The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-06-12
ANNUAL REPORT
ON SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Snyder Ex-
haustively Discusses
Our Educational
System.
A LONG WAY FROM PERFECTION
Accommodation inadequate to
the Attendanee-our
Crying Needs.
A LONG WAY FROM PERFECTION

As required by law superintendent
Henry Snyder, of the Public Schools last
night submitted to the Board of Educa-
tion the thirty-fifth annual report of the
City Superintendent of Schools. 1t is
a very lengthy but interesting document
and every phrase of the public school
education is exclusively discussed therein.
Its principal features alone are touched
upon below.
Mr.. Snyder prefaces his report with
theNcensus population of 1900 as zoe, ,4SS3
and the estimated population at present
: of 21S, ,293 He sets forth the total num-
ber of schools as so as against % in
1898, all of which are at present owned
by the board. The total number Of seats
is 23,9S1 as against 23,S76 in 1898. The
slight increase is accounted for later on
in his report the number of new build
ings that have merely taken place of old
ones. The present value of lots and
buildings is S1.756,750. The value of
furniture and supplies, $43,114.09, and
the value of books and stationery, $685.
95s26 total of sl.se5, ,S22.35.
Mr.. Snyder says
vol, - .11,<, ~ 11o- in
creased since last report by SLIT, ,761.77
This increase is due to the erection of
new schools Nos. %, &c. and not vet
complete, to the reconstruction of School
No. 10, to the enlargement of School No.
10, to the acquisition of additional land
adjacent to School No. IL, to the refur-
nishing OF School No. Z, and to several
minor improvements.
st must be deplored that there are
go many children who do not, or cannot,
avail themselves of the opportunities for
a thorough education. The city is natu-
rally interested in the education of its
boys and girls, as conducive to its prog
ress and welfare, and welcomes any
evidence which tends to show the in
fuences unfavorable to thorough school
training are becoming less powerful.
Such evidence is presented, in which we
note that the percentage under discussion
increased from 61.57 in 1885 to 600 in
1901. This increase is gradually, as must
be expected, for it represents changes in
the circumstances and the habits Of
thought of the parents and pupils con-
cerned. The fact that the increase is
so slow from year to year shows the
need of constant effort to promote it.
Your board and the supervising archi-
tect must be commended for the sound
policy employed in the erection of three
new schools.
Although Schools Nos. % and 30 will
add about 1,400 new sittings" said the
Superintendent, sit is not surprising that
these will be occupied as soon as they
are available. There are enough chill
drn in their immediate vicinity to occupy
the additional seats. As was pointed out
in the report of last year, no new build
ing has been opened since February,
1899, except School No. 20, which re-
placed the building destroyed by fire,
and hence did not increase the seating
capacity of the schools. During the
three years and half which preceded
the opening of School No. %, the school
population increased greatly.
SIN February, 1899, every child who
applied for admission was received.
There were no children waiting for ad-
mission There were however, 80 ordin-
airy half day classes, containing lat
pupils. There were no four hour classes.
In November, 1902, there were 36 two
or three hour classes, containing 1872
pupils, or, in all, 100 part time classes
with 1850 pupils. In February, 1899,
the half day classes were limited to the
lowest grade, while in November, 1902,
some second year pupils are allowed to
attend school only part Of the day. Dur
ing the past three years and half, con-
ditions have become worse in these re-
spects.
And yet no steps have been taken to
meet these demands. No new class
rooms which shall increase the seating
capacity of the schools have been plan
An old and well Tried Remedy