USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > An Educational History Of The School District of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey 1666 - 1933 > Part 12
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"(1) An addition to Port Reading school of four rooms at a cost of $15000 and
(2) The purchase of a plot of ground and the erection of a four-room school at Avenel at a cost of $16000. "
On February 26, a number of plots had been offered to the school Trustees by different individuals, all of which were carefully considered, resulting in a motion being carried to accept the proposition of Mr. J. B. Edgar of Lots 19-20 etc. to 25 inclusive on Cedar Street, about 700' West of Avenel Station for $500 and to donate adjoining lots of Avenel Street, numbers 1-6 inclusive.
On March 19, the annual meeting of the voters of the township school district was held according to law and the resolutions of the Board regarding additional school accommodations, together with the appropriations, went through.
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It seems that the Roosevelt Board of Education must have objected to the increased tuition charge for the pupils from their Borough attending the Woodbridge High School for County Superintendent H. Brewster Willis notified the Woodbridge Board that State Super- intendent Calvin Kendall had fixed the tuition charge at $40 for the Roosevelt children attending high school, and $20 for those attending the grammar grades.
The Board of Education was also authorized to re- model No. 9 school house at Port Reading to conform to the State building laws at a cost not to exceed four thousand dollars ($4000).
Some discussion having taken place among the seniora of the high school regarding the substitution of a trip to Washington, D. C. for the usual commencement exercises, a request to the Board to have this done at the expense of the Board was gently but firmly refused.
Up to the 19th of May, the Supervising Principal had been acting as principal of the Barron Avenue School too, but the increase in the high school enrollment and the many demands made on his time by the rapid develop- ment of the other schools of the township, necessitated the severance of the two offices. A motion was now passed that the Teachers' Committee should secure a
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separate principal for the Barron Avenue building. Mr. Arthur C. Sides, Ph. D. was later recommended and appointed to the position at a salary of $1400 per annun.
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The construction of the new school at Avenel had gone on apace. The "Fire House" school and the Six Roads School had been closed, the pupils being directed to report at the new building No. 4 in September. All children below the seventh grade living beyond Lock- wood's Crossing, and who had been attending Woodbridge, were assigned to the Avenel School.
The township schools suffered a severe loss this year in the death of Mr. William Edgar, President of the Board of Education, which occurred December 14. He had been absent from the meetings of the Board since October 20, his chair being filled by Vice-Pres- ident Howard A. Tappen.
By order of the Board, the township schools were closed at 10 A.M. on the day of the funeral.
A petition for local school accommodations was now presented by the Ellendale Terrace (Hopelawa) parents and a committee was appointed to investigate the needs of that section. In November, an offer to build a school house for the Board to lease at Hope- lawn was received from interested contractors and
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power to act in the matter was given the committee.
The rules and regulations committee had been con- sidering a new salary schedule for some time and now reported as follows:
"A minimum annual salary for Primary, Grammar and Special Teachers of $500 and a maximum for the same grades of $900; also a minimum for High School Teachers of $700 and a maximum of $1500. Principals to be rated as High School Teachers. Pro- motions of all teachers to be based on efficiency. "
The report was adopted unanimously.
In 1913, the Ellendale Terrace Committee seems to have leased a building in Hopelawn to be used as a school, for the Board minutes under date January 20, 1913 read as follows:
"Moved and carried that Mrs. Matthews be engaged as janitor of the new Ellendale School at Ellendale Terrace at $10.00 per month from the date of school opening. "
Mrs. Evon Anness was appointed principal at $650 per annum and Miss Rose Galaida assistant at $500. A third-room was added in 1913 and Miss Witherow appointed as teacher.
On February 17, an interesting communication had been received by the Woodbridge Board in the form of a resolution from the Board of Education of Pleasant- ville, New Jersey, and in the light of present agitation regarding the Teachers' Tenure of Office Act is worth
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quoting:
"RESOLUTION.
