The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-11-04
Teacher Complains Of the AttL
tude Of the Former Presi-
dent Of Princeton.
LEWIS AS A CHAMPION,
New Jersey the Leading State
In Fostering Cause Of
Common Education

Below Is printed a letter written by
one Of the most prominent educators
in public school work in New Jersey.
For obvious reasons he does not wish
to have his name made public, but the
letter can be vouched for as genuine:
To the Editor of the -:
Individuals and organizations which
have the welfare of our great public
school system at heart should consider
well what the election of governor may
mean educationally.
At the present time a large proportion
of the railroad tax is paid to the coun-
ties for the support of the public schools
The governor Of the state is big factor
in legislation, having the authority to
suggest legislation or to veto bills passed
by the legislature. An Indifferent or luke
warm governor might readily allow a d.
version of this money for apparently
worthy objects. This would mean an in
crease in the local school tax or de-
crease in the efficiency of our public
school system.
Mr.. Lewis, the Republican candidate for
governor, has repeatedly declared that he
is unalterably opposed to diverting one
cent of railroad tax from the schools. In
his speech at High Bridge last Saturday
he said:
New Jersey under Republican govern
ment has looked after the schools of the
state. Every railroad has been taxed and
the money turned over to the support of
the schools. If 1 am elected governor of
the state it will be my privilege to con-
tinue this policy, and New Jersey will be-
come the best friend to the public schools
of any of our states.''
The support which, the schools of New
Jersey now are receiving from the state
under Republican rule has excited the
wonder and envy of friends of education
of all the other states. No state in the
Union deals so literally with its schools
as New Jersey. Last year, 1909-10, the
schools received 81. 426, 930.S from the Per-
kins railroad tax, Republican measure
passed in 1906.
The Republican candidate for governor
has always been a warm friend of the
public schools and of those who are en-
gagged in instructing the young In nu-
merous instances has he shown his friend
liness to the teachers, and he has always
been an advocate of liberal state support
for schools
Although a teacher. DR.. Wilson, the
Democratic candidate for governor, who
has occupied the most prominent educa-
tional position in the state as president of
Princeton university, has apparently new
err taken any interest in the public schools
Never has his voice been heard In their
behalf. Rarely, If ever, has he mingled
with the teachers Of the state, though
frequent attempts have been made to en-
list his interest. His position as president
of Princeton university gave him the OPP
portunity to be the leader and counselor
of teachers. Nor has Princeton university
taken any interest in public education
during his presidency. During the time
that DR.. Wilson occupied the presidency
of Princeton, Columbia, New York uni
versity and the University of Pennsylva-
MIA established courses for teachers of
university grade under separate faculties
Thousands of New Jersey teachers in
service have been attending these unver-
sites, preparing themselves for more eff
fective service. This advanced training
has had much to do with developing the
efficiency of our teaching and has given
tone to the whole system Princeton
though centrally located and being with
in easy reach of teachers who could not
reach New York and Philadelphia univer-
sites, has been utterly Indifferent to this
class of teachers and the need of the
schools During this period also there
has been a great increase in the number
of high schools and an expansion of the
nigh school curriculum. Ihe number OF
pupils in many high schools has doubled.
and every child no matter where he lives.
can secure good high school education.
including free transportation to such
school. Dr. Wilson had no part in this
movement at all, and Princeton was
wholly Indifferent to 1t. Today Princet on
college is not an integral part of our
school system. and there is so little con-
nection between 1t and our public high
schools that the certificates of none, not
even of the best high schools. are ac-
cepted for college entrance in place of an
examination.
In view of the above who would be
likely to take the most interest in our
common school system-he who has al
ways stood for the schools and has been
interested in and encouraged those work.
Ing therein or he who by virtue of HI;
position should have taken the> educa
tional leadership, but has been wholly In
RI