Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-04
SUGGESTS DIVIDING
HIGH SCHOOL TERM
Meredith Wants Two Periods of
Three Years Each-"Six
and Six" Plan.
speelaI 10 the E,enlnr star.

/ Special TO the Evening star.
TRENTON, Dec. AIN his annual
report submitted to State Commits
! sioner of Education and made public
today, Assistant Commissioner A. E.
| Meredith again calls attention to the
| problem Of reorganizing the high
school system of the State into
what is commonly known as the
Junior and senior high schools %
Mr.. Meredith is in charge of New
Jerseys secondary school education
and in his last annual report he
advocated the same idea regarding
high school operation
ut should be noted" he says, thai
there is developing a growing inter
est throughout the State in the six
and six plan of reorganization. Sew
eral municipalities, through their
boards of education are committed
to the general idea, and are formu-
lating their policies with regard TO
new high school buildings in the light
of the educational and administra
tive demands Of the scheme.
Why Change Is Needed.
Among the important Influences
which in recent years have called at
tention to the necessity of some
fundamental change in the organiza-
ton of the public school system.
There are three which are worthy Of
some elaboration, viz:
Il. Studies In the retardation and
elimination of pupils.
"2. A growing appreciation of the
loo. &c fxal
differences among pupils, thereby in
volying the necessity for different
curricula and a provision for differ
ent rates of progress during school
life.
'3. The development of prevoca-
tional and vocational activities, espe-
cially as related to industrial pur-
suits, and to housekeeping. as part
of the public school prgram Of
studies.
Assistant Commissioner Meredith
says in his report he would divide
the school system under the proposed
plan of reorganization into two pc
RODS of six years each, the first OF
these being devoted to the elemen-
tary education and the latter six to
higher instruction. OF the last men
toned period the first three years
would be known as the Junior High
School, and the final three as the
Senior High School" Mr.. Meredith
in his report goes into the subject
to considerable extent and presents
a specific plan for carrying the prop
osition into operation, although he
states that ii might need modification
TO some degree.
Interest in Salaries.
The report of the assistant commits
sioner shows that during the school
year ending June go 1914. there were
enrolled 3S,099 pupils, and that the
amount expended for High School
teachers salaries was 81, 1856, 225.25. an
increase of 1914 4SS.S7. The average
salary per year for male teachers was
81, 542.61 and for female teachers
S9S3.1l. The number of approved four
year high schools was increased by
six, the total being 1877. The assist
ant commissioner makes a strong ar
gument in favor of having each school,
seek approval from the State author
tiles.
ITO the credit of New Jersey" he
says, st should be said that no pupil
who is qualified to do high school
work and who desires to do it is de-
MED the opportunity High schools
are accessible to all The fact that
last year 6,975 pupils, or 1873 per cent.
of the total of the high school en-
rollment, attended high schools out
side their home districts. shows how
well the advantages were used"
The assistant commissioner reports
that in addition to the public high
schools that are approved, there are
si2ty-two private schools on the list,
two having been added during the
past school year.
Among the many other matters the
report discusses is the series of prin-
cipals' round tables inaugurated.
Three of these sessions We're held.
one at Plain1eld. another at New
ark and the third at Bayonne. The
success of the new idea in high
school graduation exercises. where
the students give demonstrations of
the work of the school. is touched
upon. and the report of the com
mittee on athletic organizations.
headed by DR.. James G. Keshland. of
Camden, is given. The committee
recommends that professional
coaches for high school athletic
teams be done away with. One new
Organization OF high school teachers
was formed during the year, that
Of the Association of Mathematics
Teachers Of New Jersey. The report
&c mmends Cape May county's Eng
hsh composition contest held under
the direction of superintendent of
Schools HanG.
Woutau KiIlc Gtuno,au