The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-10
our SCHOOLS
Thirty first Annual Report
Of the Bearais,aof
Education.
BEAUTIFUL CLASS ROOMS
What It Costs to Educate
the Children of Jer-
sey City.

| 6odlQ VI fSQuCdl WI WAlS hoS JPHt
issued, is a volume of more than ordin-
airy interest. Not only is it replete with
valuable statistics and nformation con-
corning the educational system of this city
but it is handsomely illustrated with pho
tographs of various class-rooms of some
| of the schools. These Photographic views
show that most of the rpoms are decor
ated in a manner which cannet help but
instl in the mind of the youthful student
a love for the beautiful which will be
highly beneficial to them. Most notice
among these is the room of Miss NJ. e.
Patterson's class of the Grammar De-
partment of School No. IA; Miss c. M.
Weber's class in Scho No. Is and the
room of Miss J. c. Harney's class of
School No. So
In his report, with which the book
opens, President Joseph L. Firm says:
The amount apportioned to this city by
the State must in accordance with the
law be expended for teachers salaries
and fuel. For the current school year,
the city received from the State
$261, 1851 and the amount appropriated
to this Board for the purposes mentioned
was 1915. 4S6. 90. 1t will thus be seen that
in addition to the amount contributed
to the fund for teachers salaries and. fuel
the further sum of s113, $50. 43. But there
are many other expenditures all of which
are essential to the success of our schools,
for which the money must be raised by
the city. The total amount appropriated
to the school department by the Board of
Finance for the present school year Is
s4A, 0S6. 90. or siS2, $780, 3 in excess of the
amount levied and appropriated by the
State.
This sun is expended only for mainte-
nance and does no represent the total
amount spent by the city for school pur-
poses. In order to ascertain the city's
financial interest in the schools the sum
expended for school construction must be
added. During the past year about $780,
000 has been expended for this purpose.
1t will thus be seen that the people of this
city hav contributed to the schools
1912. 190.43 more than the city has received
under the direction of the State.'
He regrets that the Board of Finance
could not see it's way clear to appropri-
ate the sum required for repairs. The
sanitary CONDITION of the schools, he says,
is very good. In speaking of a hew High
School, Mr.. Firm says: "While in the
near u OllS new SCilOO5S VIII NC iicNd-
ed, there is one which we should have at
once. It is conceded that the instruction
furnished by the primary and grammar
schools demands first consideration. AS
this demand has been admirably met, it
is incumbent upon us to proceed without
delay to the erection of a new High
School. Attention has frequently been
called to it's necessity and fervent pleas
in its behalf have been made by all who
have in any way become cognizant of
the condition of the school. All the efforts
for a new building nave been thwarted
by the obvious needs of the smaller chill
dren and the equally obvious inability of
the city to supply both kinds of schools at
one time. Now that this conflict no longer
exists it is reasonable to hope hat the
High School should receive immediate
consideration. 1 need not enlarge upon
the Inconvenience and discomforts which
surround the teachers and pupils. They
have often and in many ways been graph
ically presented to you. Allow me to say
that as long as the High School remains
in its present building the commendable
pride which we feel in the admirable
buildings which we are erecting must be
tinctured not only with regret but with
notification"
In concluding Mr.. Firm pays a high tri-
butte to work of Superintendent Henry
Snyder in which he says
cit is mainly to his wise and intelligent
supervision that we are indebted for the
great success achieved by our school
department during the past year. This is
particularly true of the numerous details
connected with the construction of the
buildings recently erected, and of, the
organization of the new schools. Mr..
Snyder has been untiring in his zeal and
indefatigable in his efforts to bring our
schools and school buildings to the high
est standard demanded by educational
progress"
Superintendent Snyder's report shows
that the school population in 1898 was
&C, $50 and was 81, 652 the year before. Mr..
Snyder points out that there are many
inaccuracies in this census and says that
81. $50 were enrolled during 1898, %, O55 was
the average register and 5,5l1 the average
attendance. The total valuation OF
school property of the city is 81, 575, GA. 26,
Of which 81, 470.0 0 is the value of lots and
buildings; $40, 262. II value Of furniture, and
s25, 7S2.15 value of books. There are
throughout the city forty-six schools with
567 teachers. "Of all the pupils in the
schools on November 80, 1898, 70 per cent,
were in the primary department, 25 per
cent. in the grammar, and 8 per cent. in
the High School. If numbers alone be
considered, there it no doubt in which
direction our efforts should be applied"
says Mr.. Snyder. 1.-The fact that so many
pupils never go beyond the primary
department leads to the feeling that the
best facilities and the best instruction
possible should be given them"
The book also contains general statis-
teal tables showing:-Number of teach
ers, average register, etc., comparative
tables of enrolment, register and at
tendance, number of applicants refused
| admission, time lost by absence of teach
| ers, school library, ages of pupils enroll
| ed-State report.
The report of Clerk James J. Wise
man deals with the extension of the
schools, cost ped pupil on total school ex-
penses, cost per pupil based on teach
| schools, cost per pupil on total school ex-
penses Of night school and annual appro-
priations.
B. P. O. ELKS' MEETING.
| Reduced Rates to St. Louis via
p~eunsvIvauia Railroad.