USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Essex county, N.J., illustrated > Part 17
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NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL, COR. WASHINGTON AND LINDEN STREETS.
to her educational institutions, as represented in the schools scattered all over our fair domain and housed in such a manner as to satisfy the most exacting. It was early in the nation's career, when scions cut from the trees of learning which had taken deep root in the rock-bound soil of New England, and which had sprung up from the seed brought across the stormy ocean in the hold of the Mayflower, were planted in the soil of Essex County.
Mrs. Hemans has portrayed the landing at Plymouth Rock of our pilgrim fathers in the language of her beautiful poem, " The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers."
The breaking waves dashed high On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky 'Their giant branches tossed. And the heavy night hung dark, The hills and waters o'er, When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore.
The ocean eagle soared l'rom his nest by the white waves' foam ; And the rocking pines of the forest roared- This was their welcome home.
There were men of hoary hair Amidst the pilgrim band ; Why had they come to wither there, Away from their childhood's land.
There was woman's fearless eye, Lit by her deep love's truth ; There was manhood's brow serenely high, And the fiery heart of youth.
What sought they thus afar ? Bright jewels of the mine ? The wealth of seas, the spoils ot war? They sought a faith's pure shrine !
Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod ; They have left unstained what there they found, Freedom to worship God !
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WILLIAM N. BARRINGER, SUPT. NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
fined to institutions of the same grade. This was made abun- dantly manifest by the grand exhibits made at Chicago at the international exhibition held there in 1893, in commemoration of the four hundredth centennial of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
So far as we are able, no part of the educational interests of Essex shall be permitted to suffer, but the schools shall be all treated alike, and each shall be given its due share of exposition and attention. The beautiful illustrations of the public school buildings which have found place in this volume, show them to compare favorably with any structures, be they of stone, brick or wood, designed for school purposes, to be found anywhere. Since there is no subject which will find a place in this book of nearly so much interest as the public schools, we shall give them the first consideration. The public schools of Essex County, or the free schools, as they are usually termed, are conducted by the State, county and city in combination. The State assuming the prerogative right of looking after the best interests of its
R. D. ARGUE, SEC'Y BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
There is no 'one thing in which all New Englanders take a greater pride than in the glorious fact that it was but six years after the settle- ment of Boston, when Harvard Col- lege, one of the proudest institutions of learning in the United States, was established. So it was with the old first settlers of New Jersey, who not only brought with them their church establishment, with its glorious privilege of worshipping God after the dictates of their own consciences, but they carefully tend- ed the scions, cultivated, watered and tenderly nourished them up into giant educational trees, and all now bearing most delicious fruit.
As we proclaim through the pages of this work, the stupendous fact that the institutions of learning of which Essex County can boast have few equals and no superiors in any PROF. E. O. HOVEY, PRINCIPAL HIGH SCHOOL. county of this State, or any of her sisters, when the comparison is con- citizens, has deemed the education of the masses as of para- mount importance. To carry out its intent to educate the people or to make education free, they placed learning within the reach of all who will but exercise their right to reach out and take it. The State Board of Education or of Public Instruction consists of six members appointed by the Governor, eight members being taken from each of the two leading political parties of the eight congressional districts.
The chief executive officer is known as the State Super- intendent of Public Instruction and has his office in Trenton. The next in executive authority are the County Superintend- ents of the several counties and the City Superintendents of the several cities of the State. The next in order come the city and township Boards of Education, The cities have two com- missioners for each ward and the township boards have cach nine members. The schools have each a principal and a corps of teachers large enough so that, as a rule, not more than forty children or pupils shall make up the class. Education getting
has been so simplified by officials and teachers during the early past that it seems no pupil shall fail to verily gorge himself or herself with the richest of the feast if his or her parents will it and the child desires it.
