Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-04-26
STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
Reorganization ts Take
Place June 80.
Especial Correspondence

Trenton, April 26:-Seyen men,
bers appointed for a term of seven
years by Governor Wilson will, on
June 80 next, replace the present big
State Board of Education. At the
same time Governor Wilson will APP
point a state commissioner of educa-
ton at an annual salary of $4,000.
The new a%ppointee will take the
place of the present state superin-
tendent.
The present Board of Education is
composed of the following: j. Dale
Dilworth, Salem; George A. Frey,
Camden; James B. woodward, Bor-
dentown; S. r. Morse, Atlantic City;
w. E. Florance, New Brunswick; w.
G. ~SChauffler, Lakewood; John Nc
C%utcheon, Plainfeld; William X.
Hawke, Pennington; w. H. Morrow,
Belvidere; Charles E. Surdam, Nor
ristown; John w. Thomson, Hacken-
sack; Francis Scott, Paterson;
Charles H. Samson. Newark; c. Will
bur Sandford, Montclair; James l..
Hayes, Newark; T. O'Conor Sloan,
South Orange; UlamOr Allen, Jersey
City; William R, Barricklo, Jersey
City; Edward Russ, Hoboken; S. H.
Horgan, Hoboken; James L.. Hayes,
president; Edward Russ, vice presi-
dent; c. j.. Baxter, secretary; James
B. woodward, treasurer.
c. j. Baxter Now Head.
The present state superintendent
of public instruction is Charles J.
Baxter. His assistant is j. Brognard
Belts. Mr.. Baxter is a Jerseyman.
He was born at Glenwood, Sussex
County, November 8, 1871. On
March "a, 1896, he was appointed to
his present position by Governor
Griggs. He took the place of Addi-
son B. Poland, who resigned. His
term would have expired in 1912.
Under the provisions of the bill
the governor may go outside of the
state for the new superintendent, If
he so desires. AS yet he has not had
any time to give the school bills any
consideration. His approval is like
ly to be a matter of form, to a GER
tain extent. In other words, he will
hardly give the question of the selec-
ton of a new state superintendent
any consideration under he has re-
turned from his western tour.
Friends Of Mr.. Baxter are anxious
" otC ullh continued at Tie mead Oh
the school system Of the state. His
long tenure of Office in that position
gives him a close knowledge of the
affairs connected with the system.
With a small board to work with Mr..
Baxter would probably give as much
satisfaction as a new man. However,
there is no certainty as to what the
governor will do, and it is under
stood he will not take up the matter
until early In June.
Additional Powers of State Board.
Additional powers will be delegat-
ed to the State Board Of Education
under the provisions of the bills Of
Senator Frelinghuysen. 1t will have
much more to do than the present
body. There will be an inspector of
buildings and an inspector OF &C
counts OF the school districts Of the
state, both important positions, and
both of which should be filled by
high grade men in their respective
lines. A uniform system of book
keeping may be prescribed; uniform
examinations may be arranged for,
and in fact an entire reorganization
of the state school system will prob
ably follow.
The new law will be a marked ad-
vance owe the present crude and in
efficient law. There will be smaller
appointive boards for the various
school districts, and throughout the
system the plan of centralizing the
power and authority so that the re-
sponsibility may be fixed, is appar-
ent. There vas provision made for
the appointment of one woman on
every school board, on the theory
that the women are closer to the
children than the men.
The state commissioner will have
four assistants. Each will receive A
salary of $4,000 a year. These as
sistants will have their designated
duties, and there will be plenty for
each to do, once the work hos been
arranged, under the provisions of
the new law. Much is expected as a
result of the readjustment of the
school system, and if it works out
satisfactory the special committee
which made the Investigation. and
Senator Frelinghuysen, as introducer
Of the bills, will be accorded plenty
of praise. The members of the COM
mittee are confident that the new
system will work out advantageouslv
to the state. and to the satisfaction
of the taxpayers.