History: Free Public High Schools in New Jersey

High schools in New Jersey started in the big cities -- Newark in 1836, and Trenton in 1842. Unfortunately, each local district established its own approach to post-common school education, yielding little agreement on what a high school might teach, or even whether a particular school district wanted to provide education beyond grammar school. Many communities didn't want to pay higher taxes just to fund a "poor man's academy", so little was done outside of the big cities to provide free education past the eighth grade.
The system of free public schools in New Jersey is based on the Free School Law of 1871. About fifty years earlier, the State School Fund had been an effort to help townships educate the poor. Between 1817 and 1871, the state abolished pauper schools, tuition payments, and the funding of sectarian schools and gave us school districts, local superintendents of schools, school boards, state tax education apportionments, and, of course, the beginnings of local school taxes.


In 1905, State Superintendent of Schools Charles J Baxter sent a letter to local school districts, pointing out that they had a constitutional mandate to provide free education to students up to and including the age of eighteen under the Free School Law of 1871. In the letter, Baxter told districts this could be accomplished either by operating a high school within an individual district or by making arrangements with a nearby district to accept their students. Baxter threatened to withhold the state school aid apportionment of any district which failed to comply.

Monmouth County Schools Superintendent John Enright tested eighth grade graduates of Matawan and Raritan townships and found five Matawan twp graduates eligible to study in high school. "These graduates have a high school course to finish before they are graduates from the school. They are simply leaving the grammar school department to undertake the studies of the high school department.The granting of diplomas this time is something new and an incentive for the younger scholars to continue along and work hard to obtain them. This marks the close usually of the ninth year work. Sometimes scholars cannot stay in school after passing from the grammar to the high school department and some of them would be as proud of a diploma obtained in that way as if they had taken the entire course and become full fledged graduates."   (26 May 1898 edition of The Matawan Journal)

County Superintendent Enright gathered the local school boards in December 1907 to explain new state rules on fees charged to sending districts as well as maximum high school tuition and daily attendance charges. (12 Dec 1907 edition of The Matawan Journal)

The Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library has some dated but still useful books on this subject:

• The New Jersey High School: A History, by Robert D Bole and Laurence B Johnson (1964) (974.9 B)
• Elementary Education in New Jersey: A History, by Roscoe L West (1964) (974.9 W)
• Education in New Jersey 1630-1871, by Nelson R Burr (1942)

Steps For Joe

Over 600 people came together today at Matawan Regional High School for a fundraiser to help a student named Joe Ahmed get treatment for Stage IV Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare, aggressive bone cancer.

Marchers walked a circuit from MRHS down Atlantic to Little, across the bridge, then a right on Broad, a walk along the lake, a left on Main at the doughboy in the park, a left on Little and a right on Atlantic back to the school. This water stop got creative with the arrangement of the cups.

The event was organized by Tim Makalinao and Adam Elliott and assisted by officials of the township and borough. CERT assisted with traffic control.

Joe's treatment is experimental and very expensive. You can still donate online at Steps for Joe.

Come to Pancakes in Pink This Sunday Morning at MRHS

Aberdeen Township is running a breakfast fundraiser at Matawan Regional High School this Sunday morning 1 June 2014 from 8 am to 11 am. For a $5.00 donation at the door, Pancakes in Pink will offer pancakes, bacon, sausage, home fries, eggs, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice. Donations will benefit Bayshore Hospital's Pink Fund, which provides mammograms for women with little or no insurance.

By the way, the Pancakes in Pink announcement appears on the recently redesigned township website.  Check it out. Nicely done.

Matawan Man Extracted From Wreck Near High School; Taken by Medivac to RWJ

James R Burlew IV was flown by helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after his vehicle went off the road about 3 am today near Matawan Regional High School, where it struck a utility pole, according to an article in The Asbury Park Press. The 21-year-old local man had to be extracted from his Subaru Forester by area fire and rescue personnel. Aberdeen PD is investigating the incident.

History - Strathmore Jewish Center Becomes Temple Beth Ahm (1964)

The 24 Dec 1964 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 11 col 4) announced that the Strathmore-at-Matawan Jewish Center* had just changed its name to Temple Beth Ahm, House of the People. The temple, the only conservative congregation between Red Bank and South Amboy, hoped the less geographically specific name would draw members from a broader region.

The temple had 183 members and its school 125 students at the time of this article's publication. The congregation had purchased a home for its spiritual leader, Rabbi Morris L Rubenstein, at 73 Idlewild Lane in Strathmore.

