissioners and all the educational bodies
OF the State have various times menoralized the
| Legislature OF New-York to adopt the township
system. was Informed only few days ago by the
State superintendent of New-York that It. was now
only matter OF a short time before YORK would
be working under the township system. a bill. IN
fact for that purpose having been recently INTRO
duced into the State Legislature
beg to submit, furthermore. that no State when
has adopted the township system has been dlssatis-
fled with II. On the contrary, the township system
has invariably become most popular after a snort
trial. and IN all cases has worked 10 the vast i'm
| prJVemcnf of the schools.
! THAT the benefits OF the law have not been
already realized IN every township Of the State is
due TO several causes. First. inability OF boards or
education grasp the great possibilities OF I'M
| the first time second. a feeling on the part or
some boards OF education that the law Will be
| repealed; thir1 unwillingness In some instances 10
sustain boards OF education by reasonable appro-
| priatiOns
| In conclusion. let me call the attention OF the
| committee the fact that 70 repeal the act or
| 1894 and its subsequent amendments VIII neces-
the almost complete revision OF the general
| school law OF the State In order TO enable the
| machinery of the State school system to operate
at all. AmenlatOry acts Of various kinds Will be
required Having passed simple repeater there
can be distribution o. public school funds for
| the year of 1895 and 1897. The bonds issued for
school purposes by townships since July |. 1894. can
/ be adjusted. II all only with the creates; diff
| apportion among the districts the books and other
| property bought and owned by townships since the
act OF 1894 into effect II IL obvious that new
| school boards would have to be elected and en-
| tirely new machinery for the administration Oh
schools set into operation.
DR. James Hunter. oil Gloucester County. said that
the township law had greatly benefited the schools
| ,ages under the law one OF the most important OF
! them being in purchase OF supplies. Other super:
lntcndents also spoke against the repeal and urged
that the present Jaw be given A fuller trial.