This Day in History: 1940-06-05

County Superintendent of Schools R. R. Zimmermann visited Mahwah Schools Nos. 2, Mahwah, and 5, Darlington. In his report he urged the creation of a kindergarten program in School No. 2. Another year of what he called “progressive work” would give pupils “strength and inspiration” for their other eight years in grammar school. He placed great stress on the value of assembly programs as providing “an enlargement of interest, the development of appreciation, and at least the beginning of group behavior”. He suggested the purchase of “victrola records” each year in both schools to strengthen the appreciation of music and stressed the importance of improvements in the lunch program. He ended his report by commending the teachers and the Supervising Principal Robert C. Fagan for their efforts “to build the foundations of good citizenship” and giving “pupils a bent toward the fulfillment of good useful lives”. (Bristow)