The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-31

| the Superintendent of Common Schools. We are
furnished with many interesting details respecting
these invaluable institutions. The number OF chill
dren who have attended the schools during the year
repored,exclusve of those in the city of New York.
was 0u,lO-the number attendance in New
fork Is reported as q, 6l9-makng a total of $685.
Jay The average length of time during which the
schools have been taught in the several districts was
eight months Nrrrr
The beneficial effects of the establishment of the
district Libraries spoken of in enthusiastic terms
| Nearly two hundred thousand volumes have been
added during the last year, and the whole number at
present in the libraries is 6l5 2Sl. Great care is
exercised respecting the exclusion of imoperworks
| and very few volumes whose tendency is even equ-
| vocal, have been admitted. Grateful mention is
made in the report to the munifcent donation of an
excellent work, entitled "The School and the
| Schoolmaster," which has been recently made TO
each OF the district libraries in the State by James
Wadsworth, Esq, from the influence of which, in
the dissemination of sound principles and practical
| knowledge on the interesting subject of elementary
| instruction, much good may be confidently antici-
pated There can, indeed, be no doubt that the sys
TEN OF district Libraries has been emine nty success
full, and that in the words of the report it has contr
buted more efficiently TO the spread of useful know
ledge than any other step that has ever been taken
by the State In the great cause OF public instruction
| MIR. Young refers with much feeling to the cal
lousness manifested in many districts, with respect
| to the dapldated condition of the school.houses
| great number Dare represented as beng in a most
rulnous state, and quite destitute of proper accom-
modatons for the pupils Many of them consist Of
a single apartment only, and have proper build
ings attached to them. " The dlapidated build
| lngs-destitute of the ordinary conUeniencies and
decences of lfe-the unhung doors, broken sashes
absent panes, stilted benches, gaping wallis yawn-
| ing roofs, and muddy foors," are described and
excite the most painful feelings in behalf of the poor
children who are obliged to spend so many hours
in such comfortless and unwholesome huts The
proper remedy for all those evils is the appointment
of properly qualified deputy-superintendents men
who have sufficient talent and information to under
stand the nature of their duties, and sufficient hon.
esty to discharge them with fidelity.
There is one topic, adverted to in tie report, of
greatimportance;an one which cannot be TOO forci
bly, pressed on public atention-that is the general
establishment of normal schools, and reasonable
increase in the remuneration of the teachers. With
great truth Mr.. Young observes" That educa-
tiona science is far behind all others, is fact re-
cognlzed and conceded by all who are competent TO
Judge. On any other science vast amount of Skill
ingenuity and perseverance has been expended to
bring them to their present degree Of perfection !;
whilst this, the most important ofall, has been
fined to dull routine, or left to the caprice of ac-
cdent." 1t is utterly preposerous to expect that
man can successfully teach others, who is himself
altogether ignorant of the science Of teaching. In
order to be qualified for entrance on the duties
| OF other professions, men are obliged to undergo
some sort of preparatory training, but the teacher is
supposed to have ntuitve sagacity, skill, and
judgment, which enable him to discharge the most
important duties of his office with efficiency and
success The first great step in the amelioration of
human society, will be the adoption of such means
as will secure large number of competent and in
structed teachers Let the profession Of the teacher
be thus elevated to Its appropriate dignity let teach
| ers be made worthy of the name, and let them re-
ceive an adequate compensation, and we will soon
have another state Of things. But long as teach
ers are paid the wages Of boot blacks and footmen
and have about the same scientific and literary at
tanments as those useful members of society," we
cannot expect that youth will be particularly dis
| tnguished by high degree of moral and inteec-
| tual culture.
Court MARITAL IN PHILApKfpH1A-The Court
Martial on Lieut. Tansil closed last Saturday The
evidence has made some singular developments re-
ative to the discipline and conduct of the navy in
| the Florida The following is portion given
| last Friday
Mr. MAouRE-some of the conduct of the officers on
Indian Key was very rowdy and very disorderly. The
ton and drunkenness; this Christmas ls4l the Ii.
qnor was obtained principally from Mr.. Centers store.
ried by an in the Of Cener) Dr. Hastings gave
the men PEI mission to get much liquor they wanted
logging to the extent practced necessary think
was evil; Dr. Hastings on the Key on Christmas
night and the sick list think Lieut. Sloan was
asonot certain there might have been portion Of the
squadron at the Key that night dent number
Of officers in the squadron; Lieut. Mclaughlin the
only purser recognized at Indian Kew; have been in
any way employed as assistant counse aid to Lieut..
Tansill in preparing testimony for him; lawyer;
have attended the the earnest solicitation OF
Lieut. Tansll, serious both time and money!
have had conversations with Lieut. Tansill about this
from nv own Inowedqe ad No, on snv
enc az acting purser, except Lieut. Mclaughlin; he had
SAMUEL T. R,vs. cailsd-six men were rel. punished at
Cape sabe-6ve were marines the other quarter gun
zen the quarter gunner receiv ed three and half dozen
il was inflicted at one time, and there court
punished by order of Mclaughlin he received one do
zen ashes the character of the punished Cape Sa-
BILE was good SO far as knew, Lieut. Rodgers was in
command at the timehe senior offcer present. l saw
Midshpman Geo. Rodgers punish men with the cats
to the best of my knowledge Mdshipmsn Rodgers was
fifteen years. Sergeant of Marines Master at Arms
the punishment in Florida greater than saw in
the service; have sailed in a dozen more ships.
| THE FREMEN's BALL, AT THE PARK, LAST NIGHT
was one of the most splendid affairs seen in this
city since the Boz Ball. The entire decorations
were OF the most gorgeous description, and IN the
beststaste The stage part Of the theatre presented
PRECISELY the same appearance as on the occasion
OF the Boz Ball, and the figure of Mr.. Pickwick on
the curtain which concealed the tableaux, stood out
In as bold relief as ever. Nay, his benevolent coun
'enance seemed to beam with added complacency,
and did not'a all appear out of keeping With the
appropriate emblems of the joyous scene which
were tastefuly arranged around
The pillars in front of the dress circle were elegant