Gloucester County Democrat., 1906-10-11
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

the subject of school site was discussed.
Mr.. Carpenter reported that the lizard,
kirby and Simmerman properties, fronting
I130 feet on Broad street. and 306 feet on
HWest Centre street, could be purchased for
I$2o, 500. e.
Because there is no authority in the law
for submitting the question Of school site TO-
vote of the people, on motion Of Mr..
Hughes the vote by which popular vote
was agreed to was re-considered, the vote
being unanimous, and the Board proceeded
/ to ballot, the Franklin lot at $4,000, and
the Wick lot at 50, 075. Five ballots were
Etaken and each resulted in to 3.n e~0
On motion Of Mr. Carpenter further con-
sideration of the subject was deferred to an
adjourned session of the Board at p m,
next Monday, when both lots will be
viewed and an effort made to come to an
amicable agreement on one Of them.
John Redfield, Clerk Of the Board, and
flor IA years member rendered his resigna-
/ Ition, which was accepted to take affect
/ November 1.
Principal Dixon then made his first
monthly report from which we quote
freely. He said in part
The first report to you by the Principal
will deal mainly wish general matters.
Particulars as far as possible will be left for
subsequent consideration
School opened on the tenth Of September
in accordance with your direction, and has
been in session without interruption to the
present time. While the work has been in
progress the Principal has been occupied
with getting settled in new home, ac-
quainting himself with the duties Of his
position, and as occasion offered, with the
educational situation here and elsewhere
in so far as he will come IN touch with it in
his work He is encouraged By what he
has seen and learned, to believe that there
is here an unusual opportunity for service
60 the schools aud TO she community, and
it is his hope that while he has the honor
to be Principal of your schools. he may
render his share Of this important service.
He asks, gentlemen, what he feels yo1 are
all ready to give, your earnest support and
counsel. And it may not be improper for
me to add, that you occupy positions OF
vantage in this matter of giving counsel.
You are all busy men who are in daily con-
tact with parts of the community and in
close touch with many people. You can
see the good points as well as the defects OF
our educational system, as they are man
ifested to you in your daily intercourse
with men -see them as your school teschers
may fail to see them. You can understand
the educational sentiment Of the people in
your section of the city, and represent it at
these meetings We shall need to see
things as they appear to you and your
constituents if we are to do the best work
for the schools. .'In the counsel Of many
there is wisdom
TEACHERS.
Your teachers seem to me to be capable
and earnest women. shall speak OF them
individually from time to time as occasion
may require. month is rather too short
time to Justify much of either commenda-
tion or criticism. They have started well
and think will prove equal to their situa-
tions.
COURSE OF STUDY.
It is some years since your course Of study
was printed, and in these years a good many
changes have been made in teachers, in
textbooks and in the work. After making
inquiry about the subjects as taught in the
various buildings, / find some lack of
uniformity growing out Of these changes.
This lack, take it, you desire to have cor
rected by such changes as will make the
step from one grade TO another uniform,
both as to textbooks and the amount Of
work done to each. It may be done
gradually, and easilyif not too rapidly
and it will be to the advantage Of classes
coming from different buildings 70 enter
the higher grades All should have the
same preparation.
The separation Of the eighth year from
the high school and new assignment Of
work to teachers has made a little confusion
for us. In former years it has been possible
for pupils to do eighth year work in some
studies, while they pursued others in the
thigh school. After the separation Of the
two schools which you made, we found
some pupils who are hard to classify. They
were in doubt whether they were eigth
year or high school pupils. Our purpose
4 was to do the wisest thing for them; and
this is what we did: Pupils having three OF
more studies nncompleted in the eighth
year we're sent to that room TO take that
years. work again. Pupils having two
studies back we're required to take these
and ali but one Of the ninth year SO that