The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-04
SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS
Board Of Finance Hears a
Cry From the Twelfth
Ward.
CHILDREN ON THE STREET
Supt. Snyder Says Transfer
System Is Played
Out.

There was so much talk about more
school accommodations yesterday after
noon at the meeting of the Board of FL
nance that it adjourned until Friday
afternoon without transacting any regular
business. A large delegation of men
and women, representing the Twelfth
Ward Improvement Association, the Hud-
son City Business Mems Association. the
Open Hand Grub, the Mothers Club and
other Hudson City progressive organiza-
tions, was present.
The entire session of the Board was de-
voted to a discussion of school accommo-
dations for the Twelfth ward, and the
discussion at times waxed exceedingly
warm The Twelfth ward did not receive
a great amount of encouragement.
Mrs. Wardell, representing the Open
Hand Club, who at one time conducted a
private school in that section, stated
that over fifty parents of children had
come to her and begged her to either use
what influence she possessed to get their
children into the public schools or else
take them and educate them at the
| parents expense. Mrs. WardelI told how
one of. a crowd of boys firing sticks and
stones at a horse chestnut tree near her
house broke one of her windows. When
/ she complained to the boys parents they
told her to go to the city; that the
city owed their boy school accommoda-
| tions and if he was hut out ON the street
they couldn't be responsible for all the
boy did.
| Commissioner Lembeck asked quizzical-
| ly if it made any difference if the tree
was made exempt from attack and Mrs.
Wardell replied in half sarcastic manner
that it would have made a difference at
| the hour when the window was broken.
She said it would be good thing if all
chestnut trees were cut down.
| Mrs. Van Houten, a member of the
Mothers Club. said her grievance was a
personal one. She said she was obliged to
educate her child in a private school. b-t
preferred to send the child to a public
school and let it have the advantage of
the superior educational facilities and dis
| cipline that such schools afford. Mrs.
Van Houton said she was no politician
and had no hobby. She was no interested
particularly in parks and did not repre-
sent any corporation. She merely claimed
! a right due her as a citizen.
/
| disposed to do what it could in the line of
affording school accommodations for all.
/ Architect Won ARK, of the Hudson City
Improvement Association, made an appeal
in behalf of the parents of between three
and four hundred children who were
crowded out of the schools.
| Mr.. Ringle asked if the people in that
section were really more concerned about
school accommodations than parks, and
Mr.. Won ARK and others said: parks by
| all means"
| Commissioner Ringle asked if there were
not somewhere in the neighborhood of ten
schools in the old Fourth Assembly dis
| trict He also asked if there were no:
assembly rooms in some of the schools
| that could be utilized. He asked School,
Director Egbert how many halliday
classes there Were in that section. The
director referred him to Superintendent
Snyder.
| Commissioner Afidige asked if by con-
| structing an additional room to No.
| School accommodations could not be found
for one hundred more pupils by halliday
! classes. 1t was found that No. 26 School
could accommodate a few more pupils
but No. 26 is remots from the section
complained of.
/ Commissioner Midlige persisted in the
| idea that by a proper system of transfers
accommodations could be found for all
Later on School Superintendent Snyder
in a speech declared that that system
/ had been already worked to its limit, an6
would not provide for more accommoda-
| tions
and half more.
Director Egbert said he had nothing tc
do with No 26 School. He declared that
| the situation had been thoroughly studied
| by the Board of Education. He warmed
| up to the subject and in reply to Interrupt
ton by Commissioner Midlige told thai
official that he didn't know what he was
| talking about, and accused the Finance
Board of debating to the Board of Edu.
| cation.
| Mr. Midlige said the Board was trying
to do all in its power to give proper
| accommodations to the school children OF
| that sectin, that it did not propose tc
| dictate to the Board of Education and the
| Board of Finance did not propose to allow
the Board of Education to dictate to 1t.
i Superintendent Snyder was sent for fol
| hfs opinion on the points under discussion
| He said it was not wise to convert assem-.
bly, rooms in the new structures into clas.
rooms. AS to the transfer system, he SAID
it had been worked for all it was worth
The line, he said, had been extended t.
No. s School He showed COMMISSIONS
Ringle that there were only seven school:
in the old Fourth District
Discussing general cnditions Mr.. Snyde
said worse condition of affairs existed
year ago in Greater New York. and still
existed in Brooklyn today He de
| precated the fact that there were thos,
who disparaged the city N connection
with its public school accommodation
and said that no city in the union coul,
i boast of better schools. 1t was true, h
said, that we had some cd buildings, a
did every ohter old city, but that il
i proportion to population Jersey City hat
more modern buildings and better schoo
/ accommodations that a majority of tn,
cities of the union. Jersey City shoult
be proud of them, hes aid He admitte,
that there were moot schools enough an,
said the city should have more.
i The Rev. DR.. G.. S. Wright, pastor of tn,
Central Avenue Reformed Church present
ed strong argument against allowing
children to roam the streets instead OF go
ing to school. 1t made them vicious. HI
said. They should be trained as goos
citizens.