The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-13
EDUCATORS IN Session.
Report Upon Township High
Schools by S. R. Morse Mr.
Goodenough's Election;

OOOuCuuuSu GiOOtioh.
The second day of the annual session
of the Council of Education of New Jer-
sey opened this morning in the rooms OF
the Board of Education, in the City Hall,
with only a handful of the members pres
ent President&W. L. R. Haven, of Nor
ristown, presided.
A discussion was opened upon the RE
port Upon Township High Schools" by
Mr.. S. r. Morse. 1t was presented by
Superintendent Cox, who said, among 9TH
er things
go where you will and you will find that
the village, town or city that stands pre-
eminent in intelligence is accorded pre-
eminence of rank and regarded as an ex-
ample for emulation. You will also find
there the greatest business enterprise, the
best churches, schools, libraries and
homes, and also the greatest. security 10
person and property. 1t has been grandly
said, Intelligence is the life OF liberty.
1t is its soul and safeguard. In the intel
ligence of its people lies the safety of
the State. Enlightenment is far more
efficacious in promoting the security of a
people than military safeguards Could
the large amounts expended in our state
for such safeguards and the maintenance
of their expensive accompaniments be dl-
yerted to the broadening, strengthening
and uplifting of our public school SyS-
TEN, New Jersey would be without peer
in educational fecilities, and disorder and
rumors of disorder would be gloomy spec
ters of the past.
Many with much regret have noted in
the last report issued from the Depart
ment of Public Instruction that there are
1851 persons in the State above ten years
of age who can neither read nor write.
l have noted with far keener regret that
we have many, many times this number
who, in point of intelligence, are hardiy
one whit the superior of these illiterates,
and who have good reason to be far less
innocent. Though they can call words,
they either read not at all or read that
which is trifiing or corrupting. Ther
thoughts revolve in the same narrow cir
Gle and their feet tread in the same aim
less unaspiring, monotonouS round OF
life. They took the initial steps to an
education, but We're not long aIlured IN
the way. Mainly in this class have the
agitators, troublemongers and dema-
gogues found their following and the cor
rupt politician his purchssable votes.
'Our State supports and controls pubic
school system in which over ninety per
cent. of our youth receive their only
equipment for life. Therefore the State is
the true educational unit, and TO it must
we look for a remedy for existing ine-
qualities. Such remedy is the township
high school. 1t will give the rural schools
the supervision they have SO long needed.
It is their only hope of deliverance from
the rut into which they have fallen. Much
time and money, and large measure of
the golden opportunities of school days,
have been lost to the youth OF our rural
communities because their scnoolS have
been without professional supervision.
Such high school would add to their char
acter and efficiency, because they would
be compelled to adapt themselves to its
requirements 1t would stimulate purpose
in their pupils by holding up to them
measure of attainment, and induce them
to remain in school that they might grad
uate at the end of the course 1t would
be a spur to their ambition by placing be-
fore them a goal to reach. With the child
the standard of attainment is always the
one in sight. Such high schools would re-
lieve our ungraded and some of the So
outgrown the opportunities they have TO
Offer
In speaking of transportation of the
children, Mr.. Cox had this to say
Extensive systems of trolley lines are
now in operation, others are in process of
construction. and a still greater number
are in contemplation. Let the school
children make such use of this cheap and
most convenient means of transportation
as they should, and it would stimulate
further enterprise in this line beyond our
anticipations. Several counties already
have most excellent highways, and many
others are giving especial attention to
their Improvement. Much the larger por-
ton of our State is either level or only
slightly rolling country. All these condi-
tions, taken in connection with the con-
Ilnu6Q Improvement anu increasing pOpu-
lation of the bicycle, warrant the asser-
ton that our commonwealth can not only
maintain central high schools, but cen
tral graded schools, which will be found
to be accessible to all pupils in the town
ship. Many of our young cyclists think
nothing of taxing an eight or ten mile
constitutional before breakfast. If this
be both benefit and pleasure, it would
certainly be delight and blessing to ride
as far, or even further for a purpose, af-
ter fortifying their systems with a good
substantial meal"
After the discussion participated in by
Messrs. Shearer, Enright, Bissell, Harris,
Green, Clark and Davey, this resolution
was passed.
Resolved, That the State Superinten-
dent be requested to print the suggestions
made in the report of the Committee on
School Organization and Administration
upon the Township High Schools"
On motion Principal L. A. Goodenough
of Jersey City was elected to the vacancy
caused by Mr.. Haskells removal to
Brooklyn.
The committee also passed this resolu-
tom
Resolved, That a committee of five be
appointed = consult with rhe State Super
intendent how the council can assist in
furthering the establishment of high
schools in the State'
Messrs. Shearer, Mordorf Enright Sny-
der and Cox were named on the commit
tee. After some routine work had been
disposed of the council adiourned