Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-08
BOARD DIVIDED ON
SCHOOL SESSIONS
'MontcIair Officials Obliged to
Postpone Action Owing to
Differences.

Al long and heated discussion took
place last night between members OF
the Montelair Board Of Education
over the adoption of the one or two
session plan for the rzext school year
for all pupils in the primary and
grammar grades. This matter has
been before the board every summer
for the past three years and all at
tempts to settle 1t In a way that
would suit all parents has failed.
Thet matter was brought before the
board last night by Commissioner W..
Whitnsey Ames, chairman Of the
health committee of the board to
whom 1T had been referred for re-
port. Mr.. Ames recommended the
two-session plan for all grades. under
the high school grades, and THAI the
hours of instruction be FIVE and one
half This. he claimed, would give
the pupils sufficient time for their
lessons and study and do away with
home work." which is a great lbone
of contention with many parents.
Arthur C. Harris. president of tho
board. and Miss Louise C. Hinck,
strongly opposed Mr.. Ames's recon-
mendation. Commissioner Otto f,
Semsch refused to vote and the other
member of the board, Elmer H. Neff,
supported the report. superintendent
Don c. Bliss, when asked for his
opinion. admitted that Mr.. Ames'sl
plan of two sessions, occupying five
and one2half hours would do away
with the necessity for home work.
Yet he favored the one session plan,
because 1t gave the pupils time to-
attend to social functions whichS
was necessary in a town like Mont
clair.
AS none of the members would yield
from the stand they had taken, the
matter was finally referred to the cur
riculum committee, which consists Of
the whole board, and Superintendent
Bliss, for a report at the August
sessions up to fifth grade and one
session three days a week up to and,
including eighth. grade; other days
two sessions. Mr.. Semsch excused
himself from voting on the ground
that he was a new member and that
the question has been studied by the
other members for years.
Mrs. Robert d. Eggleston and Mrs.
Richard NJ. Goddard. of Upper Mont
clair presented a petition to the
board, signed by $50 parents of Upper
MOntcla1r, requesting that the BOARD
provide in the curriculum for the
next school year the teaching of one
foreign language. beginning at the
third grade, instead of waiting. as at
present until the pupils enter the
high school. The members of the
board opposed the request, but de-
cided to consider including foreign
language, beginning in the sixth
grade.
John P. Brady & Co., contractorifor
the erection of the new high school
submitted the following as
L. E. Comstock &
Co., New York, for electrical work.
and Storms & Co., of this city, for
heating and ventilating. These wereI
by the board and also by
the architects, Messrs. Starrett & Van
Week. Elmer e. Jacobus- of Mont
clair. was appointed superintendent |
Of construction for the new building. |
Mr.. Neff reported that he had sold
the four houses now occupying a. por-
ton of the new high school site One
to Hugh Seery, for $500: one to John
Seery, for ST75, and the other two to
r. M. Crawley & Brothers, for 500
each. The buildings to be removed a;
once. These buildings are worth |
several thousand dollars each.