* Strathmore-at-Matawan was an early name for the Strathmore section of what is now Aberdeen Township, so the center was alternately referred to as the Strathmore, Matawan, and the Strathmore-at-Matawan Jewish Center.

A few earlier mentions of this and other Hebrew congregations in the Journal:

The 10 Dec 1964 edition of The Matawan Journal announced that the Strathmore-at-Matawan Jewish Center would be holding worship services on 18 December at Matawan Regional High School.

The 24 Oct 1963 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 5 col 7) said a meeting of the Strathmore Jewish Center would be held that evening at the Matawan Township First Aid Squad building at Prospect Avenue and Amboy Road in Cliffwood. Martin Cooper, president of the congregation, urged all members to attend to discuss the Temple's future plans.

The 14 Sep 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 10 cols 2-3) included a photograph of the synagogue of the United Hebrew Congregation of Keyport.

The 11 May 1889 edition of The Matawan Journal said the First Baptist Church of Newark was meeting in the local Jewish synagogue while the Baptist's edifice was being completed.

The 28 Jul 1888 edition of The Matawan Journal announced the dedication of the House of Miriam Jewish synagogue in Long Branch.

Matawan Faculty Take on Harlem Wizards Wednesday

The Matawan Regional High School junior class and basketball team have joined forces to host The Harlem Wizards for a fun-filled match against the faculty on Wednesday 3 April 2013 starting at 6 pm at the high school. General admission is $15 ($12 advance sale) or $12 for students and senior citizens ($10 advance sale). Come out and support the school and enjoy some great entertainment basketball.

Update: This event has been cancelled. The school hopes to reschedule.

Matawan Boys Track Wins Group 2 Championships

Congratulations to the Matawan Regional High School boys track team for winning first place at the NJSIAA Group 2 Championships in Toms River on Friday. They edged out Rahway, which had won the event the previous two years. Matawan won its first state relay last month. See NJ.com for details.

Eleanor Van Brakle, Teacher (1869 - 1956)

Public School, Matawan, NJ

I purchased a post card this week of the old Matawan High School on Broad Street. The image is of the building before the 1908 addition, suggesting that the photo was taken between 1895, when the building was built, and 1908. You can see an image of the building in 1909, after the addition was constructed, in Around Matawan and Aberdeen, by Helen Henderson, pg 118.

The post card was addressed to an Eleanor Van Brackle of Keyport. Someone named Mary, perhaps her student or a fellow teacher, thanked Ms Van Brackle for the "postal" (post card or letter) and "the lessons you sent". The card is postmarked October at Keyport, but the precise date and year are illegible.

I found the following about Eleanor in the census and local newspapers:

The 1870 Federal Census showed Ella Van Brackle (2) in the Matawan household of her parents, Thos E (34) and Elizabeth (30) Van Brackle. Thomas was a farmer. Also in the household were Ella's elder brother Frank Van Brackle (4), (her uncle?) George Van Brackle (28), and (her grandmother?) Ann Van Brackle (60).  Note: Thomas and Elizabeth had another son named Frank born about 1863 who died 18 Dec 1864 in Matawan.

The 1880 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brackel, age 11, daughter of Thomas (44) and Elizabeth (39) Van Brackel. Thomas listed no occupation. The family was living on Broadway in Raritan. Eleanor's siblings were Franck (14), Mary (8), Fred (7), and Thomas (2). Note: Son Fred was born 22 Sep 1872 in Matawan.

The 1900 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brakle born Aug 1869 in New Jersey. She was living with her parents, Thomas (Dec 1835 NJ) and Elizabeth (Nov 1840 NJ) Van Brakle, and sibling Frank Van Brakle (Feb 1868 NJ), in Raritan. Her parents had been married 39 years and her mother had four surviving children from among the six she'd borne.

The 1910 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brakle, age 40, born in New Jersey to NJ parents, single, living on Warren Street in Keyport. Her occupation was listed as teacher, high school.

The 1920 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brakle, age 51 NJ, as vice principal in a high school. She was living on Holmdel Turnpike in Holmdel and was listed as the sister-in-law of the head of household Charles I Young (50 NJ) and his wife, Mary (48 NJ). Charles owned a farm.

The 1930 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brakle, age 61 NJ, as a teacher at a school. She was born in Matawan to parents born in Holmdel. She was still living with Charles and Mary. Note that Mary was also born in Matawan to Holmdel parents and is very likely Eleanor's sister.

The 19 Jun 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 3 col 3) contained a society piece saying that Donald Van Brackle, of Crown Point, NY, was visiting his aunt Eleanor Van Brackle to attend a class reunion at Rutgers University.

