The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-02
PUBLIC SCHOOL
PUPILS QUIT TOO
SOON, SAYS BAXTER
State Superintendent DepIOres
Tendency of Parents to Take
Children from Studies.
BILL TO REDUCE TAX
OPPOSED BY FIGURES
Only a Small Percentage of TUT
tiOn Expenses Paid by State
Under Present Law.
From a star correspondent.l

TRENTON, March Estate Superin-
tendent Baxter, in his annual report
covering the educational system of the
State, says hat a large percentage of
public school pupils fail to complete
the full course. He attributes this to
the poverty of many of the families of
the State, which eompels parents to
Seek the support of their children. Mr..
Baxter says:
THE enrolment of our high schools
for the past year was 8 $3.50, n the
number of graduates from ithe complete
course was 1882. Bearing in mind that
the complete public school course COW
ers twelve years, irrespective of the
kindergarten, and that to make an ap-
proxinate estimate of the percentage
of pupils who complete it, it is neces-
sary to compare the average school
enrolment for twelve years with the
total number of high school graduates
for the same period, we find that of
each 100 pupils who enter our schools.
six continue to the end of the course
and receive an up-to-date common
school education.
I'm many homes the income is SO
meagre that it is deemed necessary for
llllIt L ~ SOiil iOdNS ~ ICiitAlJ sup
port. Cases of this character are every
where in evidence. A substantial de-
post in the savings bank is regarded
as more desirable thar the training
which would prepare the children for
efficient service.
Notwithstanding the thought and
I. effort which we have been spending for
years upon the revision and modi1ca-
ton of our courses of study, we have
thus far failed to secure the right ar
ticulation between school life and prac-
teal life. The colleges and schools do
not contribute to the various lines of
human interest the self-directing
energy, the executive capacity, the
initiative and the ability and courage
to graDple with life's problems which
they should furnish. The education
which Is purely academic is largely
ornamental and will inevitably give us
nan graduates who will prove them
selves a burden. both to society and
themselves
The report contains a table showing
an enrolment in the public schools of
the State of the 349,0 $50 pupils in all
grades, of which co., per cent. was in
Fthe primary grades, 1871 per cent. in
Eshe grammar grades and Al per cent.
NV the high school grades.
Against Reducing Tax.
"A comparison of the total State
school a with the total district tax
for the past three years" Mr.. Baxter
says, "shows that the former is but
"a l-3 per cent. The people voluntarily
voted upon themselves for the current
expenses of the schools and additional
schools accommodations nearly three
times as great a tax as that which is
imposed by statute. In view of this
fact it seems unaccountable that any
one should favor l%essening of the lighter
burden and appear to be oblivious to
the greater"
During the past three years a State
school tax Of "a mills, based upon the
ratables of one fiscal year and assessed
upon the ratables of the year next sue
ceeding, has resulted in revenues nearly
81 per cent less than the tax would
have been, had there been no State APP
preparation. The total district tax for
the past three years has been $40, 1885,
SIS. 30.
Mr.. Baxter says hat when the
amount which is expected from The
railroads shall become available the
proposed relief to tire school districts
should not be partially nulliied by low
ering the state of the State school tax
and thus diminishing in like ratio the
amount to be received from such
source.
How Revenue Was Raised.
During the school year. for which
this report is made. the total outlay
for school purposes. including building
and repairs. debt and interest. appro-