"School is a building with four walls - with tomorrow inside." - Lon Watters
This gallery features a handful of vintage photos of school days in New Jersey. Although it includes snapshots of public and parochial school students, I thought it might be interesting to share a timeline of some important actions in public education in New Jersey. (Sources: New Jersey School Boards Association, New Jersey Department of Education)
* In 1855, there were 29 townships with free (public) schools. The State Board of Education was established in 1866; rules for teacher certification were established the following year. Most classes during this time period had 45 to 50 pupils in the room, and some had as many as 72.
* In 1871, the State Legislature passed an act making all of the public schools in New Jersey entirely free. New Jersey became the last state in the nation to abolish rate bills and tuition payments. In 1894, a law was passed requiring districts to pay for textbooks and instructional materials, making public schools truly free.
* In 1900, kindergarten was made part of the public school system.
* It became mandatory in 1907 for each district to provide school facilities for children between the ages of 5 and 20, as many had not yet established high schools.
* New Jersey was the first state in the country, in 1909, to enact a tenure law to govern the hiring and firing of school employees.
* In 1910 a law was adopted mandating special education for children who were judged to be three or more years below "normal."
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
* Spurred on by the low standards of physical fitness observed among entrants to the U.S. Army during World War I, the state passed a law in 1917 establishing physical training for all school pupils except kindergarten students.
* New Jersey's collective bargaining law was amended in 1968 to include employees in the public sector, including school employees.
* In 1985, the State Legislature set the minimum teacher salary at $18,500; the law on the books for decades had set it at $2,500, although it had not been adhered to. Prior to the legislation, the average starting salary for a teacher was $14,900.
Here's a gallery of photos of school days in New Jersey. And also, some links to similar galleries you'll enjoy.
Vintage photos of another school year in N.J.
Vintage photos of returning to school in N.J.
Vintage photos of education in N.J.
Greg Hatala may be reached at greghatalagalleries@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.
