New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-04
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.
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calculated 10 foster proper sp't'' -
;ndeoendence among the nnIddhng a'u r.. 10
ses. Accordingly petition "a' Sc oA ~ =
The citizens asking for tax TO the amount Vi rH
Iii a, dollar OF assessed CITY property. his
aI.n v.s formally adopted by the Common Coun,
r, ,,h;ch memoralized for the tax in reduced
s,r,o of oae.eightielh Of one per cent. Ihs tne-
mortal was accepted by the Legislature, ana an
Ac, passed in conformity thereto. be ala oe-
riysd from this source enabled the Society TO en-
large their operations, and go on rearing @cn'o,
houses though 1t did not permit them 10 do Oh
which they saw 20 be necessary. ~
While thus laAoring With commendaoie Puohc
,,;r;, the Society beard with deep regret of Pc
,i,;o. from lhe Roman Catholic Benevolent Socie-
=, conducting tne Orphan Asylum in Prince St tor
..r,icinaton in the School fund. Against this
~ Tr,.,ee. nj the Public School Society renon
,ra,ed on the obvious ground that the Asylum did
mt cooe ,,oder the character Of Common School,
!, bejnr in point of fact Sectarlan or Chutch
School, nad therefore however interesting kino
of Charity, yet not entitled 10 receive any PoIton
Of the fund. That Asylum was, Notwithstanding
admitted TO share in the fund no sooner nau
this petition been granted than the Methodist hP''
copal Church pe,itioned that they might also sra"
from the School Fund for such destitute ana or
phan children as educated in their ohurcn
Schools. This petition was finally rejected though
inconsistency of granting petition 10 the Roman
Catholic Church, and refusing one OF a.Preclsel!
similar CT aracter from Protestant Church, is so
ylaringy unj,,s. as to be matter OF unmiSed as
constituent
In 1891. '32, the last amount of remuneration
from pay.scholars was paid, being $3.50. Ar that
time the Schools were opened as Public Schools
and all classes of the citizens invited to attend
them. The system also revised, and alteIa
lions proposed which show the mature views o
the Public School Society upon the SUBJECT o
popular Education.
The multiplication of Primary Schools, led to
result which is destined TO bave the hapPlest efieci
in the propagation of Teachers for their duties.
refer TO the establishment OF the Normal Schools
of which have already given you an account on
previous page and which had the Society iht
means to enlarge them, and TO change then
character into chat of regular day-Schoois, might
soon become rich blessing TO the State, by iur'
nishing an array OF Teachers for the Schools II
the interior such as have never been known In this
or any other country.
The system OF Education which has grown VI
under the fostering influence of the Public Schoo
Society is simple in its plan, AID yet comprehensive
in its designs, leaving scarcely any part OF this great
metropolis beyond the reach of its benefits. lrench'
ing upon no individual rights, enforcing religious
49,
pense TO children of every class the benefit Of SOUND
and wholesome instructien. The School laws o
the State are not only rigid, but impartial IN thcn
provisions, guarding against the introduction OF
religious sectarihnism in any OF the Schools re-
ceivng the Public Money. Among the provision,
relating to the duties Of INSPECTORS of Common
Schools, Sec. IA reads follows =" 1t is then
duty from time to time and as often as need be-
to examine and ascertain and report TO the Boaro
of Education whether any religious sectarlan doc
true or tenet shall have been taught, IncSlcated
or precticed in any of the Schools of their Ward.
The same provision is repeated with equul en-
phasis in Sec. 36, prescribing the duties of III,
Deputy Superintendents. They are to visit and eN
anime the Schools &c. and from time TO time
and as frequently as need be, to examine and
ascertain and report To the Board OF Education,
whether any religious sectsrian doctrine or tene'
shall have been taught, incalcated or practlced
: in any of the Schools in the different Wards o.
the CITY," In obedience to this mandate OF Tn
law have instituted the necessary inquirics and
am enabled to stale that in al the Schools of the
Public School Society. and in all the other Com
mon Schools within the City and County of New
York participating in the School Fund. the law is
not violated, either in its letter or spirit. Int
the Schools of the Public School Society the fel.
spirit Of Sectarianism has indeed never entered
Their foundations have been laid upon the broao
basis of Christianity. In Morals and Religion,
the Bible, without note or comment, has from the
first been their rule and guide, and standard
But Catechsms and Sectaran books are rg'dl!
excludcd--,he object being TO sow the seed
and principles of divine truth by daily morn
ing lesson from the naked Word. lhe sa'nt
princplc is also scrupulousy observed IN the
management of the Protestan, Orphan and halt
Orphan Asylum, and tho Coorcd Orphan Asy.
lams, all of which, for the support OF theli
Schools, draw money from the School Fund No
sec,ariansm is taught in either OF these establish
ments. Neither during the six hours ot the day III
which the children in School, nor during the
eighteen hours in which they are not IN School, Is
any catcchism, creed form ot religious lalth IN
cucated The Teetament is of course in use the
same having been sanctioned az ciass-oook nS
YOUR excellent circular, published several months
ago-a measure on your part which has gwen such
general and uudissuised satisfaction to the Chris
tsn public. | regre, that itrls not in my powerto
mskc the same disclaimer 70 the same extent, In
respect to the Orphan and Half-Ocphan Asy lums
under the conduct Of our Roman Catholic fellow
eitizens. Ii is trsc that in these institutions the
religion of that Church, with its creeds and lis
forms, is not taught during the ordinary hours OF
School. But that religion, Its creeds, Its cate
chisns and its forms are taught during the re- |
naming hours of the ,wenty.tour. am con
s,rained therefore 10 report. ,hs, ou, of the regular
hours for Schcol-which, during the winter sea
son. with US begin at nine in the morning, and end
at three in the acrnoon-these two institutions
can be regarded in no other light than as being
decidedly sectarian. 1nasmuch, however, as the
buildings in which the schools are taught, are also
the homes of the children the question may be
raised by the conductors Of these establishments,
right to mould the religious faith and cha
rsc,sr ,f rho children under their CHARGE "a Da-