The introduction into the public school curriculum of the kindergarten for begin- ners. and manual training for advanced pupils in later years, have each done a marvellous work and have given pupils such glorious advantages as will not soon be forgotten. There is little doubt, since they play such a beneficient part in the work of education, but what these branches, which were at first termed inno- vations and had a hard struggle to get a permanent foothold, have came to stay. So beneficiently inclined are the majority of those in charge that provision is made -for children whom circumstances have taken from the schools to become bread
AUG. SCARLETT, PRIN'L SO. 8TIL ST. SCHOOL
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
winners for the family -- in the night schools, which are kept up when the necessity therefor seems to exist or the call is made by enough who are hungering for a taste of the fruit which in these night schools is placed within their reach to warrant the employment of a teacher.
When the writer was County Superintendent of the public schools of Essex County, no more pleasing or more satisfying sight ever came before him than one of these night schools in session. One in particular conducted in the class rooms of the High School building. in Montclair, where the greater propor- tion of the pupils came from the service for which they were employad in the families of the place. Most of them were colored, and quite a percentage had passed the half century line
holding fast to the belief that their secular and religious educa- tion should go hand-in-hand. Even in the Church of England. of which our American Protestant Episcopal Church is an off- shoot, the same idea. to some extent, still prevails, and there are a few who yet think it to be an almost unpardonable sin to see their children come under the influence of the education of the free schools.
A beautiful part of the picture to adorn the pages of this book comes in where we meet the select school and academy. where religious influences have much less to do with the pupils who are entrusted to their care. Among these stand the Newark Academy A beautiful pen picture of the build- ngs in which the pupils are fitted for college, for professional
IRVINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING.
of years. The latter made slow work and fumbled the pencil not a little with their clumsy fingers, stiffened by tou, as they labored to learn the art of writing their own name. While leaning over the shoulder of one whose hair was fast losing its color, he looked up, while a smile played over his face, as he replied to our suggestion that it was pretty slow work. " Yes, yes. massa, pretty slow. But I'm shuah to ketch 'im." And so he dul, as we were afterwards pleased to learn.
While the public school system as carried out in Essex County is very near to the hearts of the people and is to many, indeed, verily "the apple of their eye," there are others again whose love for the parochial school remains unabated. Among the latter are found our Catholic fellow-citizens who dling with loving tenacity to this institution of their fathers.
or business life, is seen on page 107. From the doors of the Newark Academy have gone forth thousands of young men who are adorning the professions and are proud to call Prof. Farrand's academy their alma mater. As well as being one of the best, the Newark Academy is one of the oldest academical schools in the State, as it is the oldest in the County of Essex, having been established in 1792. The academy is situated on the plot of ground on the southeastern corner of High and William Streets, in the city of Newark.
The Board of Education of the city of Newark holds its regular sessions on the last Friday evening of each month, in the chamber of the Common Council, at the City Hall. The Board is officered as follows at this time ( 1897), viz: President, William A. Gay, who presides at all the meetings of the Board;
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
WALTER T. CRANE, SCHOOL COMMISSIONER
Secretary, Robert D. Argue, who has his office in one of the education rooms at the City Hall, where he may be found every day from 8 A. M. to 5 P. M. Mr. Argue seems to be peculiarly well adapted for the place he fills so ad- mirably. He attends all the meetings of the Board of Education and keeps a faithful record of all their proceed- ings. The Assistant Secretary of the Board is Samuel Gaiser, whose duty is to help Mr. Argue bear his burden, The Superintendent of Erection and Repairs is Mr. George W. Reeve.
By a resolution of the Board of Edu- cation the school term of the year has been fixed at forty weeks, the schools opening generally on the first Tuesday of September and continuing till the latter part of June. A week or ten days is termed the short vacation dur- ing the holiday period. During the present school year, beginning Septen- ber, 1896, and ending June, 1897, there has been an attendance of pupils num- that a Brumbaugh
3, N. LEWIS, SCHOOL, COMMISSIONER.
