The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-16
NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS
State superintendent Baxter
Has Prepared His Re-
port OF the Years
Work.
THERE Is AN ADVANCE IN EDUCATION
During the Past Twelve Months
1860 Pupils We're Neither
Absent or Tardy-plan to
Better School Libraries.
THERE is AN ADVANCE IN EDUCATION
Especial to "rhe Jersey City News..1


TRENTON, Dec. 16, 1S97.-During the
past year 5,o59 pupils in the public schools
of New Jersey We're neither absent nor
tardy once. This fact is given especial
prominence in the annual report of State
Superintendent Charles j. Baxter, which
has just been submitted to the Governor,
and will be presented to the next Legisla-
ture. The report contains much informa-
ton of interest pertaining to the school
| system of the State. Among other things,
the State Superintendent says
1.-THE close of another school year
again witnesses decided educational adj
vancement through out the State. A
steady increase of interest in our public
schools. an enlarged conception of their
value to the Commonwealth, and an UNI
mistakable growth of correct educational
sentiment is everywhere manifest. A
most gratifying tendency toward har-
monious cooperation in the adminlstra-
ton OF school affairs is also everywhere
in evidence. School boards are giving
more time and thoughtful attention to
their official duties and are conforming
to more approved business methods.
"Our teachers especially, seem to be
fully conscious of the onward and up
ward trend OF the times and evince a
most praiseworthy desire to avail them
selves of every opportunity to add TO
their professional equipment. Teachers
| reading circles, township and county
! associations are increasing in numbers,
are well ATTENDED and are made an
effective means of Improvement. There
is also a very marked increase of interest
in our teachers institutes. The present
interest and efforts in the line of profess
sional study and reading justify the pre-.
tho State Board establishing county
pedagogical libraries would do more
toward advancing the teachers profess
sion han the combined legislation of
many previous years.
Opposition to the township system is
now practically a thing of the past, and
the wisdom of the enactment is plainly
evident and generally admitted. Town
Roadway and should become general at an
early late. When fully established it will
make all teaching far more effective and
pave the way to other desirable reforms.
ance is excellent evidence of the grow
ing efficiency of .our teachers and of
increasing interest in school work. For
any one pupil in all kinds of weather
and subject to the unforeseen hindrances
liable to occur during a school year, to be
neither absent nor tardy, is an achieve
ment well worth noting, and shows oh his
part an endowment OF purpose that will
form a most valuable factor in his future
career. But when 1888 pupils succeed in
making this admirable record, it Is a mat
ter for general c-ongratulation, and pos
sesses very great significance. 1t means
that many times this large number nave
striven for this distinction, and, through
no fault of their own. have failed. This,
together with a percentage of So on
average enrolment, means that irregu-
larity Of attendance is in the public
schools Of New Jersey the exception and
NOT the rule
superintendent Baxter, in his report,
says that teachers wages remain practi-
cally the same as last year. He explains
that the reduction in the average monthly
wages of male teachers from $500 to $S1. SO
is due to the employment of a greater
number of male assistants.
The following exhibit in the report
shows some of the most interesting gen-
eral data CLEANED from the statistics of
the year. There has been, it says
/. An increase of $40. 1852. 81 in the amount
paid for teaches salaries.
2. An increase Of 249 in the teachers en-
5, Al increase Of sls,sss in Tho school
census