The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-05

Statement This Bill Well Known,
But not Understood IAN ExpIana-
tion Taken as a Whole 1t is very
satisfactory.
The character Of the proposed revi-
sion of the school law is apparently so
generally misapprehended that the
Commission having this matter in
charge has authorized a general state
ment as to its attitude with reference
to this question and the new report
it hopes to submit to the COM
ing Legislature of New Jersey.
The Commission was appointed by
the Governor year ago last June,
and consists of State Senator E. 9.
Stokes, J. B. Belts, Assistant State
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
and s. ST J. McCutchen, member
of the State Board Of Education, who
uttered upon their work and prepared
ahsubmitted to the Legislature last
Sring their report in the shape of
Ahate Bill No 1877. This work had
nvolved great labor. In its prepara-
ion, the Commission had consulted
the school laws of many of the States
Of the Union; had asked the advice
and cooperation of teachers and
school boards professional educators
and executive and financial officers
of municipalities. It's purpose was
to condense and simplify the school
law, so that it could be easily under
stood; to add provisions which would
round out and complete the law for
the regulation and control of schools
and school districts. and to supply ade-
quate legal provision in respects in
which the present law is wholly lack
ing; in other words, to provide q
uniform system of school government
as substitute for the patch work law
now in use; to remove school officers
and teachers from the thraldom of
politics and political infiuences; to
elevate the dignity of the profession
of teaching; to inspire those engaged
in it to greater devotion to educa-
tional work; and to frame law
which would encourage the highest
and most modern ideas in educational
work, and to make the State so far
as possible, the leading educational
State in the Union.
The Commission presented it's report
in the shape of Senate Bill No. 1917,
to the Legislature SO late it could
not wisely be considered at that ses-
sion. It was not urged to passage for
the reason that the Commission be-
1ieved that as this was the most impor-
tant measure before the Legislature,
hasty action upon it would be unwise,
and that time should be given for fur
ther consideration, criticism and
amendment
Its old report, Senate Bill No. 1877
has been printed, and has been widely
spread over the State, in order to
bring out comments, suggestion and
advice Circulars have been sent out
also, inviting the cooperation Of pro-
fessional educators, municipal officials,
boards Of trustees and teachers.
In addition to this, the Commission
has given hearings in various parts
of the State. and propose, if conven-
lent, before completing its new re-
port, to give three general hearings,
one at Camden, one at Jersey City or
Newark, and one at Trenton, in order
that the views of the various sections
of the State may be ascertained.
The Commission has already re-
ceived suggestions which it prizes,
and which it considers worthy Of
adoption, and several provisions of
its old report will be changed.
The general scheme of codification
divides the school districts of the
state into two general classes, one
of which will include the school
districts in townships, and the
her those in cities, boroughs, and
S0rporated towns. So far as the
first class is concerned, the Commits
sion does not recommend radical
changes from the present law; it
did, however. offer certain changes
which it considered wise, and
which seem generally to be APP
viz School boards are given
the right to transport pupils to
schools remote from their residences,
at o saving in expense and great
gain in efficiency of education
provision is made for the union of
two or more districts in the establish
ment and maintenance of union
graded school, where more advanced
course of study may be pursued than
either of these districts could alone
afford to provide. In this group of
districts, members of Boards of Edu-
cation are elected in the same manner
as they are now constituted.
In the second group Of districts,
which includes cities, boronghs and
Incorporated towns, divided into
yards, more serious changes are in
Produced, for the reason that there
as heretofore been no uniform system
+ government for public schools
p such localities. Naturally then
bis subdivision of their work needs
loFe attention. The Commission