bering, as per roll kept, a little more than 30,000, about equally divided between males and females. In order that the teachers may have the advantages accruing from lectures on educational subjects. Teachers' Institutes are held on the third Saturday of February. April and November, the session ex- tending from 9 A. M. to 12 M., and from 1.30 to 3.30 P. M. Besides these institutes designed and carried on for the special benefit of teachers employed in the city schools, there is the regular County Institute at which all the teachers in the county engaged in teaching in the public schools are expected to attend unless excused by the County Superintendent on pre- senting some good and sufficient reason why they desire such excuse for a non-attendance. These Institutes the teachers usually attend with alacrity, and especially is this the case when men who are thoroughly versed in educational matters and are qualified to instruct in the art of teaching and understand the true principals of pedagogy, are expected to occupy the speaker's platform. But it is not too frequent
R. W. BROWN, SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
can be secured to instruct, edify and please everybody. Not a few cases of sick headache or break bone fever (Grippe) can be trotted out for a spin when an uninteresting speaker is announced.
The High School of the city of Newark marks well up on the educational record of Essex County, and compares most favorably with any other high or academic school in the State. The Newark High School is under the care of Professor E. O. Hovey, a teacher of large experience, and a gentleman of most exemplary character. Professor Ilovey is surrounded by a large corps of assistants who do much to lighten his burdens and add not a little to the success which marks the career of this school. Among this corps of assistants is found Professor Sonn, a veritable Boanerges among teachers, and who will be rememberd for his splendid qualities as a gentleman and scholar, in his efforts to keep the people posted in regard to the meas- urements of heat and cold, the barometrical pressure, the ex- tent of the rain-fall and other scientific reports, sent with his compliments to the people, through the columns of the afternoon papers. Like Professor Hovey, Professor Sonn, is a scholarly gentleman, and the High School pupils are often heard to exclaim, " How could we do without him?" so attached have his pupils become to this excellent teacher of the higher branches of aca- clemic learning. The daily sessions of the High School begin at 9 A. M. and close at 12.15 P. M., and from i to 2.30 P. M. Newark conducts her own normal classes, thus fitting out her own teachers.
The Normal School is under the care of Professor Clark, who, for many years. filled most acceptably the place of princi- pal of the Fifth Ward Grammar School. The High School was opened in its pre- sent quarters at 133 Washington Street on January 7, 1855. and during all these years, forty-two in number, two thousand and eighty five graduates have passed
HENRY P. SCHOLT, SCHOOL COMMISSIONEE
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
from its portals. Of these, 794 were males and 1,29t were females. In this same building is conducted an evening high school, with J. Wilmer Kennedy as principal.
The entire corps of teachers in the High School is made up as follows, viz .: Prof. E. O. Hovey, Principal ; male depart- ment, Profs. G. C. Sonn, A. M., W. C. Sandy, C. S. Thatcher, C. F. Kayser, Ph. D., A. H. Sherman, Frank G, Gilman ; female department, Clara W. Green, Vice- Principal: Eliza Leyden, Ph. M., B. Flora Crane, Ph. M., Millie A. Foster, Mary II. Richards, Natalie Antz, Ella E. Put- nam. A. B., Hannah M. Coult. Marie Buttner, Abbie E. Wiggins, Sarah J. M. Mary, Nellie Hill. High School Annex. girls, 105 Washington Street; Edmund O. Hovey, Ph. D., Principal ; Isador M. Sherman, Sophia E. Von Seyfried. Gene- vieve S. Grork, Elizabeth Harden, Joseph- ene A. Field, August M. H. Beyer ; High CHARLES M. MYERS, SCHOOL COMMISSIONEL. School Annex, boys, 103 Washington possible to come, and it is with much pride that we can say. that it is found in nearly, if not quite all, of our primary schools. The primary schools of the City of Newark alone, number about fifty, and taking the county of Essex as a whole, it would not savor of exaggeration, were the statement made. that the number of primary schools would reach nearly or quite one hundred, and with such care have they been located, that few children are so situated as not to be within easy walking (listance of the school which they are allotted to attend.
