The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-14
PRAISE FOR DIRECTORS.
J..C. Egbert Tells What the
Board Of Education
Has Done.

In an interesting talk before the
Twelfth Ward Public Improvement Asso-
citation. at Spitznagel's Hall, Boulevard
and Lincoln street, last night Dr. J. y
Egbert. Director of Education from the
Twelfth ward, advocated keeping parll-
san politics out of school matters he
said that while he was a Republican ne
could not but commend the present Boaro
of Education, with its Democratic ma
5oritv. for insisting that all appointments
and promotions should be made on merit
and not through political influence as was
formerly the case
Director Egbert thought that the
schools of our city were vastly superior
10 even those of New York. where inn
mense amounts were expended for ex-
terror accommodation. while those here
were erected with the sole idea of giving
the best possible interior at the smallest
possible expense.
He was greeted warmly as he arose TO
speak when introduced by President
George Hoehl. He said
IN reference to new School No. q you
all know the trouble we have had II
win cost about ST. ,09O Unfortunately the
foundation was laid between two quar-
ries and therefore our bill for rock exca-
walton will be very high. The building
is being put up in the very best manner
possible. don't know of any better
brick work on the-Hill. The rock excava-
tion will cost from $4,000 to $4,000, and
with the furnishings at $1,000, viii bring
the entire cost close to the 100000 mark.
When completed the school house VIII
seat 500 children. In the laying out OF
the building the amount of air and space
for each child was fully considered.
Director Egbert then explained the ar
rangements, sanitary and otherwise, OF
the new school and expressed the belief
that they were really superior to any
home or New York school. He attributed
the outbreak of dipththeria at No.
School to the bad sanitary arrangements
there
III was the intention to have the
building completed by November |, but
l now confidently believe it will be ready
for occupancy by April next. In pre-
pairing the plans for the building we went
into every detail and the specifications
for No. rs will stand az a model for Jer-
sey City schools for many years to
come
"As regards the Board of Education,
of which l am a member, say that you
have every reason to be very well salts
fed with the condition of things in your
school department. I had to 60 through
a course Of training when first became
a member of the board, and / learned
that the division on political lines estab->
1ished by law was not for the purpose of
giving the bulk of patronage to the domi-
nant political party. That idea | am abb
solutely and entirely opposed to- am
Republican, but am opposed to party
control in city affairs. We cannot con-
troll our schools successfully if we con-
troll them through the spectacles Of par
tisanship."
Director Egbert eul6gized his associate
Director Julius 4Serger Of the Eleventh
ward. for his nom partisan administration
of his office, and declared that all janitors
~ n,,1,lic schools should be engineers In
1he matter Of the conduct Of the public
schools the keynote should be non-parti-
sanship.,, declared Mr.. Egbert. This is
,,arfjc1,larlv true in the matter OF the ap-
,,,,,,,5 rnent Of teachers. The old plan was
r. have would-be teachers look up their
friends for influence to secure appoint
ment. Today it is different. Appoint
,,,erts ana promotions are based entirely
IN analiflcation. and so it should corr
tinue."
The director said that the appointment
of County Superintendent Murphy was
due 70 his qualification, and declared that
fbe service was much improved py rea-
son Of the fact that in this city apple
cants had no longer to go to political lea
ders for appointment.