Public schools, part 5

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

By:
   From F. Dean Storm’s 1965 "History of the Allentown N.J.," the important story of the beginnings of public education in our area.
   Like all school districts in the nation, Upper Freehold has been forced to deal with the largest pupil enrollment in history. This came as a result of the accelerated birth rate at the time of World War II. As early as 1951, the Board knew the Township was in for trouble if new provision not made rapidly for classrooms. A team for four men was appointed to disseminate this information to the taxpayers. They spoke at all public meetings, such as Grange, Lions and church organizations.
   This proved to be the wrong approach, as the people felt their facts were slanted and only turned a deaf ear to their efforts. This was borne out in the election that followed on February 10, 1953 when the proposal for a nine room elementary school with a new cafeteria at the cost of $335,000 was voted down.
   After housing some classes in the Sunday School rooms of two local churches for some time, the taxpayers finally voted to erect a building and in May, 1956 an elementary school was completed and dedicated to Elvey S. Bailey on September 18, 1956. The former Supervising Principal had the foresight to encourage the Board of Education to build an addition to the school in 1936 and saw our school system through the difficult years of the Depression and War years.
   The Bailey Elementary School has ten rooms, two of which are kindergarten which are extra large to meet state requirements of space and facilities. There are also a principal’s office and lavatories, but no cafeteria.
   But shortly afterwards, this important facet of our system was rectified. The gymnasium of the old elementary school and the light court adjacent to it were combined into one room. This became a modern cafeteria and kitchen and at other times was used as an all-purpose room. Before this, the students had eaten in the library at lunch time. This not only caused a crowded situation, but also kept the library from functioning properly.
   An important thing occurred at this time—the standing of our school system—was settled. There had been a move on foot from Mr. Bailey’s time to have the high school accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This is always a great undertaking for a school and involves much extra preliminary work on the part of all the entire school staff, including the Board, administration, and professional and non-professional people. In February, 1958, after a lengthy self-evaluation, the visiting committee of about twelve members representing the Association, spent several days inspecting, studying and analyzing everything. As a result of this, on January 1, 1959 we were put on the accredited list of the Middle States Association.
   From 1956 on, the Board and the thinking citizens of the community were acutely aware of the crying need for a new high school. A Citizens Advisory Committee was formed. They presented to the taxpayers at several highly spirited meetings the needs of the again overcrowded school system. It was hoped they could explain in an unprejudiced way that double sessions, which have always been known to inadequately provide schooling, were at hand if a new high school were not built. Because of our obligation to the sending districts, the Board thought it essential to keep the high school intact as long as possible. Thus, any double sessioning or inconvenience because of rented rooms in the outlying districts, would have to be borne by the grade school group. So, additional space for elementary purposes did have to be rented from Washington and Millstone Townships. This all entailed extra transportation costs which were not reimbursable by the State. And for several years, the Board had to resort to double sessions in the lower elementary grades.
   During this seven-year period, several elections were held to rectify this serious situation. The first attempt was to regionalize with the three sending districts. This met with a disastrous defeat on October 6, 1959. The next attempt was to go it alone as a consolidated district. This, too, was rejected on May 15, 1961. Finally accepted by the voters was the plan to change the present consolidated to a regional which meant an additional third of a million dollars in state aid. This election, December 20, 1962, was agreed to mainly because it was a compromise. The borough people wanted the new school and the township voters wanted a more equitable distribution of the operating costs which the regional setup could assure.
   The name of the school to be built was to be retained as the Allentown High School but the title of the Board of Education was changed to Upper Freehold Regional School District. This positive vote also meant that this school is still on the State approved list of high schools since our situation would be remedied within a year and, likewise, that it is in the accredited group, sanctioned by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
   The new high school was completed and ready for occupancy in September, 1964. All of its facilities have been sorely needed for some time. It has 31 classrooms, an auditorium with seating capacity for 802 people, a double gymnasium with 880 capacity, and cafeteria for 450. The core of the building is large enough for 1200 pupils and at the present time well able to take care of the 770 children. It is all on one floor, has an adequate and well equipped library, and the required number of lavatories and offices. As previously stated, it has cost $1,400,000. Now the buildings completed in 1924, 1930, 1936 and 1956 may be used entirely for kindergarten and the first eight grades.
   The 1964 school now falls into the category of a medium sized (500-1000 pupils) public high school. It is big enough to allow the offering of a large number of courses and most team sports and yet not so large as to make a fairly close relationship between teachers and pupils impossible. Even the reserved or backward pupil does not become "lost’ in this size school and his personality has a chance to become developed. Actually, the students have always had a high respect and wholesome regard for both the teachers and administration. "Good professional ethics in the personnel and the fact that students respect their school and are loyal to it" were observations made by evaluating team of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The school has been conscientious in its efforts to provide the best service possible to the area which it serves. The consistently fine records of the alumni attest to this.
   Upper Freehold Regional School District has done well the task of providing institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge" as James Monroe, one of the Nation’s Founding Fathers, exhorted our forebears to do. Our community is well equipped now to prepare its young people for a tomorrow in which only a knowledgeable citizenry can possible survive.
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, president of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. For information about the historical society, call (609) 259-9127 or send e-mail to [email protected].