The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-09-09
BACK TO SCHOOL
Over Crowded Conditions at
Opening of Fall Term
This Morning.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS NEEDED
Primary Schools Graduating
Too Many Pupils for Gram
mar Departments No rs
Condition.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS NEEDED

Clang, clang, clang, rang out the school
bells this morning with vigor gained
from ten weeks silence, and simultan-
eously as though the Pied Piper of Ham
lin was at work. out came the children by
the thousand. skipping, hopping, dancing,
and eventually disappearing beneath the
changing bells. These were the old pupils
not old in age, but in school experience
at least year or two-the new ones
came later with their mothers. They
could be seen during the opening exercises
lining up the hall, these mothers with
their little ones timidly hanging to their
skirts the childish tears ready to start
at moments notice. The mothers, too.
looked anxious, and they had cause to be,
news had reached them that of necessity
somebody's prodigy must be turned away.
There was the usual crowding in all the
principal schools of the crowded dis
tricts, despite the fact of the six or
seven new schools. The grammar de-
partment is just beginning to feel the eff
feet of the building of so many new prim-
ary schools during the past two years.
The city was overcrowded two years ago
with primary pupils. Hundreds had to
be turned away and in order to relieve
the pressure six new primary schools
We're built. In consequence of this more
pupils have been promoted from these
primary schools into the grammar de-
partment until, with the opening of this
term, half day classes may be necessity
School No. 12 on Astor place seems to
be one of the greatest sufferers. Tne
grammar department here is built to ac-
commodate about 450, and this morning at
nine o'clock six hundred had applied Tor
admission. Fifty of these were graduates
from primary schools, fifty were new
pupils and the remainder had attended
before.
In School No. II on Bergen Square the
same state of affair exists. The gram
mar department accommodates APO not
any too comfortably. This morning 40
had been accommodated and large num-
Der turned away, asked to report tomor-
row. when some arrangement would be
made if possible. There are 81 graduates
from Primary Schools Nos. II and IL, ana
! -these--naust be accommodated first the
new comers must wait their chance.
.tWhat are you going to do about it"'
was asked one of the principals TINS
morning 'sWill you form half day ses-
sions in the grammar department.
mo, I don't think so,'' was the answer,
1--WE will form another half day class In
the primary first to make room for the
grammar"
The primary departments in Schools
Nos. II and IL have opened as over
crowded as ever with the necessity or hall
day classes in both. In the annex OF the
former where the half day classes are
fifty-one new pupils have applied. There
are accommodations for only fourteen. In
School No. IL there were at nine TINS
morning 9S new pupils, which brought the
number in the primary up to it's full ac-
commodation, about 700.
The High School has as usual managed
to crowd 720 into accommodations for 2So.
This is done by placing two in seats built
for one, and by using the class rooms
down stairs for assembly rooms. That
is, the rooms which should be used only
when a certain class is in session must
be made to accommodate the regular all
day classes or divisions.
Downtown the situation is just as
crowded School No. has not opened at
all as yet, nor has any disposition been
made of the pupils. Director Lewis seems
to think that the central building is safe,
and by shutting off the wings the major
ity of the pupils might be accommodated
there