Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-04-15
STATE SCHOOL
HEADS DISAGREE
Some Would Eliminate German
from SChooIS-OtherS
Favor Language.
By Special Correspondent.

| TRENTON, April I5-Because they
. believed that the ways of the Hun or
any other enemy of America can best
! be met by a knowledge of the Ian
Suage of these people, three members
of tho State Board of Education re-
fused to vote either way for a reSo-
luton recommending that the study
OF German be stopped at once in
schools Of New Jersey, and measure
failed of passage at the meeting of the
board here on Saturday. 1t was intro
duced by Col. ID. Stewart Craven, of
Salem City, who declared it would
be body blow at the Kaiser and
Kultur."
John P. Murray, of Jersey City,
Professor John c.. Van Dyke of New
Brunswick, and oscar w. Jeffery, the
newly appointed member Of the board
from Englewood were the members
who refused to go on record on the
question. The resolution received the
support and votes of Thomas w. SYM
mott of Wenonah, Gloucester county
former State Senator Ernest r. Ack-
erman of Plainfield and Mr.. Craven
President Melvin A. Rice, of Req
Bank, favored the resolution. but did
not vote as he was presiding. Be-
cause only three votes were cast for
1T, the proposition went down to de-
feat, as a measure requires five votes
to pass the body.
Il think it would be unwise not to
know the language Of our enemies,
declared Mr.. Murray, opposing Cra-
vens move, "if we are properly to
compete with them. / think the Ger
man newspapers should be stopped,
but | won't vote for or against this
measure. Germany would not dis
courage the teaching of English and
Inr ofi cd, "a hor
people in the language of every other
country SO that they might better be-
come acquainted with the people and
their ways. If we eliminate the Ger
man language from our schools we
are taking away one of our own
weapons"
Murray, following the defeat OF the
main question, moved. and it was car
ried that the study of Spanish be en-
vouraged and that it be substituted
for German wherever possible. Both
he and Van Dyke deplored the fact
that their opposition to the German
proposition might be construed as
Pro-Gcrman.
Although members of tho board
differed on this war issue they were a
unit for the Murray resolution on
Spanish and also in giving President
Rice authority to spend the states
vocational school moneys for the
training of men who can instruct 9TH
er men in the making OF aeroplanes
and shells in New Jersey for the gov
erment.
The members also approved a reso-
luton introduced by Mr.. Synnott in
structing the uthorities of the School
Of the Deaf, when possible, to organ
Ze classes to aid and instruct Amer |
Can soldiers who may be sent home
from Europe suffering from deafness
Professor Van Dyke brought to the |
attention of the board school man.
agement conditions in West Hoboken. |
Hudson county, where he said there !
have been a number Of rumors and |
.alk as to the conduct of school af- |
fairs. He said it was reported that
some of the school janitors had gotten
Up a "slush fund" to be given to cert |
lcation for the purpose of getting a |
-aise in salary. Further information |
vas to the effect that one janitor had |
turned over 800 in marked money
o n certain member of the local board |
Van Dyke said that members of the |
staff of accountants and inspectors Of |
he department of public instruction |
mad been investigating the situation !
nd their reports confirmed the situa-
ion reported to certain extent.
Joseph ]. Parentini, president of the |
West Hoboken board, wrote Mr.. Van |
Dyke letter denying the charges, |
which also included unbusinesslike |
awardlng of contracts to the higher |
bidders and SO forth. Following the |
'eceipt of this communication, the pro- !
fessor told the board Saturday he had |
received another letter from another |
n ember Of the board, whose name he |
did not mention, confirming the |
,harges and stating that this member |
lad refused to approve of some of the |
Later this member of the |
ocal board wrote to Van Dyke asking |
hat his first letter not be made pub
ic, as he feared violence at the hands |
IF the other members of the West Ho- |
ooken board.
This incident is not closed" Mr.. |
Van Dyke told the board. He had not
determined as yet what steps are now
TO be taken.