The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-18
.DEMAREST'S LITTLE JOKE
Hoboken School Commits
sioner Was Slightly
Mixed on Frac-
tions.

City Superintendent A. J. Demarest, of
Hoboken, got little joke on Commits
sioner of Public Instruction, John Keresy
while ago and attempted last night at
the meeting of the Board to make capital
out of it.
Commissioner John Keresey a week ago
inspected the public schools of the city
on his own hook and privately examined a
number Of pupils to satisfy himself on the
standing of the local educational system
Mr.. Keresey declared last night that the
educational system of Hoboken was in a
deplorable condition.
.They are teaching our little ones how
to darn stockings instead of how to
figure,'' he said. They are instructing
them in fads instead of practical things.
They are teaching them how to make
omelettes instead of how to read and
write. Every new tangled notion that
comes along is being Incorporated in our
system
The City Superintendent waited uptil
Mr.. Keresey had finished his denunciation
of things local Then he arose and per-
petrated his little joke.
Mr. Keresey may think he's a peda-
gogue,' said he, .but perhaps he's mis-
taken in that belief. for one think So.
and I'll tell you why. A week or so ago he
Inspected our schools. / know his habit of
saying disparaging things about our
teachers and our methods, and was glad
to see him inspecting them. Both were
never in better position to show up to
advantage, and I thought he would be
convinced of this fact after seeing them.
He is still complaining, 1 see He won't
see things as they are. I don't question
his right to offer suggestions for the i'm
provement Of our system, but I do ques-
ton his right to criticise things he doesn't
know anything about.
"Mr. Keresey in one of the schools put
a pupil through rigorous examination in
figures. The boy held up admirably for
the grade he was in and even went be-
yond his teachers expectations. Then the
esteemed and learned Commissioner tried
to puzzle him. He asked the boy to de-
fine what mixed number was. The boy
did so and exemplified his definition with
the figures 1-3. Mr.. Keresey patted him
on the head and told him he was doing
nobly and that after he would tell him
what proper fraction the mixed number
made he could sit down. The boy answer
ed 7-3, and Mr.. Keresey complimented him
and told him he was sure about his frac-
tions.
Gentlemen, it is not my intention to
cast any aSperSiOn on the accomplish
ments of Mr.. Keresey, but claim that he
should leave the study of arithmetical
methods and other departments of our
curriculum !, to men da and wamep whose ss
who are paid by the city of Hoboken to
teach.
Il am not endeavoring to take excep-
ton to any. views Mr.. Keresey may en-
tertain on fractions, unique as they may
be. But do take exception to his un-
warranted and officious interference with
dual role of pedagogue and school trus-
tee."
Mr.. Keresey replied to the City .Superin-
tendent at length and concluded by ex-
pressing the hope that Mr.. Demarest's re-
gard for Hoboken school teachers was as
sincere as Mr.. Demarest wished to make
it appear.
The Commissioners were in session for
over two hours and had many lively
wrangles. Six of the pupil teachers of the
Training School We're reported deficient
in attainments by Principal Kelly and the
Board was divided respecting the disposi-
ton to be made of them. AS member OF
the School Government Committee, Com
missioners Muzzi and McHale We're in
favor of returning the young women to
the High School. Commissioner Wald-
helm opposed this action and succeeded in
having the matter deferred until the next
meeting.
President Offerman expressed himself
in favor of retiring the young women from
the Training School.
There are too many teachers in Hobo
ken altogether" he said. "Our Training
School will be farce If the increase in
graduates continues in the same ratio as
It has for the past two years. It's selling
gold bricks to young women asking them
to enter the school and take chances in
securing employment when they complete
the course. The standard of the school
should be raised or some other measure
should be adopted to decrease the annual
OUTPUT Of graduates. Well soon be having
more young teachers looking for jobs than
wen have pupils in the schools"