Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-08-06
OUTLOOK IN CITY
SCHOOL STATUS
Interesting Facts About City
and School System Given
BY Superintendent ShuII.
TEACHERS ARE PRAISED
Conditions for the Coming
School Terms Also 0utlin-
ed in 25th Annual Report.

The twenty-fifth annual school
report made out by Superintendent
Samuel e. Shull was read at the
regular meeting of the Board of Edu-
cation last night, in which Mr.. Shull
took the opportunity OF giving ex-
preston to a deep feeling of
gratitude to the teachers and
principals for their earnest CO.
operation in their efforts to pro-
gressively administer the school
affairs, and to the Board of Educa-
tion a feeling of sincere appreciation
of their unfailing earnestness and
kindness in all the supervisory
activities. Besides being the required
report, the paper is of great interest
to Perth Amboy. wherein 1t brings
before the public both the ac-
complishments of the educational
system in t past year as wen as the
flaws, WHOA in the mind of the
superintendent, at least, should be
remedied as expediently as possible.
incidentally this chronology OF
school affairs describes many an
economic condition of the city.
In comparing the enrolment of
last year with that of this, the report
shows that there was a slight de-
crease in the total number of pupils.
This variation is attributed to three
facts: The organization of an
additional parochial school. pract-
ical standstill in residential con-
struction and a continuation of the
almost unsuitable demand for labor
of boys and girls between the ages
of fourteen and sixteen.
While the total enrolment shows
the slight decrease, the average en-
rollment has been greater than any
succeeding year.
A feature connected with. the en-
rollment indicates that there have
been comparatively few people
moving in and out of the city during
the year. This. in turn, means con-
tinuous attendance of pupils. an
avoidance OF frequent classification
and therefore more favorable con-
ditions for the advancement of the
several classes.
During four weeks of the school
year of 191S-1919. all the schools
were closed because of the influen-
"a. 1t is still question in the mind
of the superintendent whether or
not educational conditions would
not have been bettered had schools
been closed during the month of
February of the year just past, for
a like reason. Beginning January
and closing in March. teachers
were absent a total of 74S days. due,
practically to the recurrence of in
fuenza. In FERNS of teaching time,
that period was equivalent to full
years absence of four teachers.
Again. there was an unprecedent-
ed amount of illness among the pu-
pills of the lower grades extending
over period of five months. Prac-
tically all the illness was due to the
childhood diseases. whooping cough,
measles, chickenpox and mumps.
The Health Department of the city,
the school nurses, medical inspectors
and teachers. exercised great vigi-
lance in their attempts to stamp out
these scourges of childhood, the re-
port said. However, to the nina
of Mr.. Shull. and other authorities,
considerable portion of the popu-
1ation does not take these diseases
seriously. does not call on physicians
for treatment, and keep sending
their children to school until by
sickness exists in the homes of the
pupils In attendance and ming1ing
daily with their. fellows in school
and on the playground. AS long as
these conditions exist. periodical
occurrences of these conditions must
be expected.
In order to provide full day ac-
; comodations for all pupils, to dis
pense with the use of court rooms
for classes and to provide for nor
NAL growth of population upon the
advent of normal economic condi-
tions. measures had been taken in
May to start the erection of a new
school on Hall avenue. which had
been in contemplation since 1917.
Due to decision rendered by the
committee on capital issues. the
project had been deferred until this
year. When the bids on the build
ing were opened in May, it was
found that the lowest one exceeded
the amount previously estimated to
such an extent as would have
meant bond issue in excess of the
. legal bonded Indebtedness. Fur
ther effects for immediate relief
therefore, were indefinitely deferr-
ed.
While touching on the building
question. the report sets forth con-
ditions which point unerringly to ad-
ditional needs that will have to be
met at comparatively early date.
The proposed building on Hall ave-
CONTINUED on page ID
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