Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-09-13
SPECIAL CLASS
FOR |9 PUPILS
Board of Education May
Have to Provide for Ment-
ally Defective Scholars.
STATE LAWS PROVISION
To Collect Funds in Buildings
Teachers to Play With
Children --Supt. Reports.

Although there is very little spare
room In the public schools of this
city, according to a report made to
the Board of Education by Superin-
tendent s. e. Shull last night, it will
probably be necessary to start q class
for children mentally detected, en-
failing considerable expense, within
a very short time. Mr.. Shull advised
the board last night that the State
Board of School Commissioners will
undoubtedly order the board in this
city to provide attention for the
nineteen mentally detected children,
between the ages of five and twenty,
in this city at the present time.
Although the state board requires
separate class for mutes or deaf
children, when the separate total
reaches sixteen, Mr.. Shull said today
that he does not believe the state
officials will require Perth Amboy to
begin these classes. There are two
blind children In this city, irrespect-
I've of those in attendance at private
schools for the blind at an expense
assumed by the parents, and seven
deaf children who have no means of
receiving instruction. The classes,
without doubt, would have to be
separate.
Need Special Teachers.
At the present time, despite the
many school additions and improve
ments In course of completion, the
Perth Amboy schools have a regis
tered capacity and the authorities
can not conceive how room can be
made for a class of mentally defect
ed children, If such Is eventually nee
essary. Not only will this provision
entail considerable expense, but a
trained teacher must be secured at a
fair rate of salary. Mr.. Shull states
the corps of teachers specializing in
this work are very scare and in great
demand. The state law requiring
these new classes was passed last
winter and are now being brought to
the attention of the various boards
by the new state school commission
er, DR.. Calvin Kendall.
Financial Aid for Children.
On motion of Commissioner Ed
ward l.. Gridley, 1t was unanimously
decided to authorize Superintendent
Shull to solicit voluntary subscrip-
tions from the children in all public
schools of this city to assist schol-
ars in immediate need of medical or
other attention. 1t will be left with
Superintendent ShulPs discretion as
to when a school student Is In need
of medical aid or In other ways suf-
fering from neglect which may be
aided financially.
1t is thought the children will
readily give aid and contribute large
ly to this excellent purpose. AL
though the subscriptions will be
purely voluntary, every student will
be called upon to assist his fellow
scholars in immediate need and thus
more friendly and brotherly spirit
will prevail. There are not many
students in the schools here In need
OF medical attention, whose parents
are not In a position to have the
treatment performed, but a number
suffer from troubled eyes and other
complaints not easily detected and
these will receive such assistance
which will prove valuable to them at
this time.
Help Children in Play.
Commissioner James J. Harrigan
moved that the board request the
teachers in all the schools to assist
and help the children during recess
hours 1t was unanimously adopted.
The teachers will be called upon to
participate in the pupils play and
the high school boys are looking for
ward with great interest to the COM
ing football season as a result of his
new rule.
Schools Fire Protection.
In accordance with instructions
from the state board Superintendent
Shull has secured a report Of the
schools fire protection from Chief
Patrick ]. Rocks, of the Perth Am
boy Fire Department. Schools No.
and No. are not fire proof, owing
to wooden stairways, but Superin-
tendent Shull believes this violation
of the school laws in the latter
building will be overlooked by the
board owing to 1t having adequate
fire escapes. This Is the only school
in the city SO provided. Mr.. Shull
believes a communication will be re-
ceived from the state board relative
to improving the conditions at No. 2.
Delays In Improvements.
Architect J. K. Jensen said last
night that he does not believe the ad-
dition to the high school, in which
will be located the auditorium and
laboratories, will be completed be-
fore November /. 1t was at first
thought possible to have this addi-
ton completed by October l, but
many delays have been experienced
in securing materials for the con-
struction. At the present time about
thirty-three per cent. of the work is
completed, entailing cost of about
$4,000. The improvem ments to the
interior of the high school are nearly
finished and the new rooms are now
used daily as class rooms.
According to Mr.. Jensen, the de-
lay at school No. 8 has been caused
by lack of iron material but this is
now remedied and the improvements
will soon be finished. At the pres
ent time eighty per cent. of the work
is done, at cost of SIC, 6,083.20. 1t
was expected this addition would be
completed by September /.
Reports Large Enrolment.
Superintendent Shull stated the
enrolment figures this year are
5,540 or an increase of 421 over the
figures of last year. 1t is the big
gest increase he has noted in the
sixteen years he has been in this
city. He says it plainly demonstrates
the growth of the city.
In compliance with the request of
the state board the city superintend-
ent has secured a report, from the
Board of Health, relative to the san
itary conditions of the schools in this
city. All appear to be in excellent
avnant No uhara fba s,