The 1940 Federal Census showed Eleanor Van Brakle, age 71 NJ, living at 138 Main Street in Keyport. She was not employed and was not seeking employment.

The 27 Feb 1941 edition of The Red Bank Register (pg 23 col 4) said that Eleanor Van Brakle was elected to the board of trustees of the Keyport Free Library in the position of treasurer.

The 3 May 1945 edition of The Red Bank Register (pg 20 col 3) said that Eleanor Van Brakle was re-elected secretary of the missionary society at the First Baptist Church in Keyport.

The 18 Sep 1947 edition of The Red Bank Register (pg 17 col 4) said Eleanor Van Brakle attended a meeting of the Women's League of the First Baptist Church of Keyport.

Eleanor Van Brakle (2 Aug 1869 - 2 Oct 1956) is buried at Green Grove Cemetery in Keyport, according to Distant Cousin. (Image of her gravestone)

The First Baptist Church of Keyport had an Eleanor Van Brakle Girls' Guild, according to the 19 May 1960 edition of The Matawan Journal.

2012 Marching Huskies Have Winning Season

The Matawan Regional High School Marching Huskies did so well this year in marching band competition that they qualified to attend the Tournament of Bands 2012 Atlantic Coast Championships at Hershey Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the impact of Hurricane Sandy on our community kept the band from participating in those early November championships. Just another local victim of the storm.

On the bright side, congratulations to Livingston High School, which was able to compete and took the prize. And I recently heard that the Marching Huskies held a special performance of their championship show for parents and friends. Nicely done.

Aberdeen Day 2012 - Sat 22 Sept, Noon to 4 pm at MRHS

Plan to attend Aberdeen Day. It will be held this Saturday from noon to 4 pm at Matawan Regional High School, which for newcomers is situated on Atlantic Avenue between the train station and Church Street/Bethany Road. Matawan-Aberdeen Patch wrote an article about the event back in August.

Bring the kids. Get something to eat. Check out the vendors and social organizations. Salute the troops. Meet a politician. See your neighbors. Celebrate Aberdeen, New Jersey!

Huskies Boham Takes 1st Place in Triple Jump at South Plainfield

Congratulations to Matawan Regional High School girls track's Gaynelle Boham, who took first place in the triple jump in NJSIAA Group 2 championship competition at South Plainfield on Saturday 2 June 2012. Ms Boham achieved a distance of 38' 10.5". (Source: nj.com)

Matawan Boys Track Wins at 2012 Rebel Relays

The Matawan Huskies boys track team won the Division I title at the Rebel Relays in Howell on Saturday, according to APP.

Jeanne Ann (Dzwil) Jackson, MRHS Graduate, Dead at 53

Matawan Regional High School graduate Jeanne Ann (Dzwil) Jackson, of Bridgeton, died of cancer on Sunday at the age of 53, according to a 27 Mar 2012 online article at The Daily Journal, which covers Vineland, Millville, and Greater Cumberland County. She served the City of Bridgeton for the past 17 years, most recently as director of economic development.

The deceased's mother, Shirley Dzwil, lives in Matawan.  I  wrote a blog article earlier this month about the death of Joseph Dzwil, who was very likely the brother of the deceased's late father, Stanley Dzwil.

Condolences to the deceased's family and many friends.

History: Girls Soccer Begins at Matawan High School (1930)

1930 Florida State Girls Soccer Team (Flapper Girl)

I stumbled upon this article (below) from the 17 Oct 1930 edition of The Matawan Journal marking the beginning of girls soccer at what was then Matawan High School. No doubt the school board saw no harm in letting girls play this odd European sport in gym class since it was so cheap. Give 'em a ball and let them have at it.

The newspaper, on the other hand, seems to have seen soccer's prospects as a (boys) varsity sport before the school did, as the paper compared soccer's cost to that of football and hockey. No telling if either the school or the paper expected it to become a girls varsity sport. Girls were already playing in college. (see photo above from Florida State's 1930 yearbook.)

Ah, Title IX! So important to girls sports. I have my doubts that MRHS complies, given how much they spend on football, but the situation is much better than it was 80+ years ago. Baby steps, I guess.

MATAWAN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS PLAYING SOCCER

The girls of Matawan High School are getting much enjoyment and physical activity out of a new game, soccer. Soccer is a very active, healthful and interesting game, and the girls are rapidly learning the rules and technique in their physical education classes and in practice after school hours. It is hoped that soon, soccer may become a varsity sport with some keen competition between the high schools of our area. Soccer is less expensive than hockey or football and affords activity for twice as many as basketball.

