The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-01-17
School Maffera

SCHOOL maCre18.
The recent visit Of the Senate Investigat
ing Commission to look into the manner
of conducting the public schools showed
several Irregularities but nothing thai
could be classed as criminal.
In one township it was shown that there
had not been an annual meeting for two
years. The district clerk explained this
by saying that the school board would moi
meet to give him instructions where to
hold the meeting and where to post the
notices, something he had been told by the
county superintendent was Imperative.
The law is that an annual meeting must
be held on the third Tuesday In March at
a schoolhouse or such other convenient
place as the Board of Education shall
select. The district clerk must post al
least seven notices, one on each school
house and the balance where the Board
may designate. AS the Board did not
designate the district clerk did not post,
but under the same law he was subject to
a fine of $40. Under the circumstances
he would have been justified in posting
notices as in the past.
1t also shown that there are several
country districts that do not employ a
medical examiner, even though the law is
obligatory on this point The argument
advanced is that the country is so healthy
that 1t Is not necessary to look after the
welfare of the children on that line.
VACCINATION is not at all necessary In the
eyes of some because there is no danger
from smallpox in a rural district, yet we
have sample of just exactly the opposite
In village In the lower part of the state
where this disease has suddenly made its
appearance. Mount Holly was the second
school district In the state to appoint a
medical Inspector, and that was when the
law said ''may" not "shall," and the
money expended on this line has more
than repaid for the outlay.
In another district it was disclosed that
there was money in bank but that it did
not draw interest, and the disbursing Of
ficer was supremely ignorant of all the
methods of supply or anything else except
that he paid out on legally signed orders.
In Northampton township, as in others,
there is no truant officer. This was the great
cause for criticism and when it was shown
that the reason for this neglect was the
fact that there were not a sufficient num-
Der of school buildings the Commission
gave some timely ADVICE. 1t was that the
Board of Education get busy, build a new
school house and engage a truant officer.
The erection of new building has been
talked about for some time, but that is
about all. There is no doubt that a new
building is needed not only to accommo-
date the pupils but for sanitary reasons.
Some time ago the Board of Education
found the property known as the Heard
property, on Brainard street, could be
purchased at what was thought to be a
very reasonable price With the idea that
it would be good investment and would
aid In relieving the crowded condition of
the other buildings 1t was purchased and
fitted up for school purposes. Fortunately
not very much money was expended, but
even now it is not what is needed and the
Board has been compelled to lease the
small school building further down the
street. Neither'of the buildings is fit for
children to be compelled to sit in for hours.
The ventilation is aboninable, the light Is
bad, and there is nothing comfortable
about the places. but 1t was the best that
could be done at the time. The Heard
building is old, flimsy and of a nature that
a fire would soon make short work of it,
and If this should happen during school
hours one may imagine the result, not
withstanding the admirable fire drill
system whereby the building may be
cleared inside of two minutes.
There must be a new school building
and it should be ample to accommodate
the needs of the town and surrounding
country for years. The mistake that was
made when the present high school build
ing was put up was that it was not built
larger than it is, but there were those who
thought 1t would be ample for many years.
That theory has been exploded long since
This is subject which the people of
Mount Holly may as well begin to discuss
for it is bound to be brought to prominent
attention before long. The Heard build
ing will undoubtedly be condemned by
the school authorities of the state and will
have to be abandoned. A new school
house is an absolute necessity.