Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-06

Gordon street; Mrs. T. c. Booth, 800
High street; A. %Greenbaum, At
Lewis street; Frederick l.. Brown,
232 State street; Mr.. and Mrs. j..
X. Bryan, ISL Water street, l. R.
Robbins, 40 High street; John Rob-
erts, 120 Madison avenue; Rev. and
Mrs. William II. BaWden, 1873 Cor
don street.
These are the people whose petit
tons was treated in so highhanded
a fashion by the Board of Education.
With such a start, if one should re-
ally try to get names affixed, what
would not the result be?
In this whole matter / have~sought
TO- treat the Board with the utmost
consideration. c%onceding their gem
eral efficiency DIS wen as p2 l,lhg 1t.
1t IS in accordance with my un-
have objected to the ruling in ques
ton. 1t was only Monday of this
week hat the New York Times had
an editorial upon a school matter
in which 1t was said: las regards
school matters, the public is not an
outsider, nor is 1t composed or out
siders." In a communication with
one member of the Board | sought
to show how easily and quickly the
| whole matter could be adjusted by
executive action, as they did in other
instances. They have ignored the
suggestion, they have refused to
grant the request, they have tabled a
bona fide petition. Governor Wood
row Wilson has given us a phrase
that sticks, "pitiless publicity" 1t
may be worth while to turn on some
light on this matter.
Our Board of Education Is com
posed of business men, who have
| been asked to bring the h~ard-headed
common sense of business life to
bear upon the educational problems.
They are not educational experts,
nor claim to be. They make certain
Investigations, which was we'll within
their province. Then they make
radical changes without consulting
| either the superintendent of schools
or the high school principally both
educational experts, both intimately
interested in any such legislation
This was admitted to me by a mem
Der of the Board. The two gentle
men in question Nave rightly re
fused to be interviewed, or to express
opinions; such would be disrespect
full to the Board, unless the BoarC
requested it. Their silence, although
perfectly right In the circumstances
makes me strongly suspect that they
do not agree with the Board. | chal
lenge the Board to ascertain theil
opinions and to publish the same be
fore the citizens of the city. If the
members of the Board are so inter
ested in the welfare of our school.
as they profess, and l believe tina
they are, then let them not Keel
those things to themselves that ST
nearly concern all. Let them tel
us Just what Investigations we're I'm
dertaken by them, and exactly wha
was found ont; n let them alst
be fair enough to consult thos'
whose experience in educational mat
ters entities them to consideration II
the matter, and let us know wha
that is, too.
One result. and | Will not tres
pass upon your patience further to
day. One mother telephoned me to
Eday that unless the ruling wa
changed she would be compelled t
take her daughter out OF the higl
school, simply because it would. b.
impossible to get along with sucl
outlandish hours. l submit that i
the recent ruling had no other re
suit than this, to prevent but on
student securing the education t.
which she is entitled, and which sh
could receive If the hours were nor
NAL. 1t is to be condemned.
WILLIAM II. BAWDEN.