The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-29
SCHOOL PROGRESS.
President Firms Annual
Report to the Board
of Education.
BUILDINGS AND ESLARGEnESTs
City May Feel Proud Of the
Advancement II Has Made in
Educational Matters.
BUILDINGS AND ESLARGEMENTs

ever published. 1t was as follows:-
Every thoughtful citizen has a deep in
terest in our public schools, and appreci
ates the importance and value Of the wori
they are doing. This interest n appre'
citation are, however, as a rule, largely
theoretical or are based upon a consider.
alton of the evident dependence of the sat
isfactory operation of our National
State and local governments upon the ed
ueation of the masses. The Citizen as a
rule. is satisfied TO expect that the schools
| shall educate and Instruct his children.
He seldom makes a critical investigation
of their management or OF the process 81
Instruction. He IS, therefore,. prone te
base all his opinions concerning school
affairs upon a recollection, often very dim
| and vague, and generally distorted by
time. of his W experience as 4 pupil,
that the schools are constantly making
rapid Improvement. He, therefore. fails
to Understand as he should the aims and
methoos OF those who direct the manage
meHt OF the schools or who give instruc-
ton in them; or, satisfied with their re-
suits. he docs not become acquainted
with the many complex problems whose
solution Is necessary to the best results.
He, moreover, cannot appreciate the vast
rloun of labor and intense thought de-
voted by hundreds of individuals in this
city to the training of our children, nor
the skill with which this training is
given III lace OF STGdt u1IilcullltS.
l am free to confess that up to the
time that / became a member of this
Board | was as Negligent as other eitl-
zens. During the past year, however,
my official connection with the schools
has served to impress upon me the i'm
mensity of the interests involved in the
successful operation of the educational
department and the great responsibility
Of those who have this departments In
charge, During the past year our trans
actions have involved the expenditure Of
axrr- IA nnn fov 10 -. ~ =, ~ n
schools and of about $500, COO more for new
schools, a total of more than $500, 600. The
most casual consideration of the infinite
details upon which SO large a sum is ex-
pended and of the prudence and good
judgment necessary to its profitable ex-
pcIdfture must impress n with the
magnitude Of the operations Of the school
department. But the financial outlay.
great though the responsibility which it
imposes, is not of the most consideration
The transactions of the Board of Educa-
|ftion direct and most intimately concern
the immediate happiness of thousands of
teachers and pupils. the labor of over 500
teachers. and the successful work and fu-
ture success In life Of over $4,000 children
annually. When we reflect that what this
Board does may affect. either beneficial
~ or in~jurieusly. the welfare of so many
failure in life may be attributed to us.
whose future loyalty to our city and
country. and whose faithful and intelligent
guidance of our affairs are so largely due
to our instruction.. the responsibility
which we have ssumed is almost appal-
ling. Approaching to the fullest extent
the weight OF this responsibility, we
interests of the schools ard their pupils.
BUILDINGS.
An act passed by the Legislature of
1897 transferred the power to erect new
schools from the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners. in whom it had
been vested for many years, to the Board
Of Education; For some reasons the de-
STABILITY of this act is open to question.
The members of the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners receive a salary
and may therefore be expected. and are
consequently able, to devot more of their
time to the matter of school, construction
than the members of the Board of Edu-
cation. Then. too, there is danger that
the details of the erection of buildings
may lead to the intrusion in school affairs
of matters that ought properly be dis
tinct from them and may serve to draw
the attention of the Board away from
that which vitality affects their interests
and prosperity. viz. the administration
of school affairs. And yet. although the
act has made the duties of the Board of
Education more onerous, all things con-
sidered, it must be approved. 1t is certain
that those who are officially connected
with the schools are acquainted with their
points of excellence, their defects and
needs. and are expected to inform them
selves on the proper principles OF con-
struction and on possible improvements,
KNOW Dtsl IOW l ~ OiiS a(L lllC1l1s WIClN
they should be erected. and how large
they should be. The experience of the
past year has shown the wisdom OF the
act. None of the objections which have
been mentioned has become evident.
After considerable elaboration and dis
cussion by the Mayor. Board of Education
and the Board of Finance, extended over
several years. the Legislature of 1897
bonds to the extent of -SS00, 900. the pro-
ceeds TO be used for the erection OF
primary and grammar schools.
This Board. Immediately after its or
ganization last spring, took advantage
of these acts and planned the erection
of a number of new buildings in addition
to the new No. l, which had been planned
previously. These schools are:-No. II.
on Duncan avenue, containing eight claes
rooms;. No. Is, on Storms avenue, cXSs
tanning ten class rooms and an assembly
room: No. 10, at the corner. of Johnston
and Manning avenues, containing eleven
class rooms; extension of No. 20, contain
ing eight class rooms; No. &c, at the cor
ner of Palisade and Reservoir avenues.
containing ten class rooms and an as
sembly room, and No. q, at the corne of
the Boulevard and Graham street. con-
tanning eight class rooms. These build
ings will accommodate 5000 pupils and
will do much to relieve the o~vercrowding
existing in many of our schools, and will
nearly satisfy the demand arising from
those who nave not been admitted. Every
friend of the schools will, ! am sure.
join in the hope that the great progress
which these new buildings indicate may
be kept up until comfortable accommo
dations are provided for every child Of
school age.
New School No. ! is designed % to
furnish an increased number Of seats in
the district in which It is located, but
to accommodate properly the number of
pupils who attendeds0M No. l. While
the pupils Of the school are housed in
the old City Hall, which by arrangement