The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-12

There hr6 some localities where peE-
haps politics mas a some influence, but
as a rule. there ii less political influence
than is currently believed. Nepotism
prevails iii some Localities to an extent
that produces trouble. h State Board
has no control over these matters. We
Insist on the qualification Of the feaen-
ers; the other matters are left to the
local school authorities. There are some
teachers who think the public schools are
run for their particular benefit, and not
for the beneit Of the children OF the state.
No more Is exacted Of school teacneIs
than those engaged in other professions.
Those who do not keep abreast Of the Inn
Hprovements must expect to be droppeu
from the ranks. Some teachers think
than once given a place they have an IN
definite tenure of office and must not pc
disturbed. on the other hand, the tax
payers demand the best service IN con-
nection with the instruction OF their
young. and the local school authorizes
are bound to give it. This accounts Tor
some Of the changes that are yearly made
It can be said that some teachers are very
Indifferent about their own individual
progress. 'They do not expect to teach
an their lives. and in consequence, they
ara; not particularly ambitious to keep up
with the procession of modern ideas.
There is nothing left for the local autnof-
tiles but to drop these teachers ana put
in their places those who met the re-
quirements of the case
Miss Allen has. to my mind, mlseon-
strued the section Of the Commission
School bill governing teachers. = docs
not provide for yearly contract u does
say when the contract shall begin, put hoe
when it shall nd; it can be terminated IN
q year. if the Trustees of Board OF tdu-
cation so choose. or it can be continued,
This bill was prepared by a commission
appointed BIZ the Governor. It will pc
offered to the Legislature again next year.
and I think that it viii pass The very
section that incites Miss Aliens special
criticism was given special attention ana
was viewed from every standpoint, ana =
has been decided that it is a mueniy
needed law. !,
Several member of the STATE boaiu =
Education were interviewed, but speaking
only a. individuals, and not officially, they
declined To allow their names to be used
One member said: Miss Allen is doing
tha school cause Of this State much harm.
She is making every teacher ind g grew
ance and inducing her to make that grew
ance a cause of discomfort to herseif ahu
those around her For some reason MISS
Allen never loses an Opportunity TO MT the
State Board. because she cannot cohNrol
it. ana the State Board. out Of g spirit OF
chivalry. have refrained from expressing
themselves on the actions Of Miss Alien
Her enthusiasm in many things is TO pc
commended. but her judgment In many
filings is open to severe criticism. II any
amman action would be taken to remind
Miss Allen tnat she is employed to giv
her time and talents to the vocation, and
not as a public censor, she would assume
the attitude Of a martyr and the news
papers would be inundated with her agi-
tating essays.
Another member In viewing the cases
cited by Miss Allen, said.-fsThe case OF
Port Norris has never come to the knowl-
edge of any member of the Board. That
at Frenchtovfn has some merit. The
School Trustees there did change five
teachers, and three Of them were relatives
OF the Trustees, n owing to the defects
Of several certificates their case will be
reviewed by rhe State authorities. The
dismissal Of Mr.. Manness, In Camden
has politics behind 1t. He was sacrificed
in the house Of his friends. His COLI
leagues. or rather the other principals,
were indirectly responsible for his decap-
itation. In the cases of Messrs, Hovey,
Clark and Barringer, in Newark, they
have not been dropped, but shifted. They
have grown old in the service ard fresher
men were needed. In some localities they
would have been dropped, but in Newark
they were changed, given less RESPONSE
bilities and less salary, but continued in
tho service. Not a bit of politics was
back of these changes I firmly believe
that if all the facts were known Miss
Aliens manifesto would not have a leg
to stand on
From different parts of the State comes
the statement that women are getting
ready for a campaign at the polls, and
will elect Trustees that will be more
considerate for the poor school teach
ers., This information plainly indicates
that these women are laboring under the
error that women can vote at school
elections. Under a decision OF the court
this cannot be done, and the Constitution
al amendment hat was to have given
voters at the polls. All they can do is
to vote at school meetings., for ~appropria-
lions, or they can become School Trus-
tees If they can influence enough male
votes. In this they have been successful
in some localities, such as Englewood;