Whereas, It is the unanimous opinion of the members of the Pleasantville Board of Education that the Tenure of Office Acts applying to the employees of the Board of Education through-out this State are a menace to the progress of our schools; therefore be it
"Resolved, That said Board of Education does hereby express its unqualified op- position to the Acts in their present form and does and will support any bill tending to abolish or amend same acts in such manner as to afford relief from their oppression; that the teachers' committee be made a committee, with power to act, to cooperate with legislators and any other persons or bodies to further the passage of any such bill that may be Introduced in the Legislature; that this Board of Pleasantville approv es and hereby accepts as official the aots of its individual members along these lines."
"The above resolution was passed at the regular meeting of the Pleasantville Board of Education held the fourth day of Feb- ruary 1913. Eight members were present and eight voting in the affirmative. For the benefit of our school system lend us your ald.
Chas. Chattel H. W. McConnell Teachers' T. H. Smith Committee#
As set forth in the resolutions adopted at a special meeting of the Board, December 22, 1913, on the death of Mr. William Edgar, the cause of education in Woodbridge Township had suffered a severe loss. The Board had lost one of its wisest counsellors
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and ablest members, and the schools had lost a true friend -- one who was always willing to sive his time and thought for the uplifting and advancement of educational ideals in the community.
Mr. Edgar had a kindliness of heart and a warm sympathy that had won the respect and love of the teachers as well as the pupils. He was one of the "old school" of Trustees with definite, personal ideas regarding his obligations as a citizen to serve his community to the best of his ability, which he did in the field of work that he came to love so much. As one of the group of men responsible for the erection of the Barron Avenue High School, his name stands with theirs on the commemorative bronze plaque on the walls of that building.
The enrollment in the lower grades at School No. 1 necessitated the transference of the sixth grade fron that school to the high school building which now housed pupils from the sixth to the twelfth grades · inclusive.
Mr. Hampton Cutter was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy for the unexpected term of the late Mir. William Edgar at this, the last meeting of the Board for the year 1913.
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On March 17, 1914, the annual meeting of the legal voters of the school district was held in the Masonic Hall at 3 o'clock to elect four members to the Board and to approve appropriations. As a result of the balloting Mr. Charles A. Campbell, Mr. Maurice P. Dunigan, and Mr. Charles Alexander were elected for three years and Mr. Frank O'Boyle for one year. The following appropriations were approved:
"Building & Rep'g Sch. Houses. $5000 Current Expenses 54000
Manual Training. 1000
Vocational Classes
500
Total $60500"
At the organization of the Board April 6, Mr. H. A. Tappen was unanimously elected President and Mr. Melvin Clum, Vice-President for the ensuing year. On April 27, Miss Hazel Drake was appointed office assistant to the Supervising Principal for the ensuing year at a salary of $500. Miss Mittie
Randolph had previously been part time office assistant but was now regularly appointed as full-time kindergarten assistant.
The Hopelawn building, leased as a school by the Board, had proved unfitted for the purpose, because it was extremely difficult to heat. The enrollment also had increased to such an extent that a Committee of the Board consisting of Mr. Melvin Clum and
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Mr. Charles Alexander was appointed to obtain options on property at Hopelam suitable for a school site. At a meeting of the Board May 4, the committee reported that Mr. Samuel W. Schwartz had offered a plot of land 200 ft. x 200 ft. described on Map of Florida Grove Development.
The report being accepted, it was decided to call a meeting of the voters of the School District for the 26th of Hay for the purpose of authorizing the Board to purchase the Lot and proceed with the erection of a school building. The cost of the lot was not to exceed $1800 and the cost of the schoolhouse, furniture and equipment was not to exceed the sum of $20,200. The money was to be raised by bond issue.
On motion of Mr. W. H. Demarest, seconded by Mr. Alexander, it was also voted to present to the voters at the same meeting the following propositions:
"To erect a four-room brick addition to the Fords No. 7 School and to purchase the necessary furniture and equipment the total cost not to exceed $20,000. The money to be raised by a bond issue. "
When the meeting was held, a total of Al votes was cast, all of the resolutions offered being carried almost unanimously. It is interesting to note how few voters turned out at so many of these meetings to vote on such large amounts of money.
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Either they were apathetic and felt no particular re- sponsibility, because in a vague way payment seemed so far off according to their notions of a bond issue, or perhaps, the school enrollment was increasing so fast all over the township that the voters in one section might need the voters of the other sections to put over a building proposition for them at some future date, which usually resulted in no opposition or a small vote being polled. Whatever it was, the results were sat- isfactory.
