The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-06-01
Improving the .Pines. ,

Under the above heading the Trenton
Times printed the following item on
school conditions at Johnson Place:
''For years, the public has been told at
intervals, about the bad conditions that
existed in the Pines, which usually is
taken to mean the lower section of Bur-
lington county, which is covered with a
growth of pine and scrub oak, without
roads, schools, churches, or social advan-
tages of any kind. There is a small
ramshackle school house to be found &C.
casionally, but the population is SO scat
tered and the people SO poor that classes
were not organized and competent and
willing teachers could not be found.
while the conditions have been
known, little was done to remedy them,
until the attention of Commissioners
Kendall was called to them two years
ago. Then Governor Fielder also be-
came interested, and paid a flying visit
to the Pines last year. DR.. Kendall
made quiet inquiry and urged the
county superintendent to action, and it
looks as if something is to be done to
redeem the region and improve the con-
dition of the children and women who
belong there, ~.
Last year Mrs. Mary Davis, of Phiia-
delphia, volunteered to take charge of
the public school at Johnson Place, in
Woodland township. 1t was one of five
schools in the township, and had but
three pupils. A week ago there was a
flag raising ceremony at the johnson
Place school, and among those who took
part were several TrentOnians who found
wonderful improvement had taken
place since Mrs. Davis took charge.
THE enrolment in the school had
been increased from three to twenty
three pupils, and the attendance is regu-
lar- During the month of March there
were but two absences, and these were
due to sickness. The ages of the pupils
ranged from four to sixteen years, and
some of them had to travel on foot for
four or five miles in order to attend
school. Three of the pupils are ready to
attend high school.
Mrs. Davis efforts have not been
confined to the public school. She has
organized Sunday school in the little
school house, with an average attend
ance of thirty-five members, and spends
her evenings and odd hours at mission
airy work in lettering social conditions
and arousing the civic pride of the COM
munity. She has the confidence of the
people who willingly cooperate in any
enterprise she suggests.
"While the success obtained at John
son Place is due to the initiative of the
school authorities, the residents are
themselves responsible for the results.
But it is not to be believed that the de-
partment of Public Instruction, with
such an object lesson, will lose the chance
for organizing a movement that will inn
prove the mental, moral, physical and
material condition of the people OF
section that has been isolated, neglected
and merely tolerated.
What Mrs. Davis has accomplished
in Woodland township, other women
who are sympathetic, tactful and i'm
bued with the true missionary spirit,
can accomplish in other townships of
Burlington, Ocean and Atlantic coun-
ties. But they should not be asked to
give their time and effort without COM
pensation; and the state that is spending
more than $26, 1000, 600 for educational
purposes, is the proper authority to take
charge of the movement"