The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-23
THE ORANGES.
BLOOMFIELD.
MONTCLAIR
NO ADDITION NOW
E. O. HIGH SCHOOL MUS
REMAIN CROWDED.
Sense of Pupil Meeting Is That 1t Is
Not Wise to Spend $175,0 600
at This Time.

The public meeting held last hight at the
East Orange High School to discuss the
need of an addition to the school, at an
estimated cost of SIZE, 900. which includes
the price of property which would have
to be purchased in the rear of the build
ing extending to North Walnut street, was
productive of an interesting discussion. IL
was the sense of the meeting that an addi-
ton was needed. but that the City Council
and Board Of Education should meet the
present conditions as best they could till
a future date, when the debt would prob
ably not be so keenly felt. 1t is likely
that nothing will be done for a year or two
toward building the addition.
One woman, Mrs. Thomas r. Creole, was
present, and nearly all the city officials,
an architect and former members OF the
Council and Educational Board were ON
hand. As the discussion continued some OF
the speakers wandered away from school
talk and one of the commissioners pro-
ceeded to fay the officials for increasiqg
expenses in the past ten years, and he was
quickly called to order.
Mayor William Cardwell opposed the
spending of $175,000 for an addition at the
present time and recalled that two new
schools had been erected within twenty-slx
months and that In the past three years
$300, eco had been spent for schools. The
Mayor said material and labor were. high
at the present and it did. not seem wise TO
expend the money now, but If the citizens
decided for 2 new high school or addition
he was willing to cast his vote in the
Board of School Estimate for either.
Some of the arguments used against the
present school were:
It has no assembly room and 1t Is i'm
possible to get all the pupils together for
any purpose; 595 pupils, with average at
tendance of $50, for whom there are only
b0S seats; seats crowded together In upper
study; poor, results obtained from the aft
ernoon class, which had to be established:
in some rooms three girls are forced to sit
on seats built for two: classrooms In the
attic, basement and laboratory; principals
office In a small bookroom; insufficient
breathing space; no lunchroom; gymna-
SUM on the top floor. noises from which
disturb pupils in the rooms below; art
room in the cellar. to reach which some
pupils land In a coal bin; the smallness OF
the building makes It so difficult for music
teachers to study voices that many do not
get the course needed.
With all this, Superintendent of Schools
Vernon l.. Davey figured that within a few
years there would be an attendance of $50
at the school.
The meeting was opened by President
William G. Thomas, u h Board of Edu-
and William o. Ludlow secretary. Mr..
Davey went deep into the schools needs
and said If a good commercial course was
added the number of pupils would increase
who now travel to Newark for this partic-
ular branch. He referred to the rapid
growth OF nfgn SCHOOLS III the Unleu
States and today, he said, the boy or girl
who has no high school education has not
much of n show in the world.
Principal Charles w. Evans spoke along
the same lines and rectted the present
crowded conditions at the school.
Mayor Cardwell followed with a claim
that labor and material had greatly in
creased in cost and asked If it was wise
to expend $4,000 for an addition, at pres
emit He did mt see his way clear to au-
thorize its expenditure. He said he would
hesitate a long time before signing a paper
f5r the amount and place the city in fur
Councilman Edward S. r~ierson, who is
a bank president, felt that as a citizen
and a city official East Orange would be
taking a step If 1t failed to
care properly for grammar school gradu-
ates. feeders Of a high school. As chair
man of the finance committee, he said, it
was his duty TO 'sit on the lid" but he
believed 1t false economy to try to get
along with a school found wanting.
I'VE have high taxes" he. said, "bui
do we want to stop with something that
has been a help to the city? The schools
have given East Orange the desirab BILE
name it has. On the surface 1t appears
that there will continue to be an increase
of pupils at the High School and we GER
tainly Will have to care for these chill
dren.'