The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-10-28
THE HIGH SCHOOL, SITUATION

1tl,usf ,r.ff.
u'y affairs and just public officials arrive at the
That public civic duty hankIess task we find
'' taxpayers assemble to interest themselves in the
duesiloh OF high school for the City of Peasanyile
For considerable period of time those who took anv
interest IN the civic affairs of the City of Peasanvie have
known that additional school space has been vital to the
welfare OF an increasing number of school chdrenthat
nakesf in part time schedules have met the demands
either OF parents, of teachers of the needs of the
student.
We have suspected that considerable number of the
people OF the city have been Indifferent to the privileges of
their franchise and that because of this Indifference they
practically dsranchised themselves through their failure
either TO vote al the elections enroll they could
vote. They have failed recognize the fundamental
realities OF our political life and institutions they affect
not only city affairs but also and national affairs
Now and then contests arise in The primary elections
but IS observed that these have been because
personalities and moi because of principles involved As al
spectacle or possibly as sporting event. the primary
tests arouse some interest but they have appeared
awaken any deep and general political consciousness or
stirred up any political thinking and action
For instance, there has been decline in the number
of eligible who to the polls of from eighty pe
cent to about forty per
Yet, during all this time, there have been mounting
problems of municipal growth expansion and expense toll
say nothing of like problems which had be faced as state
wide and nationwide conditions of increase i'm population,
requirements OF public institutions of every conceivable
type, of highway development, improvement and conser-
walton OF public regulation of congesied traffic
and enforcement of law and order during period of
conditions and demands known before.
Popular interest apparently has been wooed by other
rivals Never have we had many luxuries in homes
have had many ways and of entertain
ranging from automobiles radios and great marvel
Gus theatres OF supendous exravaganza has been
easy for generation live in the lap of luxury
instament payment plan.
Just the same the material, scientific and educational
advance has been of terrific speed although The Indifferent
citizen has excused himself the plea that Its all
Politics and that Politics tainted much of
game to be worth his while.
politics is very ready abb for the Indifferent and
lazy citizen Some disappointed or disgruntled other
wise dtakng advantage OF the lazness of the average
citizen, hold up the politics befuddIe and
confuse the exigencies of the situation. The subtle
suggestion of the word Politics robs man a woman
of his her initiative thing and then ascertain the
needs of the home community if the radio is
working.
1t therefore becomes easy cloud high
minded cvcs by the cry of Politics There every
hand eloquent critics of Politics. Yet, we know that the
growth of business, of community cannot be carried
forward successfully be maintained by lp-service
nnuendo, automobilng, radiong by the momentum
sci by previous generation, by the formulation of
laws and constitutions.
The march of progress and events is so rapid the
development of a community inssent that the in
different citizen suddenly finds himself of STEP While
he has the instinct of cooperation and the idea of public
spirit he has exercised them and the community has gone
forward faster than he realized.
1t is usually the result that the indifferent citizen finds
community development and preparations for meeting the
requirements of this development far advanced before
he takes any notice that lie surprised That steps be
taken purchase site for needed school building before
the indifferent citizen gives any attention thought the
proposition, not the fault of Politics but the fault of
the average citizen
~ Every step taken in the purchase of site and the con-
sruction of school building may be followed through the
action of the Board of Education the body which
determines the need and seeks the remedy In the Pleas
antviIle situation the meetings of the Board of Education
well those of the Common Council have been open
the taxpayers.
Not only these meetings open but what was
taking place in these meetings have been reported in the
columns of The Peasanville Press. Members of the
Board of Education have been accessible and the
procedure in their meetings has been and known some
of the present DIRECTORS who have either served the
Board of Education have been associated with the
administration of schools