Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-29

t%icularly voters. Many public school
buildings have been built n large
pond issues authorized by a very small
percentage of the vote of the school dis
trict. What is needed is that all citi-
zens shall be quickened in their interest
in public school matters and be brought
to realize that they nave a duty and a
part in relation to the schools.
.sFhe moral force in the public
schools should not be forgotten.
I am one of those who believe IT
was =. mistake TO remove from the
public schools the reading of the
Bible at the opening of every ses-
sion. and ! would so farther than
TINT / would have the children
study il, not only on account of
the morality il teaches, but be-
cause OF the English prose 1t con-
tains.
1.-THE assistance which the children
may get along the mora sid in incul-
eating right principles is helpful to the
right thinking parent and goes to ac-
centuate the good lessons which every
father and mother SHOULD teach. L
doubt il the parents uphold the
influence of the teacher as they should,
and in these busy times there is less
of contact between the teacher and the
parent than there used to be, and than
there should be. Healthy bodies and
strong minds are a great force in the
public life of nj time, but even q more
potential influence is the moral influ-
ence which one exerts in the COM
munity."
Amazing Growth of Fund.
Figures and facts showing the
progress made in the work of increes-
ing the our of the Teachers Re-
tirement Fund were made public by
Elizabeth A. Allen, general secretary.
Miss Allen showed that where there
had been 2.S17 members, of whom LII
were on a l per cent. basis, a year ago,
there were now 7,640, with but 1872 1
per cent. members. The income for the
year 1907-S was $56, S77. 80; for 19os-9,
S97, 1928. For the current fiscal. year
the dividends paid We're estimated. she
said, at between sSS,0O0 and 100000.
The capital invested. Miss Allen re-
ported. was over SAC, 900. In the state
ment of paying members, given by
counties. Essex leads with 1,431, Hud-
son county coming second with 1,345.
I'm a little more than a year" went
the secretary, I'VE have nearly
the membership; we have
jumped the income from $50. coo to s125,-
600 and the surplus from $4,000 to
s140, 600"
A total of $4,279.96 contributions was
reported. Miss Allen said that wher-
ever possible the contributions had
been credited to the districts from
which they came, but in some cases
that could not be done. The amount
taken in in this way, the report stated.
had almost paid for the membership
campaign to date, leaving only a debt
of s74.67. AT the beginning of the CAM
paign, a year ago, the capital in hand
amounted to s23.T.
Remember these figures" directed
Miss Allen. 'TThey are startling-al-
most incredible. Our fund, which did
exist fourteen years ago, has to-
day an income equivalent to a cash
of 1926, 900 invested at 4 per
cent. and which income is increasing
rapidly"
The secretary went on to say hat
there was much work still to be done
in recording and organizing the gains
of the last year. 1t took money, she
said, and the officials proposed to get
help by moving on the large number
of members In arrears for dues. The
Encouragement had advised. she said,
that cities which did not comply with
the retirement fund section OF the
law were to have their appro
priations withheld.