The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-17

eets Of egsaon this has bssn strictly
conformeato You will therefore in declin-
should be miiconstrued and the subject to which
your commune alton refers Of vast public importance,
beg your indulgence for statement Of the views to
By frst revised Statutes 81 3D. page l63 section
the Corporation the city Of New York have the power
the societies schools in the city that shall be
entitled to receive share of the Public School money:
and TO the rules and restrictions under
such moneys shall be received by such schools and
societies.
BY section ls4 ofthe same Statute. the Corporation Of
the city Of New York are three years to
sppoin, in each ward of the city one Of
school moneys who shall hold their ONCE for three
years: any vacancy which may occur among such com.
10 to be filed for the unexpred term 81 SUCH
commissioner, by the Common Council.
These commissioners Of school moneys are to divide
those moneys for the city q New York .mO1s such
shall Designate rateaby according to the number
Of children the ages Of four and sixteen years.
These commissioners Of school moneys are compelled
to visit the schools and societies desgnated at least
twice in each year. to make examination Of the schools
and also OF their books and accounts and to the
trustees to make returns to the Common Council and to
the Sups rints ndent of Common Schools.
OF New York (a body responsibls directly to the peo
pie and annually elected by them) hes the full and per-
feet control and management Of the common school edu.
in this city they designate the schools that are
to receive the public moneys they prescribe the rules
and restrictions of such schools and ct any time
withdraw the public money: from any .cs'o OF .Se,sy
or il not worthy Of the confidence reposed In it, II 10
certainly desirable that this power should be retsncd
by the people Of this cy that should not be surren
Tered the State authorities when have ct most but
sixteen members in both branches Of the Legislature
against the immense force Of the other sections Of the
State The exercise Of this power must be acceptable
to citizens and will be most benefcally applied by
Them because the schools immediately under their
observations they detect any defect in them and
their authority IL. Again. II 10
gratifying to the commendable pride and due to the i'm
portance Of this great city, that should retain all 1t:
powers and not voluntarily relnqsish ANY Of Its just
The city Of New York has thus far exhibited entire
capacity to exercise the power thus vested IN nei
of the school moneys among the best this con.
tinent Their scholars in the useful and essential
branches OF English education, will successfully com
tons.
The societies and schools selected by the Common
Council the Public School Society,"" New York
Orphan Asylum" Catholic Orphan Assylumn Half
Orphan Asylum" Institution for the BLIND, Mechsn.
Public scSsoi M:nhs.tsn FRI Free School" Hamilton
Free SCHOOL," and" Colored Orphan Asylum. Theses
societies and schools dstinc from each other and
them subject before stated the supervision and
control Of the people through the Common Council.
Of ID
school that they superior and greatly
So will be admitted BY all who know beth arises from
csties and their managing trustees, arc persons who
from and inclination voluntarily give their at.
tenon to the subject The duty they render plea
while the Trustees in many Of the Common School
Districts give cold and almost unwilling attention to
the duties required Of them this because they are
principally engaged In business pursuits, which,
to them are interesting. siHl 1904 aN
No objection has been made that the schools selected
BY the Common Council do not we'll educate the children
who do attend them. The complaint is that many Of the
children who entitled to the benefits Of the common
school fund and educate whom IL the duty and the In.
Secsu.. Of the feelings which the Of those cI
dren have against the public Institutions This evil
and il il great public evil-shoud be remeded The
only question really 10, ho be remedied with the
least detrment the interests and welfare of the great
ofchildren who do attend and educated by the
present insttutions7 Certsnly not by abridgns the
providing other schools for the children Of such Of our
fellow citizens from any unwilling that their
children shall attend the present schools
clare that sny association Of citizens may organize
school which shall receive raeable proportion OF the
Common School moneys provided such school conform
to the rules and restrictions prescribed by the Common
Council: ng the restrictions it should be provided
that sectaransm order ofreson should be taught
in them.
Such disposition of this question: would retain the
people City and County the control Of the subject
and they, through the Common Council, could at ell
Improvements that might be suggested. The present
Societies and Schools would not be injured and the
children attending them could be brought Into
full participation Of the benefits Of common school
education.
IT. uudsr this organization of public instruction, the
number Of children entitled to participation in the
be desired that TIE number would be the Com
mon Council have power to augment their school fund,
and usefulness Of he existing schools would neither be
destroyed nor in any manner impaired.
Very respectfully. yours.
ROBERT H. NORRIS