The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-21
CUSTOM STANDS
NO SCHOOL ON LINCOLN'S
BIRTHDAY.
South Orange Teachers Were willing to
Work That Day for Longer
Xmas Vacation.

II the wish of a majority of the teachers
OF the South Orange public schools were
carried out, Lincoln's Birthday would not
be regarded as a legal holiday so far as
not holding school sessions is concerned.
The members Of the South Orange Board
OF Education are more patriotic. however,
and refused to grant a request to that
effect made by Superintendent Henry w.
Foster for the teachers at a meeting of
the board List night. The board unani-
mously voted not to require pupils to
attend school on the legal holiday.
The teachers complained that the Christ
mas vacation, as prescribed by the board
In its annual report issued recently, pro-
vidins but one week, beginning December
"a and ending January 2, was not long
enough and asked that two weeks be gwen
from December 20 to January 2, so as they
might visit their homes, most Of which are
in other States. To make up for the lost
time of the additional weeks vacation the
faculty was willing to work on Lincoln's
Birthday and on any other holiday, or
continue school a week later In juno
The scheme Of le~ngthening the sch Dol
term was not approved of by some of the
teachers Mr.. Foster said. Some of them
have already accepted positions to teach
in summer schools to date from the day
after the usual time for closing the South
Orange schools. and they would rather
make up the time by teaching on other
holidays"
Trustee Warren P. Ball doubted whether
the board had the power to re-
quire the pupils to attend school on a legal
holiday.
Superintendent Foster said he had writ
ten to State Superintendent Meredith re-
garding the holding of sessions on Lin
coins Birthday, and the result was that
hA rA.r1 ~A-,rIA 1.A11fR0 1ahnAI On that
day providing the South Orange board
chose to do so.
After some discussion on the matter it
was decided to continue the usual sched-
ule of Christmas vacation.
The committee on sites, which was ex-
,pected to make a report on a new site
for a school to relieve the crowded con-
ditions in the present schools, simply re-
ported progress. The committee had en-
deavored to get a low price on the Hughes
property, adjoining the present Columbia
School building, in 1rvington avenue, but
the price was too high, 5000 a front foot,
and 1t was decided to seek ground else
where.
The building committee was instructed
to look up the matter of installing forty
additional cloak lockers in the High School
building. Superintendent Foster asked
that they be placed on each side of the
hallway on the second floor, where the
pupils might easily secure their wraps
when going out of the class room. Trus-
tee William B. Yearance differed and was
of the opinion that the lockers might
obstruct the exit somewhat in case of fire.
President Charles G. Fielding said he
thought the hallway was the most de-
sirous place for the lockers. He said the
hallway was twelve feet wide. The COM
mittee will decide as to whether it would
be more feasible to place the lockers IN
the hallway or in the assembly hall on
the third floor, and report to the board
for action at its next meeting. In the
INT the committee will also ascer-
tain whether the steel cage locker or the
wood locker Is more feasible.
1t was decided to pay the teachers and
other employees of the board their monthly
salary next month on December 20, so as
TO allow them to have the money before
Christmas.
The attendance figures for the South
Orange. Maplewood and Hilton schools at
present, according to Mr.. Fosters report,
are 992, whereas, in The same month
last year there were 9A pupils and 906 in
1905. The average daily attendance for the
month was 900. There were 100 cases of
hardness. Mr.. Foster said that twenty
four pupils had left the schools since the
beginning of the present term because of
thirteen families moving out of town.
The sum of So. 900 was borrowed from the
Peoples Bank of East Orange, bearing 9
per cent. interest, for current expenses,
and a warrant for SIS was drawn to the
order of Rowland d. Perrine, chairman of
the police committee. to defray the ex-
pepse of the attendance officer.