The Penn's Grove record., 1910-01-28
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
Should PENIS Grove School Con-
tinue on the Approved List!

hOuId Penn'S OFOFe oSHOVi So"-
tinue on the Approved LIST
We have received a copy Of the fifty
fifth annual report Of the State Board
of Education, and find therein Penn's
Grove Public School on the approved
List" being one of the 1O4 public and
80 private schools on the list in New
Jersey. The schools South of Camden
on the Approved List" are Bridgeton,
Cape May Court House, Clayton, Glou-
cester City, G~lassboro, Paulsboro, At
lantic City, Ocean City, Salem, Millville.
Woodbury., Mooresto wn.
The course of studies is laid out in
routine for a child who begins at five
years and finishes twelve grades. There
is four years of primary work, four
years of grammar grade wherein the
child is presumed to be able to have a
general knowledge of geography, gram
mar and arithmetic. Previous to five
years ago PENIS Grove school was
far enough advanced in mathematics
and English studies as to meet the high
school requirements, but lacked Latin,
German and proper equipment for
teaching physics and chemistry, A
class in Latin wa started six years ago
and tile laboratory equipments were
purchased three years ago. Upon. the
application of the principal and the
president of the board Of education, the
State High School Inspector examined
the course and equipments, and being
satisfied that the school Was up to the
required standard, it was put upon the
"Approved List"
A class of six passed the examination
sent by the County Superintendent in
1908 and were made full fedged High
school graduates. The second class of
six were graduated in 1909. These two
classes were a very creditable showing
for a beginning, some of them being
only fifteen and sixteen years or age.
What are the advantages of gradual
ing in an approved high school course5
The State report says: "Properly
certified graduates of any approved High
school shall be admitted to the cores
ponding courses of the Normal schools
without examination" Such a gradu-
ate will also be admitted to the State
College (Rutgers) without examination.
1t is proof that the boy OF girl has
studied the required subjects needed to
pursue a higher education n without
a certificate Of approval the pupil is re-
quired to undergo a hard examination
An approved high school course
brings what was called a seminary edu'
cation down to the pupils at home.
Previous to having the full high school
course of Latin and German pupils who
left Penn's Grove for a higher education
had to spend two or three yearsin getting
what they failed to get in a lop-sided
course, at an expense of from 5000 te
$500 a year. The average child car
complete an approved high school course
by the time he or she is is eighteen
The State constitution says: "Tht
Legislature shall provide for the main
tenance and support of a thorough and
efficient system of free public schools
for the instruction of all the children il
this State between the ages Of five ant
eighteen years."
The Legislature does provide for thu
education of any boy from the time hi
is five years old to a full college course
but does not provide for a building mo-
its equipments, nor for heating, nor fol
the boald of a pupil in the Norma
| school OF college; but The instruction i
free for everyone who has the ability
and enough thirst for knowledge II
drink it in.
The fact that a dozen have passed thu
examinations and that over forty boy
and girls Of this region ale now purpos
ing it is proof that there is intellectual
ability that require it.
State Superintendent of Public In
struction, Chas. A. Baxter, in his recen'
report to tile Legislature states that thu
average cost per pupil in the public
schools of the State is 1921. so. 1t cost
from 5000 to $500 a year to educate TIN
pupil away from home. Some wht
attend business colleges away from hom'
are pursuing the same course and stud!
some of the same books required in TIT
| high school commercial co lrse at home
The argument is made that so few
| stay in school to complete the high schoo
| course that it should not be kept fol
the few. Because some do not avail
themselves of their constitutional priv
ilege is no reason why all should bt
deprived Of it.
Leonard Ayers, of Boston, recently
investigated the school conditions fol
Russell Sage Foundation "Amone
the fifty six cities in different parts OF
the country, Quincy, Mass, makes the
best record. There OF every 100 who
start eighty-three reach the eighth
grade. In Boston, which makes a bet
ter showing than any other city, the
number of survivors in the ninth grade
is ffty-nine for each 100. In New York
it is forty-three; in Philadelphia it is
thirty-two, and in Baltimore it istwenty-
nine.
SIN the matter of continuation in the
high school the variability between cities
is even greater. The best record is
made by Newton, Mass. There out OF