DR. I, W. RLAD, SCHOOL. COMMISSIONER. Street, Prof. Hovey, A. M. Ph. D., Principal ; Arthur W. Taylor, William E. Wiener. Theodore B. Haskell, Ph. D., K. S. Blake. Not half the tribute due to the High School branch of our beautiful system of education can we pay, not having the space requisite for the purpose, and now as we approach the primary and grammar departments of the best system of education for the masses ever devised by anyone, it is with deep regret, since we have not the opportunity to deal justly, or as extensively as they so richly deserve. The primary schools scattered all over the county, nearly all of which have the kintergarden attach- ment, giving the little ones opportunity to begin, when the twigs are tender, to give them the bend in the right direction, as in the work of carrying out the old axiom, " Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined," toward which, all teachers are generously inclined, stand with wide open doors and with out- streched arms ready to welcome all comers. No teacher, as we go on in years, is better than experience, and she has taught us that the kintergarden is just as near perfection when our children are just starting out in pursuit of an education, as it is
Especially true is this of the cities of Newark and Orange. and since the new or township law, as it is termed, went into effect, the beneficient arrangement under its wise provisions, which provides that where children are living at inconvenient distances from the schools the State generously provides a fund of money, with which to pay the expense of their transportation to and from the school rooms. Since, in quite a large portion of Essex County, the schools are necessarily located for the edification and comfort of the majority of the children of school age, therefore it must needs be that the minority, while suffer- ing from the disadvantage which dis- tance meets out, must needs be pro- vided with a conveyance to and from the school-room each day of the school year. It is with no slight degree of pride that the people of Essex County can turn to their public school buildlings, as for loca- tion, size, convenience and architectural attractiveness, they compare favorably with the best in the State or nation. Take, for examples, the High Schoo. buildings at East Orange and Montclair -buildings erected at a cost of either of more than one hundred thousand dol- lars. In their heating and ventilation, these buildings are models, while the class-study and recitation rooms and the assembly halls are capacious, and meet the purposes for which they were de- signed by the architects who planned them marvellously well.
As such a large proportion of the child-
STELLAM M FISH, SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
CHARLES E. SANSOM, SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
children of Essex County are compelled by circum- stances to close their school days when the course of study ends with the grammar school, this becomes the all-important in the mind of such as turn off at this point from their school life, and join the great bread winning brigade. While the great majority of the pupils who have finished the gram- mar school course show little reluctance at turning from the school-house door, and with alacrity take up the cudgel of life, seldom, if ever, thinking of the teachers and educators, and not knowing or caring whether there is such a thing as an Alma Mater and hardly, if ever, take a look into the book, there is yet the minority who leave its sacred pre- cincts with tear-bedewed eyes, and who cherish every remembrance associated with their school life, and hold the grammar school diploma as the precious thing of life, and who spend all their jeisure moments in pursuing the educational portion which they failed to reach, ere they, too, step out into the world, determined to use what they had learned, to their best advantage, and add thereto, in ยก their leisure hours, all they possibly can to make themselves manly men.
It was not until 1886 that manual training was introduced into the public school curriculum. Among the many things incorporated therein, few indeed, if any, have proved of greater usefulness, and from which better results have accrued, than that branch of study known as manual training. On its intro- duction each district was left with the power to elect its own course. This course was continued until June, 1892. The State Board of Public Instruction directed the then State Super- intendent of Public Schools, to prepare a course of study for the guidance of those schools which had incorporated manual training into their curricula, or might hereafter incorporate it. While Dr. Poland, the Superintendent, prepared the course with great care, having called to his assistance principals of such schools as had adopted it in their course of study, it was soon found that additions and changes were necessary, and as the Doctor honestly stated in his report, that the course as laid down was merely suggestive, since the course of study pursued "shall be approved by the State Board of Education."
He further said, this approval of the Board was the condition
ST. PATRICK'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, CENTRAL AVENUE,
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77777
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ST. PETER'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, LIVINGSTON STREET.
precedent to the appropriation of any money for manual train- ing purposes. But withal, the Board did not interfere, but gave to each school the widest range and largest latitude to carry out its own wishes, both as to number of manual training branches to be pursued and the amount and kind of instruction to be given. But in the exercise of this large liberty, each school had the good sense to keep close up to the course laid down in order that the purse strings might be easily unloosed when pay day came around Among the schools of Essex County which first caught hold of the manual training innova- tion, as some of those who questioned the propriety of its in- troduction termed it, were Montclair, South Orange, Orange and East Orange, taking precedence in the order named. The following, appeared in the report of the County Superintendent to the State Superintendent of public schools for 1894.
