The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-23


the Legislature Of This State, is that which affects
the present state OF the public school system. We
consider il next In importance to the subject OF
State credit and such, deserving of the earnest
and calm attention OF every good member of soci-
ETY..
That some alteration is required in the present
system is conceded, believe by all but bigos, and
those who never keep pace with the improvements
of the age. The strong opposition which has been
made by the present trustees of the public schools
In this city to any change,-ro any Improvement, =
has caused divisions and schisms in several portions
Of society which before presented solid phaanx,
and which ought he yer to be allowed to extend (;
but should be healed and closed soon possible.
OF the importance of sound system OF public in
s,ruc,on to this city would be folly now to speak.
The point in contention is, shall it be universal
system or moi 7 Shall ii be plan capable of uni.
versa application. only partial in its operation
This subject has continually engaged the time, al
ieniion and talents of the members of our legisa.
iare, and may as we'll be put at rest now and for
ever. ltU ic RI
Although we do not concede that the mode OF es.
timating the relative attendance OF children in the
common schools of our State, the city and country
schools has bee fairly es,imated still no one can
deny that large number are kept from attending
the public schools in this city, who would attend and
derive beneficial instruction therefrom, if there
was but a slight alteration in the system. All this
is bad,-the evil is increasing daily-chi dren are
either excluded, or else voluntarily exclude them
selves from participating in those benefits, which
the liberay of the State provides for all. To this
must be added an additional expense incurred by
the present school system IN our city, by which it
appears tina. it costs three times much per annum
10 educate child in this city as it does to educate
one at country public school.
OF this we have abundant proof in the following
calcua tions -
The whole number Of children in the state, lex.
elusive of the city of New York } between the ages
Of five and sixteen, s $50 347; and OF that NUMBER
562 1913, being more than, ninety SIX hundredths, At
tend the common schools while in the city of New
York, out of the number Of s., 81 children between
tne same ages, the whole number reported by the
conn ssioners OF the CITY as attending the schools,
only Al ,3S5 being less than sixty -hundredths OF
the number although the share OF common school
moneys distributed by The state, and expended in
the city, amounting TO 35 4l5 TO- was equally large
In proportion with that expended In the other
counties of the state But in addition 10 that SUN,
an equal amount OF S35, Ais 10. together with the
additional sum of $50 600, was raised by the COM
mon council, swelling the total amount entrusted
with the Public School Society, for the purpose of
education, IN one year, to the sum OF Sl30, $50 20
while the whole sum expended IN all the rest tf Inc
state and by means of which 562, 1913 scholars are
taught is only 1851 Sos IS making the expense in
the city of New York more than Ss3 10 for the In
struclion Of each scholar, while in the other parts OF
the state it is less than 81 o. for each scholar. In
other words, the expense OF instruction under the
public school system in New York, is more than
three times the expense OF instruction under the dis
trict school system The comparison between the
number of children attending school in the country
and the city, still more favorable TO the former, II
the supposltion OF the acting Superintendent Of Com
mon Schools be correct. There are, he says, upon
an average, about SIS children instructed in each OF
the districts reporting; and assuming an equal ave-
rage number to be under instruction III eacn OF the
2S9 districts from which no reports have been re-
ceivcd, the aggregate number ii children, between
Fl and sixteen, exclusive OF the city OF New York,
not taught in any district school, would amount TO
only about 5000.
These are but few Of the evils which it is in the
power of the Legislature to remedy; and which, by
the recent unanimous report ofthe Committee, pre-.
sened by MIR. Maclay, they seem determined TO do
They appear to have approached the subject calmly
and cautiously, determined to infct injury to the
system, but 10 correct its existing evils, as prevail
ing in the city OF New York, and 10 extend the bsne
fits of the system by every available means.
Every one has long since seen the folly Of suffer-
ing the public schools te.depend for support upon
voluntary contributions for, wherever this plan
prevails, deplorable ignorance among the rising
generation also prevails and therefore it is, that in
III and other northern states that the people through
their legislature, determined that the Public School
Society should be sustained by money Obtained
from the Common School Fund, and by taxes upon
the people, which are cheeriuly paid. o
Uucer all these circumstances, it becomes mat
Ter of great portsnce for TO consider whether
Il. L. a IL. l.o.~ .I,.,,.
OF this money, shall be virtually under the control OF
close corporation or not. Fifty trustees, who may
double their number, control the whole matter from
year to year; they are chosen by he members Of
the School Society only ten dollars makes mau
a member Tor life and the Society is therefore, for
all practical purpose, close and perpetual rpo
ration, not smenable to any body whatever, having
sole control ofhe whole system Of public education
in New York, and the disbursement Of nine. ,enths
Of all the money raised Tor this purpose
Now the question is, there be an improve
ment upon thisl There can. The next th.nr ia
shall we 90 on till the end of time under the old
system, or shall we make some imprsyem .nts
thereinl We ought to do the latter. That the
present plants Unsatisfactory to very large num-
Der of persons is evident, from the fact that for
the las. Is years. the trustees OF the Public Schools
in this city have had to fight and contend against
the discomfort and objections, and struggles for
Improvement made by several thousands Of our
fellow citizens. To the evils Of the system must
we also attribute the fact Of many thousand
children being seen upon our docks, wharves, &c,
and running I'D through our streets, and growing
up in idleness and dissipation
Where, theo, is the remedyl The Legislature
consider. AMI with much show of reason, that tt,
evil began with departure from the equal systs N
o. common school education which prevails q
every other par, Of the State and they recomn er
that the SYSTEM as it prevails in the interior shall
be extended to this city. And ;his is their ri,
They propose that ",here shall be elected N