Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-08-26
FRIDAY. AUG rs, 1910.
KEEP SCHOOLS OUT OF POLITICS

AHEP SCHODIS OtI Oh IoL1IloS
Take the public schools out of
politics, is the demand On all sides.
The EVENING NEWS is publishing
still more interviews with the citi-
zens of Perth Amboy today. 1t Is
plain how they all feel. The school
system has always been the pride of
the people of this city. That was
plain when, under the old regime,
the members devoted more time to
petty quarreling and working for
their friends than they did in look
ing after the interests of the schools,
the people, by a decided majority,
turned them all out and adopted a
new system.
The Board of Aldermen, realizing
the feelings Of the people, refused
to name a partisan board when it
had the appointment of the mem
bers. The democrats had a majority
of the aldermen and they could
easily have had the school board all
of their own way. They were close
enough to the people, however, to
know that that would not do and so
they made the board as nearly non
partisan as possible and picked the
highest standard of men available.
Not a bubble or a quarrel has
been heard from the Board of Edu-
cation since. The men who now
constitute the board are above such
petty actions. The present members
are not politicians. They were not
chosen for any service they had per-
formed for their party. They were
named because they were business
men of wide experience and liberal
education. They assumed office not
TO play politics. but to conduct
the public schools of Perth Amboy
In the most acceptable manner, that
the children might receive all they
are entitled to.
These men are willing to serve
the people. If they are wanted, but
they are not inclined to get out and
fight for the places. We believe the
people of Perth Amboy want these
men to remain where they are. The
education of the children is one
thing that should be kept as far
away from politics as possible.
The republicans would do a com
mendable thing If they would put
the nine men as they stand ON their
primary ticket. We realize that no
one a prevent as many others get
ting out petitions as want to, but
once It is known that the republican
organization Is willing to stand for
the present board and thereby puts
itself on record as being in favor OF
taking the public schools out of
politics, there is little likelihood of
the present members being inter
fered with.
The objection raised by the people
in the northern section of the city.
as referred to by John Pfeiffer in his
Interview published yesterday, is
easily overcome, we believe, by the
fact that the board is no longer
chosen to represent the different
sections of the city. That was the
system when a school commissioner
was elected from each ward. The
people abolished that and decided to
have a board of nine members pick.
ed from the city at large. While
perhaps it Is wise to take the nine
men from as many different sections
as possible. nothing should be allow.
ed to stand in the way of securing
the best men for the work. Under
the present board, schools Nos.
and 3 will receive just as much at.
tentien as Nos. 1, 7 or 4. They are
all the city schools. All have ahoui
the same grades. What applies to
grade AFFECTS all schools whepe tina
grade is taught. The schools do MOI
belong to any one section. they be
long TO the city as a whole. In fact
under the present crowded condi
tions, the children of one section art
sometimes obliged to walk to {
school in another section in order 4
find seating facilities. We have go
above mere sectional Representations
We are now working Tor the ad