New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-15
Books in our Public Schools.

Books in our Public Schools.
The follow is the report of the Trustees of the
Fourth Ward Common Schools TO the Board of
Education, concerning the progress they have
made in improving, in respects they deem essen
rial, the school books in use throughout the Public
Schools As it is subject in which large por-
ton of our citizens feel the deepest interest We
publish II entire:
Gentlemen: The undersigned, Trustees of Common
Schools the 18th Ward, would respectful represent that
since their induction Office they have entered upon The
performance Of their duties aud accordance with the
nf the Legislature passed April l iSi2 they have visited
rho schools the said ward which receive portion Of the
public moneys for the purpose of examining the books used
schools order whether said books
lain any thing of seotaran character the rcli
ous opinions entertained by desirous OF sending
Isir children SAID schools contrary TO the said act ct
the Legislature prohibiting the teaching intoxicating or prac
icing Suy religious doctrine or tenet in any school are
pating III the public moneys
prayons TO the examination the undersigned compln
rad BEEN made BY the several known Jews Catholics
and uniyersat and partially at we did ON the
Nth nlt vis; Public School No l. and primary Schools
Nos u and % obtained and examined soue of the books
as used IN said schools We have carefully and think
o,n,rtally examined as many OF said books would
admit and beg leave lay before honorable body the
to,lowiuc the results OF our Investigation:
The FIRST book which wish call your attention is
.asitled American Popular Lessons The portion objected
10 by the Jews may be found page 1885, lesson Reward
Of Goodness page i43 lesson The Son Of God page
IA lesson Heaven pages 10 and l46, lesson Scripture
Lessons Christ pages las lag l5o and lal les
soa Thon shalt love thy neghbor thysef;' pages 81
52 lsa l54 and 49, lessons The Bible, The Ten Viz
gins There are also some other passages.
They (,he Jews also obec, the last conversation Ia the
book entitled Conversations ,on Common Things The
Lessons for Schools taken from Holy Scriptures the
the New Tes;ame, Scriptures and many of the lessons
n Murray'S Reader
We ouad the Protestant OF the Bible used said
schools, of which the Catholics compsin and by them
eoued injurious their peculiar faith, aud calculated 10
ihh NlpW Dt SeCt
she Of the Lessons taken from the Holy Scriptures
The portion Of the different books used IN said schools
objected by the denomination OF uniyersahss and by
rhem deemed calculated 20 teach secaIan views different
from their own, may be- found IN the aforesaid American
Popular lessons page 1885, last Of the lesson God
always sees me page iSt lesson on Goa Duties eighth
verse; page lil, Lesson, Il Punishment Of Su. last
yerseS; page 80 lesson Scripture Lessons, las, clause
page Isl lesson Ten Virgins last section The selec.
lions the Holy Scriptures objected OF
lhr heading of many of the lessons particularly those
pages $50 aed l6i the Punishment Of the Wicked and
III. Last Judgement They also called our attention 10
he section headed Altamont, pages lS9, lo and al
Aiurrays English Reader we'll ether books which
we have here enumerated.
fhe religious opinions entertained by the Jews 10 be
regarded with the those Of the various denom
,astions OF Christians (and Se good reason why
they should nci then consderi, the duty OF Your honor
shle body either exclude all books from IN the schools
participating IN The public moneys withhold The money
from schools persist using books their
peculiar belief The obvious Tor they pay their
portion OF the taxes necessary 10 support eur common
,eir religious opinions but obliged by law to pay ,hsir
portion Of the pnblic expense
Besides they have nlauy children they wish have edu.
Gated bu, SO long there are books used in the pubc
schools uin sentiments dramatically opposed their
religious belief their children b. excluded from said
,choo and they only lose the benefits resulting there
f.om obliged support schools IN which II On
possible for them 70 participate.
The may also be said with every other sect having
similar reasons Of complaint.
The undersigned have not for the want OF ne had OPP
nor,uniry 10 several other books used the public
schools IN this ward bu, Intend earliest
10 prosecute the investigation and carefully exnne
cause of complaint that hereafter be LAID be
fore s and though, OF sufficient Importance, orthwsto
isy rhe same before yonr honorable body.
Dsening the have thus Tar investigated OF Tast
importance 10 the welfare OF the pablo schools aud OF great
10 many deSieous of sending their chdrea 70 SAID
schools thought best submit the foregoing as she
results Of your honorable body Tor such
aetoa you your wisdom may ;aak the circumstances
require.
With the fullest that the subject will receive
that attention ITS Importance 3emdaJ aud the whole
matter aniieaby and settled aad justice be done
80 sli III. parties concerned, We gentlemen,
With great respect, your obeajent servants,
[slcNRpl SIMEON ABRAHAMS.
DENNIS MULLINS,
THOMAS WALLACE,
WM. C.COLYER,
- EDWARD 3. FELL OWS.
Tsasiess Of Common Schools in the s,h ward.
Ne.r- York. Jasy II. 1913
E If any man requires more than the above to