New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-04

shs, there are awsys thoGsaads within the school,
age. who have been withdrawn frem the schools,
as have already said, by their parents, for tho
benefit OF their labor, who hare bean partly -dn-
Gated, and many of ;hem much more thoroughly,
though leaving school at tender age than those who
may have passed the whole time allowed by Lave,
j3 the ordinary Dis,rics Schools of the State.
Oa the whole, therefore. my examinations OF
the Public Schools Of New.York. OF the system,
upon which they are conducted, and the knowlsdse
| have obtained of the results, hsve been most
gratifying and in view CT those results, cannot
refrain from giving you rapid sketch OF the ,ruly
great ard benevolent association, which has pro-
dcced them. The Public School Society was
founded in 1905, for the purpose OF bringing the
means Of Instruction within the reach Of the chill
dren OF Indulgence Their sc, of incorporation was
obtained in April Of that year; and on the 9th of
| May following, the Board of Trustees under the
new charter was elected. under the name Of" srec
| School for the education of children who DO not
belong TO, and NOE provided for, by any reli-
gious society" This Board consisted cf De Wite
Clinton, President; John Murray, Jr. Fice Presi-
dent; Leonard Blseoker, Treasurer; Benjamin D.
! Perkins, Secretary; Gilbert Aspinwall, Thomas
Eddy, Thomas franklin, Matthew Franklin, Adrian
HegeSnan, Wui. Johnsoe, Samuel Miller, Benz. G-
Minturu, and Henry Ten Btoeck. After the lapse
OF nearly a yesr, the FIRST school was opened-e
result the more early accomplished by the Beard
having adopted the econemicsl plan originated By
Joseph Lancaster, in England.
This school was opened in May. During the
succeeding winter, the Sosie,y was enabled TO ex
tend its benefits to the necessitoas, by seasonable
contributions, an increase of members, and liberal
donations In clothing. And so favorable state
ment was it authorised to make to the Legislature
in 1907, that application ia that body for aid,
the generous donation OF 1900 was given for
erecting schoo-honse, besides 5 $1,000 annually
for the support Of the school. Additional aid was
received from the Common Council, BY the graEs
OF suitable building, and $500 to be expended in
its repairs.
Encouraged by this success, the Trustees resolved
on renewing their efforts to extend the benefits OF
the Society. They accordingly applied to tho
Legislature without delay for liberty to alter the
title of the Society, and 10 extend its powers
Their application granted and they were de-
nominated the q Free School of the City of New
York." aad authorized to educate all children who
were proper objects OF gratuitous instruction. At
the same time aid was received from the City Cor
pora,ion, which enabled the Society to prepare
room capable of holding 500 pupils, besides apart
meats for the Board, and for the teachers family
The general interest felt by the citizens on this
occason-of which there WAS sabundantevidence--
was gratifying and encouraging. Al the opening
of this splendid school-house, an address was de-
livered by De Witt Clinton, and soon after the
school was organized.
In 1910, the foe of life membership being raised
by the Legislature TO $50, this, together with q
grant made TO the Society, and the increase of IN
lividual contributions from $1,000 to $4,000, led
the Society to resolve erecting another building
in Henry. street, which was completed in October.
In this building, on the following month, School
No. 2 was opened. During this year additional
aid was received from the Legislature and from
other sources.
On the subject Of religious instruction, the
Board had from the beginning carefully avoided
tie hculcation of any peculiar tenets-a measure
obviously saested from ihn fact thar men OF dit.
ferent religious belief composed that body. They
only insisted that the Holy Scriptures should bs
read daily, at the opening of the Schools. To
meet the wishes of many well-meaning indlVlduais,
the Trustees, yielded to plan, which was pro-
posed, of having the children reccive religious in
structien one afternoon, weekly, from highly re-
,oectabe ladies', out of such catecbisms as were
chosen BY the parents. The necessity of this plan
was afterward obviated by the establishing of Sum
day Schools, to which the pupils were commend
ed for religious instruction.
1t is not necessary for nae to trace minutely the
progress of the Society for several successive
years. Suffice 1t to say, that, from 1913 to 1874,
four more Schools were organized, under the most
favorable auspices, the number of pupils having
increased from DO to upward of 4 GOO, and all
things had thus far exceeded the most sanguine
expectations of those who were laboring with
audable zeal for the diffusion of education among
the ndgsnt classes.
But at this period the Board was forced, by a
due regard its interests, into painful contro-
versy with another participant Of the School Fund.
This was occasioned by an act of the Legislature,
which allowed shars in that fund TO such incor-
poratcd religious Societies, did, or should here
after, support Charity Scholars. Aware of the
evils incident TO such law, and fearing on just
grounds, lest it should lead to perversion OF the
fund.- the Free School Society memorialized for
repeal of this act Their memorial was met by
resolution on the part Of the Legislature requir-
Ing the Superintendent of Common Schools, TO re-
por, in detail the expenditure Of the School money,
and the manner Of its appropriation BY varisus So-
cieties. Subsequently the Free School Society
were led to ask of the Legislature to restrict the
Religious Societies to what was justly deemed tne
obvious design of the Act which secured then par"
tcipalion in the fund. The bill prepared tor this
purpose received the sanction of the City CorPor'
alton, which memoralrzed for its enactment. AZ
the result Of this judicious appeal the Lsgis-
lature, il was enacted that tho portion OF ths
School fund.- drawn for the city of New.Yors should
be left at the disposal Of the Common Couhci,
which was empowered to direct its distribution.
When both the contending parties had been before
the Common Council, it was decided BY that body
that no portion Of the fund should be distributed
to Religious Societies, and an ordinance was intro
duced directing the distribution TO be made to tbs
Free School Society, Tae Mechanics Society, ead
The Trustees OF The African Schools. ihis gave
strength and permanency TO the Free School ooe'-
a,r and ENCOURAGED IL 20 increased efforts, in ex-