On June 15, Mr. Ensign, although not now a regular member of the Board, was elected unanimously to be District Clerk for the coming year.
Although the old Locust Grove school had been abandoned as a public school for some time, the people of the vicinity had continued to use the building as a Sunday school. Fr. John H. Williams, as their representative, offered to expend $300 in repairing the structure, on condition that if the Board of Ed- ucation took possession of it again at the end of one year they would pay $200, if at the end of two years, $100; but if at the end of three years or thereafter free of any obligation. Mr. Williams' offer was ac- cepted unanimously.
The Supervising Principal of Schools had been
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appointed as "Supervisor of Exemption Certificates" at this time, and has served in that capacity ever since.
A short time previously, a new course of study for the High School had been prepared and had received the approval of the State Department of Education. On motion it was now approved by the Board of Education.
The faculty of the High School Department at this time consisted of --
"Arthur C. Sides, Ph. D., Principal Latin, French, Mathematics
Edith A. Whitney
Latin, German
Isaac H. Gilhuly, A. M. Science, Mathematics
Viola E. Dunhan
Commercial Subjects
Edith E. Brander, B. A. English Walden H. McNair, B. S. History Viva M. Playfoot Household Arts
John H. Dockstader Manual Training, Mechanical Drawing Edith Hinsdale Drawing, and Designing
John H. Love, Supervising Principal of Schools"
On August 20, bids were opened at the meeting for the Fords addition and Mr. John C. Fowler was awarded the contract. The contract for the Hopelawn School was awarded to Fred Christensen Contruction Company at the following meeting.
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The Household Arts department of the High School had created so much interest in the town that a request to the Board for the organization of an evening class in Cooking, for the benefit of the older girls of the town not members of the high school was granted unanimously and Miss Viva Playfoot was placed in charge at $3.00 per night.
Another action of the Board at the meeting, October 19 was the appointment of Miss Mary Fee, a graduate of the local high school as a helper to Mirs. E. Anness at the Hopelawn school at a salary of $2.00 per day. Miss Fee, now Mrs. John Duff, is the present principal of the new Hopelawn School No. 10 having charge of thirteen teachers and an enrollment of 506 pupils.
The Public Service Railway Company had been charging ten cents for a one-way trip on the new "Fast Line" road between Port Reading and Sewaren and the Board through its attorney Mr. A. Auten had attempted to have the rate decreased but without avail. Mr. Auten was now directed to take up the matter with the Public Utilities Commission, which he did later, but again was not successful. The cost of transportation of children from Port Reading to Woodbridge School by way of Sewaren was thus much increased.
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Mr. Charles Alexander, a member of the School Board, who had been ill for some time died December 4 and the Board issued an order for all the flags of the Township Schools to be placed half-mast on the day of his funeral. Resolutions of regret were adopted and an engrossed copy sent to the widow.
Although Mr. Alexander had served on the Board only a few years, he had proved himself an active and efficient worker, one whose sole interest as a Board member was the welfare of the township schools.
The death of Mr. Alexander created a vacancy in the Board personnel that was filled by the election December 21 of Mr. E. C. Ensign, who, although the District Clerk, had not been an actual member of the Board since its organization the previous April 6, having been defeated at the annual election in March.
Recognizing the difficulties experienced by teachers in reaching the Hopelawn School through its inaccessibility from the nearest trolley point, the Board arranged for their transportation from a rendezvous in Perth Amboy at an expense of $5.00 per week, to continue until April 1.
In February 1915, Mrs. Evon Anness resigned as principal of the Hopelawn School and Miss Rose Galaida
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was appointed to the vacancy. In the meantime, the erection of the new Hopelawn building was proceeding rapidly, the committee being given power to secure the necessary furnishings and to have a well dug.
The annual meeting of the legal voters of the Township was held March 16 in the Masonic Hall, lower Green Street when Messrs. H. R. Valentine, W. H. Demarest, and E. C. Ensign were elected for three-year terms and Andrew Olesen for a two-year term -- unexpired term of the late Mr. William Edgar.
