The Penn's Grove record., 1908-03-13
School Matters Discussed
By Officials and Educators At Salem

ny OllaCidlS anu EOuCatOFS Al SdIem
An enthusiastic meeting OF the Boards
Of Education from all the districts of
Salem County and the parents of chill
dren attending schools in Salem City and
vicinity was held in the assembly room
of Salem High School on Friday after
noon, March 9th. Notwithstanding the
day was stormy about two hundred
people were present. The supervising
principals and the principals of graded
schools in the County were invited to the
meeting and nearly every n was
present.
The parents meeting feature was COM
paratively new, as only two such meeting
have been held previously in the County;
this part of the program was highly in
teresting and it cannot fail to bring about
closer relations between teachers and
parents, and school officers and parents.
The meeting opened at 1.30 with an
anthem entitled "When the Lord Shall
Build up Zion" (which was beautifully
rendered by the high school pupils Of
Salem under direction OF Prof. Charles
E. G~laspey; prayer was then offered by
Rev. II. R. Robinson, d. D., Pastor
Broadway M. f. Church, Salem, N. j.,
after which four young gentlemen of the
High School sang a quartet. The sing
ing of the high school pupils is an enjoy
able part Of each meeting held in Salem.
The two speakers from a distance were
Hon. G. ]. Baxter, State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, Trenton, N. j.,
and Prof. d. r. Rohrbach, Supervising
Principal OF Monroe Township schools in
Gloucester County, State Superinten-
dent Baxter addressed the meeting on
Proposed School Legislation. After a
brief review of the school legislation
enacted since the year 1874 which has
aided in promoting the efficiency of the
schools and which has placed them upon
their present foundation, he called at
| tention to the bill now before the legis-
lature known as the Avis bill providing
for a reduction of State school tax from
the present rate of two and three
fourths mills OH a dollar to IL mill on
the dollar. out one mill on the dollar.
This is a scheme to prevent the schools
from getting the increased revenue that
is justly their due from the railroad tax.
State Superintendent Baxter stated that
in case this proposed bill becomes a law
the amount of school money received
from the State after the present year,
including the railroad tax, will be almost
81, 900, OOO. 90 less than we have been
receiving heretofore, and that it wonld
be better for the schools if we had lever
heard of the railroad tax. The Tenure
of Office bill introduced in favor OF teach
ers seems to have been distorted in such
a manner that it is of practically no
value to teachers; this bill has passed
the senate by a vote of Is to 4. The
State Superintendent favors the passage
of the bill introduced by Senator Hand
of Cape May providing for an appro'
pristion of $4,000. 90 toward d~efraying the
expenses of the Cape May Summer
School at Agriculture. If this bill be-
comes a law the expenses for attending
the Summer School of Agriculture will
be practically the students board for foul
weeks, in Cape May. The bill also
provides for the granting of certificates
on completion if the course, which
certificates will be accepted by the State
Board OF Examiners in lieu of ali exam
for both a State and Caunty license in
the subjects.
Mr.. Baxter selected this subject instead
of the one previously announced which
was "Waste in School Work., thinking
that this would be of greater interest al
this time. Before the adjournment OF the
meeting there was an expression OF gen
eral dissatisfaction with the bill tt
reduce the State School Tax and those
present were urged to use their influence
toward seeing that the bill is defeatee
and the present tax rate maintained to
gether with the promised addition o
railroad tax for the schools.
Professor Rohrbach spoke On "Distric
Supervision of Schools; he ably outlined
the advantages which come to the schools
that have competent supervision. H'
regards it a waste of money for the dis
tricts to employ so large a number o
inexperienced teachers and then leave
them to themselves in school worl
except what little supervision is glveI
them in the semi-annual visits OF thu
County Superintendent. Most OF thu
Counties of the State have this system o
district supervision more fully developed
than Salem County. Thus far we have
only three Supervising Principals; in con
sideration oil the liberal offer which the
State makes toward paying the salary o
a Supervising Principal, and the goot
that must come to the schools unde
such system, there should be many more
in orr own County. Both speakers lei
ON the 3.45.P. M. train.
The conference to be taken part III bl
all present OH "Relation of Parents tt
the Schools was opened by Mrs. A. L
Beckett with a very able address on thu
Responsibility Of Parents. Mrs Beckett
urged better attention to bodily clean
illness and careful attention to a regulal
study period for all children at home
This address was given in unmistakabl,
terms and it contained exactly thu
advice toparents that is needed to caus'
them to fully assume their share of re
sponsibility in school work. This wa
followed by able addresses by Professor
W. A. Storrie, City Superintendent 0
Salem, and Mr.. G. c. Avis of Woodstown