The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-03-12
MAPLE AVE. BUILDING
TARGET FOR ClvICS
School Structure the Subject
Of Lengthy Report.

presented a report on the Maple av-
enue school building at meeting of
the society held Friday night in the
South Street church. The report was
a scathing denunciation of existing
conditions in the building as the COM
mittee saw them.
| After the reading of the report wal
ter Poor presented for adoption the
| following resolution, handed him for
the purpose evidently by Mr.. Hopkins
Resolved, that the report of the
high school committee be accepted.
its recommendations approved and the
committee continued in office with in
structions to use their best endeavors
towards bringing about fulfillment
thereof. Also that the secretary be
directed to forward copy of the re-
port together with a copy of these
resolutions to the school board
Edward @. Keasbey then took the
floor and asserted that the cost per
pupil in separate high school build
ent cost. that when the high school
pupils were removed from the Maple
avenue building there yet remained
children of the grades who would still
be menaced by the fire hazard said
to exist and pointed out inaccuracies
in the report. He also objected to
the report as eminating from the high
school committee, saying that neither
he nor former Mayor Theodore Ayers
were asked to examine the building
with Mr.. Hopkins and others on the
committee nor had they either of
them seen the report.
Charles e. Surdam suggested that,
as it was a matter of great Importance
upon which many citizens of the town
would wish to be heard, that action be
deferred until another meeting.
H. Leroy Whitney, of Norris town
ship, asserted that conditions were
"rotten" and the Rev. Ralph B. Urmy,
who is a candidate for election to the
school board, urged Immediate action
on the report.
After listening to Mrs. Dexter tell
Of the High street fire in Newark and
express her opinion regarding the con-
dition of the toilets, the resolutions
offered by Mr.. Poor, who, also. is
candidate for the school board, were
adopted.
The report of the committee, in
cluding a description of the Mont
clair, East Orange and Madison high
school buildings follows
To the President and Members of the
Civic Association
Pursuant to your instructions, your
High School Committee has inspect
ed the schools of Madison, Montclair,
East Orange and Morristown.
Comparative statements of the con-
ditions existing at these schools are
attached hereto.
Your Committee has also consult
! ed counsel, who has advised them as
! follows:
"Under the School Act of 1903,
the Board of Education can pass
resolutions providing for the pur-
chase of land and the erection Oh
a school building. The election Is
held by the School Board and the
question of purchase of land, the
erection of the building and the
issue of bonds is submitted to The
people. If this election Is carried,
tba bonds are issued and the school
erected.
| can find no bond limit in the
School Act I do not believe thas
there is anything to prevent the
erection of a High School in Nor
ristown from a financial stand
point.
The question Of a new High
School, therefore, appears a mat
ter OF expediency rather than one
of law"
Your Committee has also consult
ed the New Jersey School Report for
! 1910 from which some interesting
facts have been gathered. These
statements and these facts form the
basis of this report and should be
read in conjunction herewith.
In 1910 (see N. J.. s. c., page 9S)
the Morristown Schools contained In
the High School. .2zz
| in the other grades. s............ .l4oS
or a total of ......... 1875 scholars,
an increase of 131 percent and 20
percent respectively during the prev
ious 10 years.
In 1920 at the same ratio OF IN
crease (and this probably will be
exceeded) there will be
in the High School,. 512
In the other grades. 1916
making a total of 1928 scholars
Cor say an increase of $3.50 for which
provision must be made. This can
only be done in two days, namely, by
adding to the present buildings, or
by constructing new modern build
ings.
Your Committee una1terably favors
the latter plan for many obvious
reasons, and, also, because:-
I'D the present buildings are
practically obsolete and not adap-
table to present requirements.
(2) The hygienic and toilet ar
| rangements are hopelessly unsani-
tary.