Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1906-12-29
PUPILS OF SEVERAL SUNDAY
SCHOOLS HOLD XMAS EXERCISES
POLITICS
IN THE SCHOOL
Principal Speaks Of Clique Of
1000 Superintendents Who
Employ $500 Teachers.
TIME FOR SALARY INCREASE.

TIME FOR SALARY INCREASE.
Address Made ut New Jersey State
Teachers Association Meeting, Now
in Session in Atlantic City-De-
clares Rural Teaching is Neglected
and Has Data to Prove It--De-
plOres Absence of History of State.
ATLANTIC CITY, Dec. 29.-That
picayune politicians play too strong
part in the management of New
Jerseys schools, with distressing re-
suits from the education system and
to the end that appropriations find
their way as salary into the hands of
politically favored. ones out of all
proportion to the service rendered,
was one of the strong reasons urged
yesterday by Principal Preston H.
Smith, of Bayonne, to show men,
bers of the New Jersey State Teach
ers' Association why their united
support should be behind the tenure
of Office bill and other legislation to
secure better salaries for teachers.
A clique of $4,000 superintena-
ents, who employ $400 teachers" he
charged, has had influence enough TO
thwart former efforts to better the
financial condition of public school
teachers in New Jersey, who, as Il
speaker at yesterdays session de
elared. are more poorly paid than
bodcarriers."
Rural Schools Neglected.
The plea of the Bayonne peda-
gogue for the betterment of condi-
tions in the rural schools and his
charge that there were many rural
schools that had not been visited In
two years by their high-priced county
superintendents, won the applause of
the country teachers present, bnt met
with emphatic protests from some
Of the county superintendents.
Superintendent B. G. Wooster, of
Bergen county, while agreeing with
Professor Smith that rural schools in
the state are no better, and some are
worse off than they were half cen
tury ago, declared that the members
of the Committee on Educational
Progress, who framed Smiths report,
we're all connected with city schools,
and personally knew nothing of the
country schools nor their manner of
supervision. Professor Smith replied
to this thrust by assuring the associa-
tion that the report was founded on
personal investigation, and the let
ters of some two score rural teachers
in different parts of the state. If
the shoe pinches, he said, those re-
sponsible for the conditions must
wear it.
Time Ripe for Higher Salaries.
Professor Smith called attention
to New Jerseys unique position
among the states with the possession
of it's large school fund, arising from
franchise and corporation taxation.
The amount for the coming year will
be four times that of the PRESENT, but
the teachers were warned to oppose
any attempt of school boards, in the
interest of local politics, to decrease
the amount raised by local taxation.
More and better equipped buildings,
more supplies and higher salaries for
LtdcUeFS tdTe III SlSill WlIll .llC IN
creased income from the state.
The report of Miss Il. A. Allen,
general secretary of the Teachers
Retirement Fund, which has passed
under state control, showed the treas
ury in better condition than ever be-
fore. The total annuities granted
to date have been 1853. OF these,
twenty-nine recipients are decreased.
The annual value of the 124 annui-
ties now paid is $50 1924, with an
average value of $35O.59. The total
annuities paid to date have been
$3.50, 0,669.S5. The surplus at the end
of the last fiscal year, on June 80,
was $90.421.11.
A resolution by Mrs. Susan b. Mar
vel to abolish the Retirement Fund
as a department of the association
precipitated an excited debate that
was only stilled when President Sny-
der discovered that the constitution
would not permit action upon the
matter until the resolution had been
laid over for one year.
Shy on States Own History.
New Jersey was declared by Prin-
cipal Smith, of Bayonne, to be far be-
hind other states in the instruction
of her pupils upon state history and
geography. 1t was shown that chill
dren get no more instruction in these
branches as pertaining to their own
state than is received in general
manner with that of the rest of the
country.
Tia convention unanimously decid-
ed Il have its next convention in At
lantfS City, skd adjourned after elect
| ing following officers:
Prl lent, Charles b. Boyer, of At
| lantic City: first vice president. VIII
liam ] ReklaofFs Of Newark; second