The following appropriations were carried:
"Building & Rep. Soh. Houses $ 6000 Current Expenses. 53000
Manual Trg. and D. Science 1500
Vocational Classes 500
Total $61000*
On July 19, Mr. M. J. MeCabe was appointed Janitor of the new Hopelawn School at a salary of $55 a month. Action was taken in September regarding night Vocational Schools by the appointment of Mr. John M. Dockstader as teacher of Mechanical Drawing at $3.00 per night, Miss Viva Playfoot teacher of cooking at $3.00 and Miss Alice Sandahl teacher of dressmaking at $3.00 per night, the school to be open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings of each week, commencing October 4.
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The sewing and the cooking classes seemed to be well liked, but there was little demand for the mechanical drawing classes which were discontinued December 21.
The high school tuition fee having been raised from $35 to $75 had been protested by the Roosevelt Board of Education and no payment had been made by them for the high school pupils attending Woodbridge from their school district until October 18 of this year, when President Tappen and Clerk Ensign reported that they had effected a settlement on the basis of $50 per capita.
At the close of the school year 1910-1911 the Roosevelt Board had transferred their high school pupils to the Rahway High School.
On February 4, 1916, the Iselin School was destroyed by fire which was supposed to have started from an over- heated furnace in the basement although this could not be substantiated. It seems that while the children were outside during the afternoon recess, several of them noticed smoke durling up from the basement, around the outside of the building and rushed in to tell the teacher who was seated at her desk. As quickly as possible, the few pupils remaining in the school left the structure, and only just in time, for the fire soon caused the floors to fall into the cellar and in a very few moments the
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destruction was complete. Helpful neighbors and other friends saved the piano and some of the larger pieces of equipment.
Without the loss of a single day of school, classes were commenced in the old church building on the adjacent lot and continued to be held there until the new school, later erected on the foundations of the old, was ready for occupancy.
On the 21st of the month the Board of Education decided that at the next annual meeting of the district voters to be held March 21, at Masonic Hall, resolutions be presented for the erection of a new four-room brick school at Iselin, to replace the one destroyed by fire, the cost of the building, furniture and equipment not to exceed $18000. The vote on the resolutions when presented to the Board at the meeting was 88 for and 1 against. The total appropriations for the year were carried elso --
"Building & Rep. Sch. Houses. 4000
Current Expenses. 59000
Manual Training. 2000
Vocational Classes. 500
Total $65500"
The war-like spirit abroad and the possibility of its spreading to the United States had created a feeling that the country should be prepared for the worst. With this in view, Voluntary Military Training
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was introduced in the high school on action of the Board March 20.
Although the date for opening schools had been fixed for September 5, the prevalence of Infantile Paralysis caused the Board to change the time of opening to October 1, the idea being that cooler weather would cause & decrease in the virulence of the dread disease.
Interest in the World War and the war sufferers led the Board to grant permission to the Supervising Principal to collect money from the school children for relief purposes.
On December 18, the teachers of the township pre- sented a petition to the Board requesting an increase of salary on account of the high cost of living. The request was referred to the Teachers' Committee to decide, subject to the approval of the Board at the next regular meeting.
on February 19, 1917, the last chapter in the his- tory of the eld Six Roads No. 4 School was closed by the action of the Board authorizing its sale to John Melle of Iselin for the sum of $75. The new building near the Pennsylvania R. R. Station, with its later addition now known as Avenel No. 4, replaced the vener-
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able structure and its assistant the "Fire House" School. Let us hope that the modern edifice will serve the children as long and faithfully as old Washington No. 4. On March 20, the annual school election was held in Masonic Hall, Woodbridge, seventy-eight votes being cast for the total appropriations of $71,000, excepting the Vocational Classes which received one negative vote. The "War Fever" was nearing its height at this time, moving the Board to order that the "Star Spangled Banner" be sung by the township scholars every day until further notice and to be sung in the open when practicable.
