The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-12-18
HIGn SCHOOLS or NEW JERSEY

i hands Of the Departmental Public In
4 struction.
1 Until recently they were conducted
In haphazard sort Of way, often with
Tout due regard for previous prepare
4. ton, course Of study to be pursued, b
thoroughness OF work, and frequently
| to satisfy the ambition OF principa
Tor the local authorities, where there
should have been no high school at all
/ But when the law required higt
school or academic work for doctors
| lawyers and some other professions II
became necessary for the State Board
9of Education to look into the
matter, and all schools that seemed tC
be doing good work we're placed on an
approved list,
The number Of sucn schools was
about sixty, with several more on the
waiting list asking to be approved.
1t was then thought advisable to EN-
/ ploy competent person to inspect all
high schools in the State, and such a
man was found, but the Legislature,
with its millions to appropriate, could
not see any necessity for such an Off
GER. A parto of the Teachers Institute
appropriation, however. was made
available and the work began.
/ The advantages Of such actien were
at once apparent and the law as
amended now provides that THE In
spector of High Schools shall person
ally visit all the high schools in the
State, examine the courses of study,
the teaching force employed. their
buildings and equipments, etc, and
report to the State Superintendent p;
also to the State Board The law also
provides for the classification Of all
schools, using as a general basis the
course Of study of the State Model
School at Trenton
! The schools remain under the con-
troll Of the local authorities, and they
may have almost any kind Of a high
school they choose, but if the work
does not measure up to the required
standard they cannot hold place on
the approved" list. Our approved
schools are registered at Albany, and
graduates are admitted without ex-
animation to schools Of law aud med
icine and to the normal schools OF that
State The same privileges are
granted, in this State, to graduates
from New York. In that State all
high schools and academies are under
the control Of the State Department.
A dozen or more inspectors keep the
work practically uniform. and all ex-
aminations for promotion and gradual
ton are conducted by the Depart
ment.
The system is rigid, perhaps too
rigid, but it has its advantages
The Inspector in this State found
small schools trying to do high school
work, and some large schools just
drifting along. without thorough work
in any of their departments. A COM
mon and most grieyous fault is the
hurrying Of children through che pri-
mary and grammar grades to swell the
ranks OF the high school,
| Not mora than one in five pupils en-
ter high schools and about one in
twenty-five is graduated. And the
large majority who, whether from
choice or necessity, stay behind should
have the very best and most thorough
training, and eight years, beginning at
five or six years Of age, is not long
enough to properly cover what is
known as the common or grammar
school course. The time should be ex-
tended one year,
Some claim that the high school
should be dropped from the free
school system, but the law provides
for free schools for all pupils between
! five and twenty years Of age, and they
may demand high school education.
| II there is no high school in their dis
trict they must be carried to one ard
their tuition must be paid.
A difficult matter is the securing of
competent teachers for high schools.
Graduates Of high school cannot be
expected TO step back into the same
grade Of schools and teach success
fully. And If TO their education they
add normal training still they are in
competent.
A college education and at least one
year of professional training ought to
be required
a collegiate normal course would be
the next best thing. Such a course in
this State is now being discussed.
One is in operation at Albany, but it
is still ia the experimental stage. Bet
ter qualifications would mean higher
SALARIES. And If both qualifications
and salaries could be raised about fifty
4 per cent. all along the line, from the
primary to the high school. no doubt
the results would be most pratifying,
and would warrant the additional ex-
fpel Sc.
Madison Public schools closed.
The Madison public schools have
been closed upon the request Of the
Board OF Health, which Is endeavor-
j itrfpi tf 49,, ~ An,