"Again I am able to report progress in these beautiful lines of public instruction. Since my last report, East Orange has joined the ranks of the rapidly swelling army of schools, where the pupils have the wicket-gates to the realities of hfe, and the business of the world thrown open to them. No step backward is the motto in this county. . As yet, Montclair is the only school where I am able to report the school kitchen open to the young misses, where they may take lessons in cooking and baking and good coffee making, but other schools are making ready the little bijou of kitchens where the young misses can wrestle with high art cooking. No one can fully understand the far-reaching bene- fits of teaching along these lines till they come to a full realization of the fact how very few of the children from the common schools have oppor- tunity to further pursue education. The kinder- garten has come to stay. This I am pleased to report."
The love of trees, shrubs, plants, etc., which is springing up and truly nurtured among the pupils of almost every school, which the celebration of Aibor Day is begetting, is a beautiful result and well worth all the attention bestowed. The follow- ing is from our report of the same year - we trust our readers will feel, as we do, its worthiness
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
to hold a place in these pages! " Arbor Day. . 1 growing love for Arbor Day among all the schools is slowly forcing upon the people a realization of how much it means to the country and the work. This is because they are beginning to understand it better. The reports from each principal of the several schools, all of which I sent to your office. show pretty conclusively that the science of Fores- try is being accepted as a living theme."
After a careful reading of the reports of the co- workers in the same official capacity, we find about the same degree of regard exercised toward these new branches of educational work, and especially is this true of the branches mentioned. That there is a true spirit of beneficence arising from the use of calisthenics none can deny who have ever watched the results accruing from a judicious employment of calisthenics as a part of the daily routine of class work in this line. Too much care cannot be exercised in the selection of teachers in this branch of public instruction. The marked difference in the walk and pose of young girls especialy, cannot but be seen by the most casual observer, after a well-conducted course under the instruction and guidance of a teacher versed in the art. Not alone to the calesthenic teacher is the correction of the faults of walk, pose. etc., due, but to the resolute way in which he or she goes about the work of putting his or her bony framework into the positions designed by the great architect, having its begin- nings and endings, points and balances just where each will meet the other in perfected harmony.
We have not the space to pay the tribute due to the many workers in the cause of education in Essex county, but ere we write the word finis, we will touch upon the birth, career and something of the life-work, of one or two which have gained a prominence in the good work, which we trust, will be read with interest. The City Superintendent of the Public Schools of Newark, Dr. William N. Barringer, has written his name high as an educator. Like many of our leading educators, successful business men and statesmen, Dr. Barringer is eminently a self-made man. He was born in the old Empire State and grew up a farmer boy. He was blessed only with the advan-
ST. BENEDICT'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, COR, NIAGARA AND KORMORN STS.
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ST. JOSEPH'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, WALLACE PLACE AND WARREN ST.
tages of the district school, when he tried a term or two in the Troy Academy, where he was fitted for the sophomore class of Union College, but when he was not yet seventeen, a chance to make ten dollars a month and board (around) included, he accepted instead.
This was a valuable experience, and young Barringer took advantage of every line of the same. His love for books grew as he labored earnestly to become a school master indeed, and in three years he had made rapid advances in the higher branches of learning. Teaching seemed to come to young Barringer quite naturally, and he was always ready to help on any movement for the betterment of the science of Pedagogy. He was one of the founders of the National Teachers Association, and the New York State Teachers' Association. For awhile the Doctor studied medicine, showing such proficiency as led his acquaintances to believe that he would make his mark as a physician, but he abandoned all his bright medical promises for a teacher's life. For two years he had charge of two large Troy City Schools. While there he took a course in chemistry and physics in the Troy Polytechnic Institute, and holds to-day a scholar- ship in that noted institution, gained through the help he gave Professor Green in reconstructing the course of study.
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