Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-07

Jersey affirms, and the Attorney General
has approved. That the state shall give to
each child thorough and efficient oppor-
tunity of attending a free public school
ISuperintendent Baxter in his circular to
school officers and taxpayers has made tnls
clear as the MONDAY sun, is remains for
sbose who have charge OF the actual work
OF the school to see it, that every boy and
girl within the confines OF the State OF New
Jersey has this opportunity, and haying
svailed himself or herself Of the opportun-
| ity, it shall stand for something more than
diploma 1t is just as important
TO the farmer, to the mechanic, to the
miner, 10 the craftsmen and to the
tradesmen that these four years OF higher
and specialized training shall stand for
something definite, as it Is 80 the doctor,
the lawyer or the dentlst By standard
ization of high schools the State Depart
ment does not mean uniformity in the
course of study to be persued, believing
that this is better left 30 the wants Of each
individual community, so long as the KIND
and class of opportunities offered in each
course shall meet with the approval OF the
state board of education, but the State De-
partment does believe in establishing
uniform standard relating to the general
conditions surrounding the establishments
and maintenance Of the schools, under
which opportunities for studying and traln-
ing shall be given to the youth OF our State.
/ If then any board of cducation does NOS
maintain high school, and pupil COM
pDeting the work of the 8th year desires q
! further education, the board is obliged not
only morally, but legally, to furnish 1t.
/ This it may do, first by establishing a hign
i scho j OF its own, or second BY establishing
a union high school in conjunction with o
neighboring district or districts, or lastly
by transporting the pupil to High School
in neighboring district and paying his
sutton there The local board has thus
the choice of means, but the task itself and
the duty Of performing it we'll, are not
masters Of choice, and il is at this point
shat the worked Standardization comes 20
aid and assist the local powers in bringing
about efficient results.
Mr.. Sensor quoted freely from the school
law, and defined the various classes OF ap
proved schools and the provision the State
has made for their maintenance. As these
facts have been frequently published we
omit them from this article].
i County Superintendent III. S. Tees, OF
Burlington county, read paper on The
Consolidation of Schools and Transporter
tion OF Pupils'' As the subiect has been
muoh discussed in our county, We quote
freely from his address,
i sUPT. TEES PAPER.
In this paper it is my intention to deal
with only one phase Of the question OF pro-
yiding suitable school facilities viz: that
Of Consolidation Of Schools and Transports
tioa Of Pupils | shall assume that condi-
lions in the rural schools OF this county aT5
somewhat similar to those Of my own
county OF Burlington. I shall haye oc-
casion frequently to quote from educational
reports, and will not always mention
authorities quoted.
i Fifty yenis ago, yes, thirty years ago,
rural schools were large; irequently theie
was an actnal attendance of so TO 20 pupils
land seldom less than 25 to go The ages
Of the pupils ranged from 4 to 81 years
tSr>, a&n
or exceptionally bright young men from
1.-The community or nearby towns, who made
teaching p steppng-stoDe TO one OF the
learned professions. As these men were
ambitious and had gained large outlook
upon life they nos lnfrequently stirred TO
their very depths the souls OF their pupils
The cOuntry school was often the social
centre Of the community. Debating clubs,
spalling bees, singing schools entertained
and instructed not only the pupils OF the
schools. but large number Of the older
persons. and welded vast influence for
good. The subjects taught were fewer il
humber than in modern schools in our large
towns and cities, but they still constitu {
the base Of every system Of education; aud
because OF the maturity Of the minds OF the
pupils, were taught wish a thoroE2hnts ss
and were grasped with comprehension so
often lacking in o-caiied good schools Of
to-day. quote recent writer on the Ell
4icency Of the old-time rural school: 'The
Independent thinking and the individual
doing Of pupils, whose ages gave maturity
50 mind, were educating The school wat
4 consolidation Of numbers and ability
suficiens for She needs Of the time. Siini-
ii conditions exist in few country dis
tricts aow, aud such schools may we'll b
maintained by district and State in the
place Of their native growth. A home lif'
Of ftugality, simplicity, aud industry is
Ai<.s .s.<l,.s1l sx,xr ~ bod nd