Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-13
TELLS WOMAN'S CLUBS
HOW TO COOPERATE
WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
lFrorn a staY cOrrespondent.l

ASBURY PARK, May ls.-'Some
Next Steps in Civic Cooperation with
Public Schools was the tito of an adj
dress by William II. Allen, director OF
the Robert L. stevens Fund for
Municipal Research In Hoboken, before
the federation this afternoon. lie said
In part:
"The educational influence of the
school, like that OF the Individual
whom it wishes to prepare for citizen
ship, is to be measured not by what It
says and hopes, but by what 1t does
and gets done. Because the public
school is just as potent for civic
miseducation as for civic education, it
beomes important for the New Jersey
Federation of Women's Clubs TO pre-
vent that form OF civic mlseducation
which diverts the public mind from,
school needs to school halos.
ITO illustrate the possibility and the
great advantage of being philanthropic
by way OF cooperation with public
schools, leaflets were distributed show
ing the action Of three women-Q) a
fund of 81. 900 a year given by Mrs.
Robert L. Stevens for municipal re-
search in Hoboken, to make the
schools better. streets cleaner, home
healthier etc; (2) a gift OF $10,00 by
Miss Dorothy Whitney for making
known everywhere what Is known to
be necessary everywhere for the
physical welfare of school children: (3)
a gift OF funds and time by Miss Elsa
Denison, of Denver, for inquiry into
! civic cooperation with public schools,
with special reference to Interesting
permanent business mems %organi2a-
tons, women's clubs, churches. medical
and dental societies, etc.
"The following steps are suggested to
the Individual members. the local clubs
and the General Federation OF
| Women's Clubs in New Jersey:
Learn how to be enthusiastic over
your schools without being blind to OPP
p~crtunities for improvement Generally
speaking. every city. like every coun-
try town, thinks that its schools are
among the very best in the nation,
New York, for example, whose schools
are ranked by the Russell Sage Foun-
dation as No. SO among the sixty-one
large cities, is led TO believe by its
educational experts that II Is the Lake
Itasca of school progress. This loca'
patriotism is laudaDie. II has, how
ever, the disadvantage of often post
poning forward steps which would b.
demanded and readily supported II We
realized the difference between wha'
our schools ought to be and what they
arc.
Learn the ranking in efficiency Of
your local schools. In Connecticut thu
State superintendent OF schools pub
fishes each year a RON OF honor which
ranks each school district according L
various elements of progressiVeness
such as regularity Of Attendance, pro
portion not promoted, money spent OF
each pupil, etc. New Jerseys superln'
tendent would surely be glad TO do thi,
II you let him know that you would us'
his comparisons TO help your owr
schools.
Make a uniform sanitary survey o
New Jerseys schools and have the, re
suits published FIRST in your local news
papers and then for all localities by III,
State committee. The story of O
ditions in ali New Jerseys schools will
help each locality by emphasizing tn,
i%mpersonal and constructive characteI
of your interest. 1t will make 1t easiei
for your school board TO get the neces
sary money for ventilation. cleansing
automatic water.fountains, etc. If so,
a furnish ways and know the an
swers to such questions as Has tn,
feather buster been a~bolished?' is tn,
room free from unpleasant doors?
Are the seats adjustable?' is prac'
teal hygiene taughtT Is school credi