The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-13

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consideration. Inquiry has been made by
committee of the State Council of Edu
cation as to the effect in neighboring States
of new normal schools upon the Older in
situations, and testimony is in hand from
not less than thirty of these schools. The
principals of these schools without a single
exception testify that the organization of
the newer schools has in no way injured
the older, but has on the contrary proved
beneficial to them. The attendance at
the older normal schools increases. You
ought TO have three normal schools in New
Jersey The new school creates its own
patronage and does not infringe on that of
other schools Massachusetts supports
it's ten normal schools to-day more will
ingly and more handsomely than 1t sup.
ported its four twenty years ago. These
quotations fairly express the testimony of
the thirty normal school principals above
referred to. 1t should be remem bered.
moreover. that the States from which this
testimony comes support: Massachusetts.
ten; Connecticut, three New York, elev-
en-, aDd Pennsylvania thirteen normal
schools. The principals that testify are
the educational statesmen of our New
! England and Middle States. In the face
of such overwhelming testimony the fear
that new normal school would work in
jury to the older seems unworthy of CON
sideration.
1t should be noted, however, at this
point, that in the opinion of the educators
of the State generally if our present nor
NAL school should be reduced considerably
in number, this reduction would enhance
its value The reason for this is that the
school is greatly lacking in training facili-
ties for it's pupils. There is an excellent
model or observation school. but this does
not furnish training in any adequate sense.
The present management and the State
Board of Education have earnestly desired
better facilities, and deserve great edit
for their efforts to obtain them, although
such efforts have been largely in vain. 1t
is safe to say that no normal school in the
United States can secure proper training
facilities for SO large number of pupils
as are now in our State normal school
There is no reason to believe, however,
that this number would for any considera
BILE time be reduced by an additional
school,
1T is feared by some that the rather
scanty support that Is now given TO our
present normal school will be in part di-
verified TO the new institution The uni
form experience of neighboring States
proves that this fear is absolutely ground
less 1t requires no great astuteness to
foresee that two normal schools, one at
each end of the State, would be more libe-
rally and ungrudgingy supported than
single one. Public interest in the training
of teachers will be intensified throughout
the State; the educational standard will
be raised, and the people of New Jersey
will be willing to pay more for better ser
vice. But even if this were not true, we
may rest assured, on the plane of lower
and selfish motives, that neither end of the
State will permit its own institution TO
suffer. Each will join the other in secur
ing fair treatment for both.
Z" A comparison of New Jersey with our
neighborinR States has been made in re-
gard to the percentage of assessed valua-
ton that each State devotes to the main
tenance of normal schools. 1t is found
that in New York that this percentage is
twenty per cent. greater than in New Jer
sey; and this result is reached In spite of
the fact that the enormous valuation of
the Greater New York is included in our
divisor and the result is still more strik-
ing in view of the fact that all the institu-
tions supported by this money are outside
49, oi+- {k,l
own training schools 1t is found, further
more, that in Massachusetts this percent
age is nearly double, while In Rhode Island
and Connecticut it is three times that of
New Jersey 1t is a fact that New Jersey
has been thus far parsimonious toward the
most important feature of her public
school system. How long shall this con-
tinue?
How long must the people in the most
populous counties of the State continue to
pay thousands of dollars annually to pro
fessionally trained teachers imported from
other States, when large numbers of our
young women would gladly enter the pro-
fession through the doors of a normal
school If one were situated within rea-
sonable distance? 1t woula seem incredi-
BILE that so prosperous State as our ow n
should refuse this just demand of its citi-
zens"
This one is by Mr. Snyder Superinten
dent of Schools of Jersey City:
Although the Constitution of New
Jersey demands that the Legislature shall
provide for the maintenance and support
of thorough and efficient system of free
schools" the State has been singularly
remiss in not providing adequately that
which is the very foundation of an efficient
school system, namely sufficient Normal
Schools for training teachers. In the
eight northern counties of the State
about IA per cent. or abous 700 new teach
ers are required each year. No one Nor
NAL School can supply the demand of
these counties alone.
I'm 1901, of the 1857 teachers employed
in Bergen, Essex Hudson, Passaic, Sussex
and Warren, only 500 were graduates of
the Trenton Normal School. OF the re-
naming 3 37l AGA were graduates of the
Mammal Seh0nla of other Statas 1 R71 were