Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-01-02

Commercial Course covers four years
i yet he claims, "that the public de-
mand at the present time is for two
year Commercial Course" Does this
mean that we should lower our edu-
cational standards to crafty public
demands? Are the present State re-
quirements high enough? AS his con-
clusion Prof. Boas states, Chat the
Commercial Courses of the high
school must be continued" Does this
mean a two or a four-year course :?
Should the Classical and Academic
Courses be continued?
1t is true, as Prof. Boas points out,
that the enrolment in the third year
Commercial and Classical Courses is
very light, but this fact is due to
the age of the school. 1t is many
years before high school can acquire
the prestige and reputation neces-
sary to attract large number of
pupils. This is point which only
can be overcome by time and hard
work, yet at the end of the first three
years we have an enrolment of 1872.
l think this is a splendid showing, all
facts considered.
| Our public school system is not COM
plete without a high school. 1t is a
valuable asset to the borough which
can be greatly developed. Is there
any reason why we should spend our
money outside of the borough to de-
velop Leonia or Englewood? Why
not invest this money in developing
our own high school? Is there any
reason why we shall compel our high
school pupils to spend ten or twelve
hours a week in travelling, thereby
enriching the Public Service Corpor-
alton? l think this time can be spent
in more profitable way. There is
no reason why we cannot have high
school up to the standard in every
way. To my knowledge it complies
with all of the State requirements
But if anyone is aware of any point
in which the efficiency of the high
school can be improved, would it not
be more in accordance with civic pride
to bring the matter to the attention
of the Board, rather than to sheer at,
and ridicule the work which they are
so unselfshly doing for the common
welfare? Why not build up, rather
than tear down? 3
Prof. Boas claims that the play
ground should be used as a school site.
| do not think that this is available, as
in the first PLACE the site should be as
near as possible In sne 'sn,iddle OF our
borough. The playground borders
the Fairview ana Rideefie,d boroughs.
(2) A school to serve the whole
borough and to attract high school
pupils from surrounding towns should
be as near the car line as possible.
The Palisade avenue site is within a
few hundred feet of our borough's
only car line.
(3) The playground is entirely I'M
developed; roads, sidewalks, gas,
sewer and water mains would all have
to be constructed, and considerable
amount of grading would have to be
done to. eliminate mosquitoes. All
this would have to be done at the
taxpayers expense. Prof. Boas real
ICES this when he states "the objec-
ton that this tract is not as we'll
developed, does not seem relevant
since the borough council has it in its
power to develop streets leading to
the playground" 1t would not make
much difference to the taxpayers
whether the contract was let by the
council or the Board of Education.
It is only bookkeepers difference,
the taxpayers would foot the bill.
(4) And most important, could
the borough obtain clear title to
the playground? The claim is made
that this land could be obtained at a
cost of $1,000. Where were these fig
ures obtained? Who are the owners
of the playground? Have they clear
title? Prof. Boas himself states mo
perfect title can be obtained at the
present tirne." Can we afford to gam
BILE in the expenditure of the taxpay-
ers' money?
Prof. Boas then declares that the
board should only acquire two acres
and there on erect building to &C
commodate four hundred pupils, $50
planned s,s to form one wing of
school capable of accommodating
1000 to 1900 pupils? 1t is to be
noted that Prof. Boas gives his ap-
proval to sectional construction. How
long will it be before we have 1,2OO
additional pupils? What would hap
pen then |? 1t would not solve the
school problem but merely prolong it.
1t allows no room for expansion. Our
borough is so small that it can be
most efficiently served by three school
buildings: one at each end for the
smaller grades, and one in the mid
die for the higher grades and high
school. This can only be done If we
acquire yite large enough to allow
for expansion. am informed that
the LeoniaI high school site covers
four acres,l while the new Edgewater
public sch1ol property contains three
and one-ha(lf acres. These places be-
lieve it good investment to provide
for the future, yet in the 1910 census,
Cliffside isl credited with population
of 1894; Edgewater, 1865; Leonia,
1,486. l believe we can use every foot
of the three and one-half acres. Five
or six years is long time in the life
of an individual. 1t appears to be a
long look into the future, but there is
no limit to the life of borough. 1t
is said we have no interest in the
future, that we should only provide