Newark post., 1917-11-14

sociations and has served the |
cause of education so we'll for past |
generations, that it seems almost |
sacrilege to call attention to the
fact that it is no longer able to
meet the growing need of our
schools.
United recently, the members in
classes were so small that they
were we'll cared for in small
rooms. Later, when the growth of
the school made it necessary to
knock out partitions in order to
provide larger rooms, there was no
way of securing either sufficient
light or ventilation. 1t is impos-
sible to conduct a satisfactory fire
drill in this building. Halls and
stairways are too dark and narrow,
and doors swing inward. Were
fire to break out in the west end of
the building there would be no
chance of saving the children on
the third floor. The committee was
appalled, by the unsanitary condi-
tion of the building, although the
faculty had cleared out rubbish of
past years from hidden corners.
The toilets lack privacy. There is
no suitable place for hanging
wraps. There is no room in the
building where the school can now
be properly seated at ore time for
general exercises. AS the build
ing is taxed now to care for the
present school of 100, it is a grave
question what can be done next
year. No class will be graduated
in June and about so new pupils
will be ready to enter next Sep
tember. While all the rooms lack
light, the committee was alarmed
to find upon measuring that one
room which must be used by a
large class actually has only Ia
of the minimum amount of light,
which is considered safe for child
ren's eyes. There are many people
in Newark today wearing glasses
because of eye strain in this and
the primary building. There are
many others who gave up school
because of constant headaches
which they supposed were caused
by study, when, as a matter of
fact, their brains were all right,
but their eyes could not endure the
continued strain of study in dark
room.
Every loyal Newarker, whether
native or an adopted citizen,
loves the old Academy Building for
its past, and points to it with pride
when showing friends our interest
ing landmarks, but it is just as
impossible for it to care for the
rapidly growing school population
as it would be for the old stage
coaches to handle the present
travelling public.
The committee appreciates to the
full what the town fathers have
done for the public schools i'll all
the years past. Just now, how
ever. the town has been growing
so rapidly, that it has outgrown
it's school clothes. 1t has remain
ed for the mothers to point out the
fact that they are pretty we'll be-
yond the stage of patching.
The Committee feels that the
Board merits the appreciation and
the commentator of the citizens
of Newark for their efforts to keep
Newark Schools abreast of educa-
tional progress in other districts
of the state, when such efforts
have often meant stretching one
dollars to make it do the work of
two. The Committee believes,
however, that the schools should
be the last place where penny
wise, pound foolish policy should
be enforced. The future citizen
ship of Newark depends upon the
health and the training of the boys
and girls who are now in our pub
lie schools. The investment of
dollars in these future men and
women will pay returns just as
truly as will funds invested in a
savings bank. The most vital re
commentator, therefore, of this
Committee is that larger funds be