The Penn's Grove record., 1914-03-13
HOW and Why THE SCHOOLS ARE
RETROGRADING
A Revolution Needed Next Tuesday

Thomas Jefferson, the father of
Democracy, said, "When a man as
sumes a public trust he should consider
himself as public property"
The Supreme Court of Missouri de-
clared in a libel suit, sItsis the duty Of
the public newspaper to tell the people,
its subscribers, its readers. the facts
that 1t may find out about public Ques-
tions, of matter OF public interest, and
it is its DUTY and RIGHT to draw in
ference from the facts-draw them for
the people,"
When the kingdom of Israel got on
the decline and the princes were rebel
lious, the prophet Isaiah said, "Come
now, and let us reason together"
Penns Grove public schools are on
the decline this year and it is time to
reason together and let the people
learn the reason why, SO they can rem
edy the wrong by electing four 9
members of the Board of Education
with progressive ideas next Tuesday
evening, 18th, between 7 and 5 O'Clock.
The preamble of the State Constitu-
ton says: 1--WE the people Of the State
of New Jersey, grateful to God for
civil and religious liberty, look to Him
for a blessing upon our endeavors to
secure and transmit the same unim-
paired to succeeding generations"
One of the blessings stated in the
constitution formed in 1874 is ga Lhoro
and efficient system of free schools for
| the instruction of ALL children in the
| State between the ages Of five and
eighteen"
Thomas Jefferson in 1882 prescribed
a course of education such as reached
Penns Grove wi hin the past o
years.
Laws are enacted prescribing courses
Of education or allowing the State
Board of Educatirn to see that stand
ard courses are followed. Offices are
created not to bestow honor nor profit
upon men, but for the holder to per-
form some function of government,
according to the law for the benefit of
the citizens and not to perform it
according to their personal views OF
right OF wrong.
The great cause of bad government
is that men get into Office with a
mental and moral attitude contrary to
the carrying out of the law, and with
the thought that the authority bestowed
upon them gives them a right to per-
form the function of government &C:
cording to their W personal whims or
for personal profit or honor.
A man is not expected to hold an
Office i'll a lodge nor religious society
who does not believe in the principles
| of the organization. If a mali does not
believe in the course of education pre-
scribed by law then by what moral
right should such a ma have a claim
to be a member OF the board of educa-
ton except to carry out his rebellious
ideas to scuttIe the system which he
took an oath of Office to perform to the
best of his ability according to the
prescription of the law.
-Four years ago the RECORD had to
make a fight TO maintain the high
school, because the supervisor was
working TO destroy it, in catering to
the views of the majority of tile board
Of education for y reelection. He had
refused to permit our son to take an
examination in mathematics as the
course prescribed, after the County Su-
p~erinlendent hld sent the questions.
He had refused to let him take up
tile succeeding subject in the course.
Those subjects are required i'll the State
examination for admission to the State
Scientific School connected with Rut-
gers College. The failure to pass the
| State examination meant the loss of a
State scholarship which gives free tut
ton to those whose standing is best in
passing. The failure to get a scholar
ship means the payment of $3.50 a year
for tuition, and for a four year course,
$64O.
The candidates for malntainence of a
s'thoro and efficient public schools'' in
Penns Grove won, but in two years the
old rebellious enemies to the State con-
stitutiOn and The school laws of the
State got re elected and on May Ii,
1912, W. ?. Denny, Thomas E. Hunt,
Simon Cunningham, George Watson,
9. w. Cable and Josiah HI. Smith voted
to do away with the high school, to
dispense with all education in Penns
Grove for children above IA years of
age. The County Superintendent
blocked their vote and the schools were
maintained with Improvements until
this year when the scuttle policy has
been in progress. both for the high
school and the primary schools. How
is it being done?
Last summer, when the supervisor
made his recommendation of needed
supplies, at once, without a definite
knowledge of what was therein, Mr..
Denny with a gusto of liberality made
a motion that the report be adopted
OF course the educational committee
and Clerk OH the surface were expected
to see that tue supplies were purchased
and on hand when school began. Were
they /?
J. U. Layton, a progressive, was
dropped from the educational COM
mittee and Mr.. Cunningham, the
PRESIDENT. annOinted Josiah RI Smith