The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-05-06
A LETTER
Anent the Coryelrs Ferry Consoli-
dated Vocational School

tricts, after investigating the cues
ton, put q proposition before the peo-
pie to issue bonds TO cover the cost Of
consolidated school in New Hope.
the geographical north and south cen
ire of the three districts. and into
which all roads in the back sections
lead, showed the amount Of State aid
which could be secured. told how the
cost would be divided, and how the
country districts would dominate the
consolidated board, making i possible
to arrange classes TO suit the trans
portation necessities Of outside pup
lis but perhaps failed to make II dis
tinctly understood that any and all
legitimate and reasonable objections
TO such a project had been met and
overcome in other sections and could
be here.
Now as 10 the motives Of TIE op-
ponents: Instead of legitimate and
reasonable objections, what DO they
meet?
Howard Walker, with a school in
his back yard, goes on the war path.
But not against 8 consolidated school!
Mr.. Walker himself has personally
assured me he is very much IN favor
of such a school located in Wy
combe. There il would be much more
convenient for him. (He being one of
the people on the edge of the Upper
Wakefield district. And Mr.. Walker is
a progressive man a promoter of
good roads. I have his direct word
for it that he contributed $1,000 to
recent improvement on the Browns
burg Pineville Road.
Albert Slack quotes a great and
good man under whom l may say
my father served. And he said Let
US have peace" after four and a half
years Of strenuous battling for the
right. But Mr.. Slack only battled p
one year in the opposition to an in
competent School Board, and finding
opposition so easily successful, pro-
poses TO continue the same tactics.
Himself a graduate of the schools of
Philadelphia, with a natural talent
forstudy and debate, a mind broaden
ed by travel and by contact with the
outside world for he has wandered
far from the historic shades of Jeri-
cho) his children graduates of New
Hope High School, ne has no immed-
late personal interest in an improved
school, but apparently wants TO con-
tinue his monopoly of education. And
as in our best families, celibacy and
late marriage rule, there isn't even
a grandchiId." So in this case, Jove
laundering from high Olympus is
naturally "agin."
Prof. Chandler, our neighbor, is al
50 in opposition. He derives his in
come from teaching the young idea
how to shoot in Philadelphia high
schools, mot from farming,) and is
the only one Of the opposition who is
entirely frank. He is opposed to ii
on account Of the cost. The cost
of education. And we can understand
his position I have Mrs. Chandler as
my authority that his school taxes
last year We're about 1859. For edu-
cation! And his children do not get
it. So, realizing the cost of ignorance
is greater than the price of education
Prof. Chandler, at his own expense
sends his children to Lambertville
High, where they are taught the
things we will some day have in our
consolidated school.
Some peoples motives are too
deeply hidden to analyze in so short
letter. In one of our back districts
near Newtown, are families whose
children are attending Newtown High
at an expense of Sc. per month to the
School Board, and average eight days
attendance per month. And their par
ents are opposed to a change. More
| specific instances of inconsistency
will be cheerfully quoted on demand
Can we escape higher taxes, OF
more of them? Our State Authori-
ties, shamed at last to action by oul
rating as 18th in educational facili.
ties and results, are levying new
taxes to be devoted to this grea1
problem on gasoline, on anthracite
on Inheritance for schools .AnC
our petty politicians may at any time
expect word from higher up to cease
from troubling and to turn in anc
help. And after the present construct
i've board is ousted and the old ganl
comes back, we will have our con
solidated school and the P. P. viii
smile at how they got the credit 70
doing what the constructive boart
was damned for trying to do. For i
this case "the good men do will liv
after them"
At some time during the summe
: series of talks on consolidate
schools will be given throughout tn
: three districts from the State Boar
of Education, showing by movin
r picture films such schools in ope
e alton. These experts will be able
n answer more definitely than we cal
many apparently difficult question
d Until then, cannot this discussion /
placed upon plane of a real scare
Il for information concerning the sui
e ject? Many good people are deep
/ interested in it.
t Horace B. Hur