The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-02-10
BOARD OE EDUCATION IN SESSION.

The Board of Education held their
regular monthly session on Wednes-
day evening. The report of the super
vising principal follows:
To the Board Of Edtcotion, LomJert-
rifle, NJ j.
GENTLEMEs.-ItI ~ with u great deal
of satisfaction that | submit this re-
port of the first half Of the school year.
There has been substantial advance
ment along all lines, which ! wish
briefly to set before you.
We enroll this month 500 pupils as
against ga for January of last year,
an increase Of 81 When we consider
/ that the town has stood practically
still in population, this becomes sig
nificant. Where we had two non-res-
ident pupils in the high school last
year we have this year seven DONG
entire high school work and three
more who are taking II part OF their
work IN the high school. Moreover
the per cent of attendance this year IL
much higher, aud finally the number
| entering bnt dropping out has per
ceptably decreased. Last year the
| January registration was 30 less than
| Septem Der registration, This year ii is
but less.
There are still several over-crowded
rooms in the city, bnt on the whole
| the conditions are much more salts
factory than last year. The changes
made in the grammar department re-
| lieved those rooms of intolerable over
crowding, and the very general pro-
motions in June maintained fair num-
bers throughout the primary grades.
| 1t is however unfortunate that two Of
the first grade rooms have contained
50 pupils each. Both Miss Reilly and
Miss Mitchell have been 80 far at n
disadvantage, under which they have
achieved very satisfactory results.
The spirit of the school is without
doubt the most interesting point to be
considered. Last year there was NO
mere discouraging phase than the
feeling of apathy and disorder that.
speaking i'll general, pervaded the
school. From primary to high school
there was n feeling that the teacher
was there to do the work and put up
with everything pupil had to offer
And | must say that this feeling was
rooted deeper than in the child. The
parents were not without it. In Il
dozen years of school teaching | have
never read letters from parents rs in
snlting and utterly unreasonable as
some which your teachers received
last year. The change is marvellous.
This year the prevailing idea among
the children is one of obedience and
order, of respect for the teacher, per
sonally, and professionally, and OF
selfdependence and work. Ii we look
for causes we very easily find two,
first, the untlinching support which
your committee on discipline and
grievance has given the teachers and
myself, mud second the gradual con
vietion TINT promotion was neither Il
matter of fear or of favor, but purely
IA matter of work
want to add that without one SIN.
gle exception the attitude of your
grievance committee Inns been correct
and helpful A timid or weak com
mittee could easily have destroyed
discipline and order. Your committee
has created ii. And if they feel that
II IL the thnnkiess and unpopular end
of the work of the Board, | want here
to thank them in the name of the
! teachers and TO express the opinion
| TINT nothing ~ so unpopular III the
end as to condone disorder. Parents
this year have almost without excep-
ton not only expressed confidence in
teachers and given them hearty co.
operation, but have accepted unpleas-
ant conditions with n good sense and
satisfaction that argues well for the
ultimate results. Your teachers more
over are working together with pro-
fessional spirit and cordially that
only II teacher can appreciate.
In the organization of the school
the most important change is i'll the
institution of mid year promotions.
Az result we have saved n half year
each at once to 10 pupils i'll the pri-
mary grades There is now through
out the city n two grade-ayear organ
lZation.
And finally. as | reported Inst
month, there is II movement in the
county for uniform high school ex-
aminations. This il endorsed by DIR
Green and County Superintendent
Hoffman. 1t is hoped to have it i'll
working shape for the June eyamina-
tions.
Respectful yours,
LOUIS f. boutwell,.