APP Sports Highlights MRHS Girls Soccer Coach Ken McCabe

The Asbury Park Press has highlighted Ken McCabe, Matawan Regional High School's girls soccer coach, as one of the region's stars.

Huskies Football: The Next Act Should Be Contrition

In a recent opinion piece, The Newark Star-Ledger's Steve Politi contrasted the polar responses of the Wayne Hills and Matawan-Aberdeen communities to the Bad Boys behavior recently displayed by members of their football teams.  He criticized Wayne Hills and applauded Mat-Ab for their approaches to the discipline dilemma. "In Matawan, they’ve taught their teenagers that there are consequences when rules are broken, and that protecting the integrity of an institution is far more important than hanging a silly banner on the gymnasium wall. What, exactly, were they teaching in Wayne Hills?"

North Jersey complained about the Wayne Hills approach over a week ago, saying, "[The Wayne Hills football coach] fought to have [his team] play in the run-up to the big game, making an emotional appeal at a recent board meeting to which he brought 60 uniformed players. It was then that the board stayed the decision of its own superintendent and let the accused play. Town and school leaders were largely silent during the ensuing controversy. Many of the coach’s fans in town rallied around the team, but the incident drew a raft of negative comments and media attention from around the country as Wayne became a local touchstone for a national conversation on the culture of football at schools."

The Matawan players' misbehavior was only recently revealed by the Manasquan Police to have been a bit more criminal and little less silly than Coach Martucci had been letting on. After all, breaking into student lockers and stealing things at a host school isn't aggravated assault, but it isn't filling a favorite teacher's car with bubble gum either.

So congratulations to our local school district for disciplining those players and to the public for its toleration of their actions. But to borrow Mr Politi's question, I must ask "What are we teaching here?" This can't be the end of the story. Missing some footballs games should only be the beginning of the Matawan players' penance given their sins. After all, theirs was an act of contempt for authority, different only in degree from the demonstration of hostility towards the Aberdeen Police by a menacing group of MRHS students that occurred back in October. Let's hope MARSD has concrete plans for a more direct response by those involved. Perhaps compulsory community service next summer in Manasquan would express adequate contrition?

Huskies Doing Great - Fall 2011

Matawan Regional High School has been very competitive this fall. The Lady Huskies won sectionals in soccer for the first time ever, according to Freehold Patch, and came really close to advancing to the state championships. The Marching Huskies came in third in Tournament of Bands competition at Hershey. And the Huskies football team just beat the Manasquan Warriors in the Central Jersey Group II semifinals, according to The Mat-Ab Patch, which has a lengthy article with photos and statistics.

Graduates from Matawan have gone on to do well in college as well. Native Robin Anderson is a freshman on the UCLA tennis team. The Daily Bruin recently posted an article and great photo identifying Robin and a teammate as Double Trouble after their victorious first doubles match for the Bruins. And Kyle Hardy is a sophomore playing football at C W Post on Long Island. Kyle is a successful wide receiver who is studying criminal justice, according to the Pioneers' website. Kyle caught a 38 yard touchdown pass on 5 November 2011 to put the Pioneers on top at the half against Cheyney and ultimately win the game that week. And there's Brandyn Curry, a junior point guard for the Harvard Crimson. Brandyn was a rising star in football, basketball and baseball at Matawan, according to the Crimson website, but his parents' divorce prompted a sudden move to North Carolina before he could achieve a quarterback and/or point guard position for the Huskies. But he did well at his new school and recruiters came a-knocking.

Congratulations to Huskies everywhere.

MRHS Marching Band Comes in 3rd at Hershey Stadium

Matawan Regional High School's marching band came in third in the 2011 Atlantic Coast Group 2 Competition at Hershey Park Stadium on Sunday evening, according to the Tournament of Bands. Congratulations!

Matawan High School Graduate Engaged on Treasure Coast

A Matawan Regional High School graduate from the Class of 2002, now living in Port St Lucie, Florida, is engaged to wed, according to TC Palm.

MARSD Superintendent Names His Representative to Library Board

MRHS Library Media Center

Zach Gross, the Librarian at Matawan Regional High School (MRHS), has been named by MARSD Superintendent David Healy to represent the school district on the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library's Board of Trustees, according to MAPL Director Kimberly Paone's blog and the library's new online roster of library board members.

Mr Gross fills the vacancy left by longtime board member Kathleen Eovino, his predecessor at the school as well. He received his masters in library and information sciences from Rutgers University in 2010 and has just completed his first year at MRHS. His first board meeting will be on 13 July 2011.