Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-11
MORE SCHOOL
MONEY URGED
To Improve Educational
Standards of Rural Schools,
Says Mrs. Cromwell

! TRENTON. May 11.-More state
money for schools is needed. in order
to IMPROVE and equalize the educa-
tional standards of our rural schools,
declares Mrs. Seymour Cromwell. OF
Mendham. woman member of the
| state hoard of education. in a re-
port in which she concludes that
"A number of causes are operating
to destroy our state educational
system" Mrs. Cromwell declares
that there is no equality of educa-
tional opportunity mo- only between
city and country schools, but be-
tween n country district and an
other"
Her plea is for more responsibility
on the part of the state education
department at Trenton. which is ad-
mittedly already Expensive" al
though Mrs. Cromwell states that
none of us are advocates of bu-
re~aucracy."
THE New Jersey system of dual
control of education" she says. "di-
vided between the state and local
boards. can only function as long as
the terms of partnership are honor
ably observed. At the present
time" she goes on. "the state has
practically resigned from this part
pership, and the schools are man.
aged by the local boards"
The woman member does not say
how much more money the state
should spend for schools. beyond OBJ
serving that ''in the last five years
school costs have increased 100 per
cent. while state aid has increased
come out. however. for an increase in
l tho state Gahnnl INV from . and D..
mills to 6 mills. and this increase is
presumably what she has in mind.
1t is understood that the plan does
not contemplate a greater total ex-
penditure for schools, but that more
should be collected through state
agencies. and less by local taxes.
Such a move. while it would relieve
rural schools, would correspondingly
increase the burden on city COM
munities. which have higher per cap
tia ratables. and is certain to meet
bitter opposition from the larger
cities.
Mrs. Cromwell, who has made
rural schools her hobby, and who
has probably spent more time than
any other state board member in
visiting the schools and getting first
hand information, finds that the type
| Ol I1tllDeTS VI local SCnOOl DOdTue
is sometimes not of the best.
THE rural schools are threatened
by the type of members elected to
their boards" she asserts. MANY
disinterested and intelligent men and
women are serving Oh rural school
boards" she continues, but in a
number of districts ignorant and
corrupt elements are in charge of
the schools" A provision in the
school law which prevents dropping
of "A school board member except for
d bsence from three successive meet
ings. unless on conviction of such
as crime as involves loss of citizen
ship itself is attacked. "A better
type of school board" she says,
can only be Obtained through the
education of the electorate"
Rural school consolidation, espe-
cially OF high schools. is advanced
as only the proper method of rails
ing standards in country schools
Mrs. Cromwell says that she is 'in
Of the Grange committee against the
complete sympathy with the protest
transportation of ! country children
to city high schools, whose training
and influence unfit them for rural
life. Consolidation she says, lis
an im~possibility without further
state aid"
The type of county school super
intendents might be improved in
some counties. it appears from the
report. Some of them," it ~recites,
feel that with the performance of
the formal duties of their position
their responsibility ceases. Others
realize that an educated public opin-
ion is essential to the success of their
work."
Selfish interests are an element
| which nus be commended with. it
seems. 81 notice." says Mrs. Crom-
well, Throughout the school system
. hesitation on the part of many
school officials to use their influence
and powers to the fullest extent.
The fear of offending certain groups
is given as the reason for postpon-
ing action. There are certain groups
whose personal interests are threat
ened by any change, and whose con-
| victions are not open to new evil
dence. Such groups. must not stand