The high school students under the Supervising Principal and instructors lichair and Meredith had se- cured a number of Krag rifles with contributions from interested citizens, and had been drilling volunteer students as a part of the physical training exercises. Certificates of proficiency in the Manual of Arms were awarded to students earning them under set rules, and commissions, as Second Lieutenant etc., were granted to those meeting the required standards. Great enthus- lasm was manifested in this work.
A Home Defense unit of citizens was organized in April and given the use of the High School gymnasium for drill purposes. A Red Cross Organization was formed also and assigned headquarters in the school
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building.
A motion was passed at the regular Board Meeting April 17 that pupils of the graduating classes receive their diplomas if they enlisted and were called for Army or Navy duty before graduation.
The following month, the Parent Teacher Association of the high school requested permission to organize a lunchroom in the high school which was granted, the Board agreeing to furnish the gas for that purpose.
"War Gardens" had recently been proposed and the sum of $100 was appropriated to purchase garden imple- ments and seeds.
School accommodations were again in demand and a committee previously appointed was directed to report on the price of a plot at the rear of Number 1 School. Two of the high school teachers had neglected to attend the Baccalaureate Sermon to the graduating class, probably for good and sufficient reasons, so the District Clerk was directed to write a letter of censure to then which no doubt was meant as solemn warning to other members of the staff not to neglect what they should consider to be an official duty.
Conservation of food was the watchword at this time and an excellent lecture in the High School by a State representative brought forth the following motion
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at the June meeting of the Board:
"Moved and carried, the lady who spoke on canning in the high school be requested to give another talk. "
The physical imperfections found in so many army recruits were probably the prime cause for the Physical Training Act passed by the legislature this year making physical training compulsory in the public schools of the state. Manuals were rapidly prepared by the State Department of Education and issued to the different school districts.
A change was made in the length of the school day by the local Board in order to meet the new State re- quirements of thirty minutes a day for a new subject.
On October 15, a note was made concerning trans- portation for the Supervising Principal of schools.
From bicycle to buggy for school visitation had been the first stage; and now from buggy to automobile was the next step as per action of the Board in a motion that
"Auto transportation be furnished Supervising Principal, John H. Love when needed in his visits to schools. "
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CHAPTER XIII SUMMARY
County School Board Association met in the new high school.
Demands for additional school accommodations from Port Reading and Avenel were received.
Mr. Arthur C. Sides, Ph. D. was made principal of the high school.
Six Roads school and Fire House school were closed and Avenel No. 4 opened.
Death of Mr. William Edgar, President of Board of Ed- ucation occurred.
Ellendale (Hopelawn) petitions for school accommoda- tions.
A new salary schedule was offered and adopted by the Board.
lirs. Evon Anness was appointed principal of Hopelawn school.
The Board adopts resolutions disapproving of Tenure of Office Act.
Mr. Hampton Cutter was elected to vacancy caused by death of Mr. William Edgar.
Mr. H. A. Tappen elected president of Board of Educa- tion and Mr. Melvin H. Clum, vice-president.
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Meeting of voters called for May 25 to authorize the Board to purchase land and erect a new school at Hopelawn and also to erect a four-room addition to Fords No. 7.
Supervising Principal appointed Supervisor of Exemp- tion Certificates.
New course of study approved by State Department now approved by the Board.
Evening classes in cooking organized.
Public Service Railway Company refuses to reduce trol- ley fare between Port Reading and Sewaren for school child- ren.
Mr. Charles Alexander, member of Board of Education died December 4. Nr. E. C. Ensign, District Clerk, elected to vacancy.
Evening vocational school appointments made. Mr. John Dockstader, mechanical drawing; Miss Viva Playfoot, cooking; Miss Alice Sandhal, dressmaking.
Iselin School destroyed by fire on February 4, 1916. New four-room brick school voted for Iselin, March 21. Vol- untary Military Training commenced in high school.
December 18 the township teachers petition for salary Increase.
Old Washington School No. 4 ( Six Roads) sold for $75. War spirit prevalent throughout the schools.
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Home Defense unit and Red Cross organization given headquarters in high school.
Motion passed April 17 allowing diplomas of gradua- tion to senior boys who enlisted and were called prior to graduation date.
Committee authorized to report on price of land at rear of School No. 1.
Physical training throughout schools made mandatory by legislative enactment.
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