The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-11-08
WILSON INIMICAL
TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
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

UUlllIllUn tQuC1Il0n
Below Is printed 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 a governor may
mean educationally
At the present time a large proportion
OF the railroad tax is paid to the coun-
tics for the support OF the public schools
The governor Of the state is a big factor
n legislation. having the authority to
suggest legislation or to veto bills passed
by the legislature. An Indifferent or luke
warm governor might readily allow d.
version Of this money for apparently
worthy objects This would mean an in
crease In the local school tax or a de-
crease In the efficiency Of our public
school system.
governor. has repeatedly declared that he
IL unalterabiy 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 am elected governor of
the state 1t will be my privilege to con-
tinue this policy. and New Jersey viii 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 Now Jersey. Last year, 1909-10, the
schools received 81. 426, e30.s1 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, DIR. 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
or taken any interest in the public schools
Never has his voice been heard in their
behalf. Rarely, IL 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 univer-
Stiles 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
tono 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-
stiles, has been utterly Indifferent to this
GLASS 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
high school curriculum. The 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. DIR. Wilson had no part in this
movement at all, and Princeton was
wholly Indifferent to 1t. Today Princeton
college Is not an integral part of our
school system, and there Is so little con-
nection between 1t and our public high
unkr lie &t.o& he -
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 his
position should have taken the educa-
tionai leadership, but has been wholly In
different to it7 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Vivian M. Lewis is man of affairs,
a business man, a man charged not
only with the care of his own inter
ests, but with the proper safeguard
ing and advancement of the interests
OF others. Mr.. Lewis is in the best
ecl6o representative VI Luc lulelIcCtudl,
active, sober minded and successful
citizenship of New Jersey. He is a
man that can be safely turned to for
counsel. They can with confidence in
trust the conduct Of affairs demanding
foresight, sound judgment, ability and
uprightness. Mr.. Lewis is not I'M
known In politics or state affairs, and
to have some experience in politics is
a qualification for a candidate. But
his are not the politics of the ma
chine or the boss. His methods in
discharging the duties of the high Of
fees heretofore Entrusted to him have
been the methods of a man of con-
science and right intentions, seriously
desiring to find out what was best for
those who had trusted him.