Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-15
PLAYERS
COST [ELLEvILLE
$1,000 A YEAR
Board of Education Hears Start
ling News Anent Need Of
Permanent Truant Officer.


There is an epidemic OF hockey"
playing among pupils Of the Belleyiiie
public schools. 1t Is costing h town
now at the rate of $1,000 a yea and
the ~truancy IS on the increase. Some
action might have been taken by the
Board of Education last night If the
room in which the members were forced
to meet in the Joralemon Street School
had not been too cold.
Supervising Principal George r. Ger
ard brought out the startling facts con-
corning. the hockey" playing. He
stated that while a truant officer had
been employed on occasions, the result
had not been satisfactory. What was
needed, he said, was a permanent tru
ant officer. He suggested immediate ac-
ton. In his report his statement Of
conditions was as follows:
II would report that, within the
meaning of the new compulsory attend
ance law, the matter of truancy from
school of children within the legal age
| limits is causing considerable trouble.
/ have had a careful compilation made
of the number OF days lost through
truancy since September and find that
for the first three months the total is
1882 days, exclusive of all absences
that were necessary. This number does
not include the High School students
nor any child under 7 years Of age. We
find further hat the number increases
each month, and will probably be much
higher before the close of the year un-
less some strong check is used.
"These figures concern only those
children of the township who are en-
rolled on this years register and at
tend part of the time. To this list
must be added a large number of chill
dren, probably not fewer than $50, who
come within the terms of the law. IN
who are attending no school at all.
According to the last State APP
p~ortionment of school funds, about liz
cents per day is apportioned for each
child's attendance. If this be true
Belleville has lost in the past three
months from its enrolled pupils alone
almost $500, which Is at the rate OF
81, 900 a year. Everyone must admit
how great the gain to each individual
child concerned and to society-at-
large is a reasonable education, and
when to this is added, as shown. the
economic gain that would ensue from
an enforcement of the law, it would
seem that action in this matter should
be taken without delay"
The members, though alive to the
situation, were all bundled up in over
coats, and decided to postpone action
until the next meeting.
The new board room in the school
is not equipped with lighting facilities
as yet, and the board Gnad to meet In
| a c1acc rnat,, This ,,1affa,. nf HEATING
the building was also the topic of much
discussion. The new addition was COM
pleted only a few months ago. The
heating. system, it was said. complies
with h specifications, and the re-
quirements of the State Board of Edu-
cation, but fails to heat the building
properly.
Charles G. Jones, the architect, sug-
gested at the meeting that weather
strips be placed on the windows. This
would mean a cost of approximately
$500. The question will be considered
at the mex meeting.
Attention was called to the recent
death of Peter Fitzpatrick, a former
member OF the board. President Perry
referred to the deceased and a COM
mittee consisting of Commissioners De-
pue, Cooper and the president will draft
suitable resolutions.
Mr.. Gerard said he had been told a
number of children from across the
line in Nutley We're attending the Jo-
ralemon Street School. He had In
vestigated, but was not sure about the
boundary lines. This will also be taken
up later.
According to the report of the SUI
pervisor, the total enrolment in the
schools amounted last month to 1888,
as against 1,545 for the corresponding
month in 1908. There were 46 tardy
ones and 1867 pupils who were not alb
sent during the mont