The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1911-02-28
ATHLETIC FIELD FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Would Pay Rich Dividends in
Happiness and Character

athletic field for the school children
was asserted by Superintendent of
Schools Ira w. Travell in his
monthly report to the board of educa-
tion.
MIR. Travells recommendation that
the first week in April be made the
time of the annual spring vacation
was adopted by the board as was his
recommendation of the prosecution of
several parents for failure to keep
their children in school. Another
Recommendation adopted was that
providing for assistance to the COM
mercial teacher.
Mr.. Travells report is as follows:-
The statistical report for January
shows a total enrolment for the year
of 1893 pupils, with 1910 in actual
attendance. The percentage of attend
ance was 88.
At this season of the year unfavor-
able weather conditions, lack of ade-
quate clothing, and illness of various
kinds are three large factors that
cause irregular attendance.
Irregular attendance is the greatest
cause of failure in interest and loss
of promotion by pupils. A days alb
sence almost without exception means
the loss of two days work. Either
the teacher must arrest the progress
of the class to teach the lost lessons
to the child, or else the child is left
to struggle alone with difficulties. In
any case the drill that fixes funda-
mental principles is curtailed, and the
child's knowledge is hesitating and
uncertain.
Parents who value their children's
educational progress and happiness
in their work will exert every effort
to keep them in school every day.
Health.
Fewer of our children were ill with
contagious disease in January than
in preceding months. February show
further improvement, only five out
Ol l,OUU Adf1l6 OCCn 1 OPoA SSN
ill with contagious disease.
One of our grade teachers, Miss
Harwood, has been Ill the entire
month with scarlet fever. The case
has not been serious one, and she
is now rapidly improving.
Miss Slack, the history teacher in
the high school, has been ordered by
her physician to take complete rest
for the remainder of the year. Her
place is supplied by Miss Grace Seely
a graduate of Cornell in the class of
1904.
Growth.
From 1900 to 1910 the population of
Morristown increased from II, ,267 to
12.507, a gain of IL per cent
During the same time the entire
school enrolment increased from
1,444 to 1868, a gain of 15 per cent.
In 1900 there were SO pupils in the
high school, and in 1910 the enroll
ment was 223. growth of 1872 per
cent.
During the past two years the high
school has increased in enrolment
from III to 232 without any increase
in the number of teachers. The bur
den of the larger classes has fallen
particularly upon the teacher of the
commercial subjects. Much needed
relief and assistance can be given her
in correcting bookkeeping books and
papers by one of the more mature
students in the commercial course, at
an expense of about IS a month. 1t
is advisable that such assistance be
given.
On Lincoln's birthday framed pict-
ure showing President Lincoln
mounted amidst group of Union
Generals of the Civil war, was pre-
sented to the Speedwell avenue
school by Frank Burnett. It is a
pleasure to. express grateful apprecia-
2 ton for such gift.
l believe the time is at hand when
our Morristown schools should have a
larger place in the interest of its
people, and should be enriched and
beautified and rendered more service
!. able by such splendid gifts as pub
tlic spirited citizens are giving to the
schools in communities round about
us. N
Hon. F. P. Olcott has given to Ber-
nardsyille a 30-arce lot as site for
a school building and as an ath-
letic field and playground for the
school children; and he has built
$15p, 900 school building on this site
as a further gift to the town.
Recently Mr.. Larned has given an
extensive piece of ground to Summit
as site for school building.
A twelve acre lot has been pre-
sented to Plainfield as playground
for school children.
In West Orange three acre play
ground for school children has been
given by generous donors.
Dover has recently been presented
with public park.
Our high school girls have been un-
able to find a piece of ground suit