Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-07-29
In DEFENSE OF
THE CHILDREN
Feature of South AmbOy
School Row Lost Sight Of.
spec,aI TO the EVENING NEWS.

Spectdi to the EVENING NE VS..
South Amboy, July 29:-The EVEN
ING NEWS correspondent did not in
tend to take issue on the matter of the
school question. NOur business is to as
correctly and as truthfully as possible
report to this paper, by whom we are
employed, matter that might be of in
terest to the readers of the same. so
much are we interested in having the
facts correctly reported of the doings
of our public officials that ever since
we have been the EVENING NEWS
correspondent, we have had a stenogra-
pher take the public discussions verba-
tim and have the same appear in print
only eliminating where repetitlons have
been made. AS for pairing down state
ments made by one person and giving
them in full for others, it is a mistake.
As to the NEWS correspondents
views on the matter of school building,
that is his own private matter. AS to
the city official, that is a public affair
and the fact of being a NEWS cores
pendent does not hinder from express
ing an opinion on the matter and the
only way to form unbiased opinion is
to take a retrospective view Of the pro-
ceedings from their first inception.
There maye been some mistakes made
by the Board of Education and some
may think they have been discourteous,
but will it really benefit the children
in the city to hold up the building at
the present time and really accomplish
very little except to handicap the chill
dren. We would like to inquire at this
time, who has the management Of the
schools in South Amboy7 The super
vising principal, the common council,
the people at large or some in particu-
lar, or the Board of Education. If the
Board of Education has charge of the
management of the schools and nave
conspired for their own benefit, as has
been intimated, or have done anything
illegal, proceed against them, but do
crafty a fancied wrong by the board.
AS we have very carefully noted the
deavor to give their proceedings as
correctly as possible. The board want
ed to build a new p~alatial up-to-date
school building. This was voted down
by the estimating committee. At this
time or later it was suggested that the
old school buildings be remodelled and
made to conform to the law governing
the necessary requirements for school
buildings. The board employed archi-
tectg to formulate plans for each school
and the estimate Of the probable cost,
said plans'being approved by the state
board authority. The Board of Esti-
mate, by a majority vote, passed upon
the estimate as was thought would
cover the cost Of the work. Some dis
satisfaction was felt in reference to the
amount said to be needed and the mat
ter was appealed to the state board who
dismissed the matter as they found no
~illegality existing.
Bids were advertised for on school
No. ] and rejected as the lowest bidder
was in excess Of the amount thought by
the board necessary for the changes.
Bids were advertised for school No. 2
and awarded if we remember right, to
aPerth Amboy party for less than $780,
600 exclusive of the heating. The work
has been progressing for some time on
this school and for the city council at
this late day, if it is possible to retard
the completion of this work, will not
only work injury to the children, but
to a greater or less extent to everyone
in the city, as there is not the least
doubt but the Board of Education has
pursued a strictly legal course, and
while the work may be retarded it will
be eventually completed along the pre-
sent lines. If the matter is taken to
the courts and by some unaccountable
manner the city should win, why the
city pays the cost. If the majority of
the citizens think they made a bad
bargain in electing the present board it
looks as though they will be compelled
to swallow the pill and be more wary
next time. 1t will not avail anything to
accuse the correspondent of the NEWS
of being unfair. or unjust in his re-
ports Of the proceedings had before the
common council of our city.