Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-02

Ma. HERALD
In your remarks on this troublesome question last
week, I observed two prem insnt mistakes in rea.
ton 20 the number of schools, and the source from
which the funds are raised. Iou observe that
" there are eighty-six schools connected with the
Public School Society Of this city, and sixteen 9th.
free public schools not connected with the So
ciety in any way" Now, sir, IL you add these two
numhers together, you will have the exact number
Of schools and departments Of schools, Of all kinds
belonging to this society. There sixteen large
buildings known as the Public Schools, IN most Of
which there are three departments-one for prima-
ries small children, one for girls and another Tor
boys. All the rest are known as public primary
schools. and schools for coorcd children sp,ountins
to 56in number; which, added othe ~ departments
Of the rs large schools make up the total Of ~
schools.
the hands Of the school commissioners, more than
three ifths or that sum is raised by direct tax Of
iahtieths OF one per cent. on city property
The balance comes from the state.
In relation to the somewh hat compl ated hine.
~ OF this Public School Society, the public press
well o. the public in general, have but little eur
rent knowledge. Indeed, this 10 not TO be much
wondered at when Is well known that many Of the
Trustees OF the society are extremely ignorant about
the ramiGcations Of the concern. A few Quakers,
having wovmed themselves intc supreme power, di-
rect ts entire operations, while Observation-Disclosures
eths Of the trustees mere instruments or "look-
ers on 10 Venice" You may here find Metternieh
and Talleyrand, who, IN proportion TO the sphere
in which they act, are not inferior IN legislative
shrewdness In welding the deshnies OF the schools,
to their renowned prototypes, who once silently
swayed the destinss Of Europe. Their doctrine 10
law inssmuch the society may be said 10 ruled
ky an oligarchy. While most Of the trustees have
looked passvely on, others have complained Of this
monopoly Of power; while others again, who would
not submit to their dctatior, and despairng Of cir
cumseribins their power, have resigned their seats
in the Board. snee head one Of these male con.
tents observe with great feeling OF ndiguation,
"That we might as well have only three or four
trustees, as these few do every thng'ip their own
wav finally Whatever the wishes of the others NAV
be0 who the three or four were 10 whom he alln.
ded was well understood.
The government CT this public schools corpora
ton is ostensby rcpnblicas, but in fact eonsclda.
ted The whole body Of trustees, now about nisetv
IN number a2portioned among the schools 10 VIZ
sit them and supervise their operations The nun.
Der set once each school Is called section which
is organized once year. by choosing its own chair
mas and secretary. They keep record Of their
proceedings ard are intrusted with certain powers
which seem 10 he more nominal than real; as they
are completely controlled bya central or olisarchs
power, who dictate, reverse, nulify, and con Tenn
AZ pleasure. The sections are thas mere men of
straw. Men Of spirit cannot eRdure this, and they