The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-12-12
County Board of Education.

TON county Board OF Education was
held in the auditorium of the High
school on Saturday The attendance
was excellent-23 of the 35 districts
being represented. Nathaniel R.
Evan, president of the Board, pre-
sided and after the roll was called and
the minutes of the last meeting were
read, he introduced Louis j. Kayser,
the new County Superintendent, who
gave short address.
Mr.. Kayser spoke upon the subject
of increasing the efficiency of schools
without adding extra expense to the
j taxpayers. Every officer of the school
system, especially members of boards
of education, must be students of the
school system. They must visit
schools, not only those with which they
are connected but those of other dis
tricts. He did not advise members to
go in body, but individually. Visits
OF this kind give teachers assurance
and they feel that their efforts are be-
ing observed. The scholars also ap-
preciate these visits. Especially is
this true in the rural districts where
teachers and scholars too often feel
that they are isolated and are not
given the attention they are entitled
! w. <11ICI NISlJS VI ILLS CIldIdCIGI LIE
visitors should report back to the
the observations they have made.
During his occupacy of the office of
county superintendent Mr.. Kayser said
he had visited lao class rooms and
had found but five or six names of
visiting members of the board of ed
ucatlons. Possibly they had failed to
sign the register kept for the purpose.
but they should see that theif names
were enrolled. Mr.. Kayser said he
had seen many defects in schoolrooms.
Seats are placed in the wrong posi-
ton to get good results from light
and many other things had been no
ticed. The members of boards of ed
ucation should take an interest to see
that such things do not exist. Jani-
tors are frequently employed who
gain the idea that their entire duty is
to make fires and sweep the rooms.
The buildings should be kept in a
good condition and surrounding build
ings should be clean and free from
everything that would contaminate
child. A good janitor could do much
along this line. Attention should be
given to the school grounds. Low
places which make puddles after a
rain should be filed. Supplies should
be ordered early, so that everything
may be ready when school opens in
the fall. Mr.. Kayser said he had OBJ
served much to justify him in compli-
menting the boards of education in
this county for the good work they
are doing.
Teachers should not only be allowed
to observe methods in other schools
but they should be compelled to do it.
The money that might be expended in
payment of teachers salary for the
day she would be absent on such
mission would be more than made up
by the results that would be obtained.
Mr.. Kayser said he had heard men,
bers of boards of education ask,
where is my salary coming from ?''
The answer to this question is that
someone, 40 or so years ago, took an
interest in the member and paid for
his tuition. The speaker said he
strongly believed in consolidation of
schools. One centrally located school
well conducted is worth more than a
dozen scattered throughout the neigh
boring country.
William A. Slaughter, who was a
delegate to the state federation of
school boards, gave short account of
the proceedings of that body. The
tenure of Office law was discussed and
it had been suggested that the period
of tenure be increased from three to
five years. Another subject that was
given attention was the attempt of
some boards to get teachers to break
contracts in order to accept positions
that were held out to them with
Tor Mt nv 14.
thought the employment of help in a
kitchen or on farm was on par
with teaching, so far as securing good
school board had the right to get the
best there was in sight and also had
the right to discharge any one not
filling the position satisfactorily. If,
however, there was an attempt to get
teacher to break a contract there was
a law which governs such an action
and a punishment for those who
would induce others to break the law.
Ignorance and misrule are incentives
to crime and boards of education have
these problems confronting them.
John Enright, assistant to the State
Commissioner of Education, gave a
long and interesting talk on subjects
connected with school work. He
spoke on the relations of teachers to
the members of the boards of educa-
ton. They are of one family and
should be closely in touch with each
other on every subject that interests
the school. There should not be a
hesitancy on the part of teacher on
approaching member of the board
to call attention to anything that APP
peared to need correction, neither
should the member refrain from tell
ing the teacher of any defect in her
manner of conducting her business.
Mr.. Enright gave an exhaustive ex-
PLANTATION of where the money applied
to schools comes from and how it is
distributed. He, like superintendent
Kayser, approved of consolidation of
schools and he emphasized the i'm
portance of teachers and parents get
ting better acquainted with each other
At the conclusion of Mr.. Enright's
address the meeting took recess and
the annual banquet was held in the
gymnasium of st. Andrews church.
After the dinner had been enjoyed
there were a few speeches, one of
which was by Charles H. Horner,
president of the board of education of
Mount Laurel township. Mr.. Horner
has been member of this board for
AZ years and this fact is of special in
terest when statistics show that only
one person in fifty ever serves rs
years in one board and only one in
1000 reaches a service of so years.
The hope was expressed that Mr.. Hor-
ner might be one of the 1000.
The afternoon session was devoted
to discussion of subjects suggested by
the members.
Benjamin Lippincott, of Cinnamin-
son, and Professor w. c. Sullivan, of
Mount Holly, who had been appointed
committee to draft resolutions of re-
spect to the former county superin-
tendent, reported the following:
"Whereas, Professor H. A. Stees
served this county in the capacity of
superintendent for twenty years, Civ
ing the best part of his life to the
work of increasing the efficiency of the
schools of the county; and, Whereas
the County Board of Education feels
it not only its duty but its pleasant
privilege to express its deepest graft
tude for his long, faithful and efficient
service, therefor
"Be it resolved, that this body ex-
press its appreciation of his good
work, mature and seasoned judgment
in matters pertaining to the educa-
tional welfare of the county, and to
his gentlemanly and diplomatic deal
ings with boards of education, super
visors and teachers; and be it further
resolved, that copy of this resolu-
| ton be spread upon the minutes of