The Penn's Grove record., 1914-02-13

State Board Of Education, did not appea
to speak, az expected.
Prof. w. ID. Snyder read an article from
the January number Of the American
School Board journal on making Schoo
Work Practical" BY D. 9. Bliss, superin
tendent Of schools, Montclairl n. j. Thu
first paragraph read as follows:
"One OF the criticism often made Of the
public school is that its work ID too book
ish and that, consequently, pupils leav'
ing the school are unable to apply what
they have learned to the actual conditions
which they are compelled to meet, All
schoolmen must admit that this isa com
plant has been true in the past, and in
many instances is all too true at the pres
ent time. In the schools of MontclAir,
N. j., a definite effort as being made 70
overcome this error by securing such
concrete application Of theory as to make
the pupil realize the practical value of
what he is learning in the schoolroom."
The article tells how practical work
was given in typewriting, bookkeeping.
laying out Fairgrounds, English on
school papers, manual training with tools,
mechanical drawing and Inconsistencies.
Tie experience of the year showed that
whatever relates school work to living
conditions in the outside world not only
helps to fit the pupil for his future career,
but also reacts BEAUTIFULLY and immedi-
ately on the tone of the classroom.
A conference OF parents and teachers
followed IN which the teachers told OF
the lack of supplies from the highest to
the lowest grades. Supplies recommend
ed and ordered purchased by a motion of
the Board of Education had been held up
by the Clerk for further consideration
which has never come.
COMMENT
From what WAS learned from the con
ference and from personal investigation
of school affairs, the Clerk of the Board
OF Education is the Joe Cannon of Penns
Grove school affairs, and has been sitting
on the lid for ten or more years. If a
teacher in some grades was supplied with
one book for a whole year like was doue
forty years ago, she was well supplied.
One teacher bought books at her own
expense III order to advance children as
far as she could. The elementary man.
ual training which were used the past
three years has been dropped because the
supplies have not been bought.
The reason assigned is the shortage of
funds. The citizens have never failed to
vote all the money the Board of Educa-
ton thought needed. So it's up to voters
to elect members who believe Penns
Grove children shonld have the oppor-
tunities given children elsewhere.
Because subjects were not taught forty
years ago some think they are useless
now. The little Jewish children in Pitts
grove township are getting what the chill
dren OF old residents III Penns Grove are
not getting because members Of the Board
VI GduSneioA lave icdIn6u iltti6 ADOub
the progress in school affairs since they
attended forty years ago and have little
attitude for progress.
Lack Of funds may be the reason given
why 300 children in the four lowest
grades are not taught this year as they
were last and what the children in other
schools OF the standing of Penps Grove
are getting. A political worker was
elected %lanitor. Before the expiration Of
three months service two increases in
salary was voted. No lack of school
funds, when it comes to rewarding "a
political pard. None for teachers in
crease. No question OF economy Is thought
OF when it IN to electing a supervisor
at a higher salary, when books, which
afterwards proved a failure, were put in
at a higher cost, nor the failure to elect
teachers to draw 5000 from the school
fund, il the propositions of the other
fellows can be voted down and squelched
on tile principles OF peanut politics.
Having no child below 7th grade the
recital of conditions below known by
teachers for years is not personal. The
controlling majority of the Board which
were stand patters last year have proved
to r~eactionaries this year, while all the
world is progressing.
We wish to express no personal object
to the new j%anitor, only to show the in
consistency Of the Board in raising the
salary after an election and not having
money to buy supplies SO that children
may be taught as in past years.
Shall Penns Grove schools progress !?
COUNTY CONDENSAIOTNs
The fight over the Elmer postmaster
ship, for which there were more than a
dozen applicants, has been settled to the
satisfaction OF the local Democratic lead
ers, it is said, bys the appointment of
Charles II. Hitcliner, at a salary of $500
a year. His assistant will be Charles
Gibson.
Elmer Borough has been lighted with
gas for five years. The Company orga-
nized With a few local stock holders in
terested, sold out to the New Jersey Gas
Company. The contract expired four
months ago. The Gas Company wanted
another five-year. contract for fifty lights.
at $28 each. The Borough Councilre::fus-
ed the new contract Monday night. As a
consequence the gas lights were not