The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-12-23
SCHOOL ROOM
VERY SCARCE
State Superintendent Bax-
ter's Report Shows How
Children Multiply.
BOND ISSUE PANIC
Rapid Increase in School Ex-
penses Half Day Glasses.
BOND ISSUE PANIC
Especial to ..The Jersey city News. ),

TREN- Dec. %, 1902.-In his
forthcoming annual report to the Legis-
lature, State Superintendent Charles J.
Baxter makes several recommen1a
for the betterment of the school system
of New Jersey and comments generally
upon the conditions as they exi5 today
Mr.. Baxter remarks that, notwith-
standing the embarrassment and con-
fusion resulting from the adverse decis-
ion of the Supreme Court as to the con
stitutionality Of the school law, the
school year Of 1902 has been one of
gratifying progress.
The amount expended in repairing and
erecting school buildings was $685. ,316.-
81 as against 81 ,505,620.74 for the pre-
ceding year, a decrease of $3.50, ,304. %.
This, Mr.. Baxter says, was not owing to
a feeling of Indifference as regards the
care of school property or disregard of
the pressing demands for increased
school accommodations, but to the fear
of issuing school bonds whose validity
might be questioned.
MORE ACCOMMODATION.
comodations is made readily apparent, !"
continues the report, when it is motel
that the seating capacity of our schools,
including eighty-nine rented buildings
was but 32S,063, while the enrolment
was 336.G64. Rented buildings are and
should never be regarded as other than
temporary make-shift. As the seating
capacity of the school buildings in many
sparsely settled districts was in excess
of local needs, we know that in our cen
ter of population much greater number
than S,601 1886, ,664 -32S, ,O63) pupils was
without suitable school facilities.
This presented the unfortunate alter
native of denying altogether or infring-
ing upon the rights of as many other
pupils by establishing halliday classes,
So, as there is no reason to question the
validity Of any intelligent proceedings
under the present law, this crying need
of of our schools should be supplied as
promptly as possible.
HALLIDAY CLASSES.
when ample Opportunity has been
given, regulations should be such that no
half day classes can be allowed credit
for full days attendance.
This should be done as a protection
and measure of justice to the children
themselves and to the progressive muni-
cipalities whose school accommodations
are adequate.
Despite the unfortunate check in
school building and the present lack of
school accommodations, it is my privi-
lege to report the following advances in
this particular line:-
An increase of thirty-nine in the num-
Der of school buildings used; of fifteen
in the number of buildings owned; of 275
in the number of school departments:
of $5T0,922 in the total value of school
property; of $5,S26 in the seating cacac-
ity of our public schools.
INCREASES NEEDED.
"The following increases over and
above the totals of the preceding school
Year prove substantial progress in other
important school matters
An increase. of $S27, ,59O.34 in the
amount Of appropriated from the State
fund for school purposes; of $2S3, ,299. II
in the amount of district school tax: of
S2O6,3S0.29 in the amount paid for teach
ers' salaries; of 377 in the number of
teachers employed; of $2,O14.1S in the
amount expended for the transportation
of pupils; Of 204 in the average number
of pupils transported; of $3.50 in the
amount expended for school libraries; of
$4,000 in the total days attendance:
of 3,34S in the number of pupils enroll
/ ed in the kindergarten schools; Of three
days in the average time the schools
1 We're kept open.
EXPENSES INCREASING.
Ihe total current expenses of the
public schools, including teachers and
janitors9 salaries, outlay for text books
and school apparatus, school libraries,
manual training, transportation, tuition
OF pupils in adjoining school ristricts and
incidental expenses was 6,005, ,553. So a
against Sc, 1858, ,539.62 for the preceding
year an increase of $372. .O13.72
This affected the cost of education as
follows: Average cost of tuition per pu-
pill enrolled for the school year of 1900
II. $16.74; for 1901-02, ST, ,S3-increase
81 90. Per capita cost of tuition for the
school year of 1900-01. calculated upon
the average number of pupils in attend
ance, $2546; for 1901-02. $26.S4-- IN
crease S13S