New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-24
DIR. Reese and the Common Schools.

We see by several articles in the daily papers
that d.. Reese, the present Deputy Superintendent
OF Common Schools in the City and County OF New
York; ID likely 10 attain That notorieiy If not dis
tincdon which, so f&r his conduct can BE- test
Judging, he Is anxious 10 secure. Ii is exceedingly
unfortunate for fair trial OF the School Law, and
what u still more, Tor the interests OF Education
that the choice Of Superintendent OF Schools did no
lail on one better qualified 10 harmonse the con-
hicung feelings and preIudices cf the commuaty
II there wes any thing particularly to be regretted
in the appointment OF his predecessor The late Col
Stone II was rather on account Of the hostile a1ii
tuce III which circumstances had placed that gentle
man previous II his appointment But no one deni-
cd TO him the POSSESSION OF those qualities OF that
experience AID discrimination SO desirable in the
character OF Superintendent OF Schools ia com
munity ike ibis. Many Of those who regarded HIM
with respec, were asronishsd at his acceptance OF
any appointment under law which he had labor-d
SO msch 10 defeat before its passage and 10 bring
INTO public dsreprts afterwards. And were il not
that he thus committed against IL, there is little
doubt but he would, as he certainly could. have
made himself u most useful and popular officer il
the discharge OF bis high and important du,ie.. In
some respects Ms successor entered on the Office
under more ausp!cous circumstances; bu the very
qualities fJT winch in al! probability, he was ap-
pointed are precisely those which obviously unified
him Tor tischsrging us obligations with adv antage
10 the immunity.
The Superintendent Of Schools who would best
serve ths public should be man moi only Of suii-
Cert education, but with enlarged mind, liberal
views. Ceep and intimate knowledge of human
rature, and il possible snail blending Of enthusi-
asm in favor Of popular Education. All these quail
ltes make up character tne very reverse Of what
Dr. Rsese has go fer exll!hi ed. Whoever has
watched closely his official conduct thus far must
have perceived that his esfingIe Of the ofiic, i'm
posed on him first and mainly, not the varied and
Dbl nf School ErrroTton hur
that the Bible should be read. And whoever
observes at the present momsut the perliuacy with
which he holds on to this SIZE IL idea viii easily Re-
!l-gc indt he is prepared 10 break up the whole ma
chia-ry Of our Comaon Schools sooner Than re in-
quishit
Now the reading OF the Bible is a very good exer-
else in its lime and place, but 'iie community
have various and confi:tiag opinions both as 10 The
expectancy OF Introducing IL; and us 10 the version
to b" pre- erred Neither they prepared 10 ADMIT
Dr.. Reeses right in overruiing their prejudces,
II deciding question, which ihey consider them.
slves rs compr tent and as much emitted 20 Judge
as he is. AS Il private individual the Doctor would
10 doubt ADMIT this, but as Deputy Superintendent
he seems 10 insisi on his rgh. 10 The powers OF
the State for The purpose Of deciding question
which all acknowledge purely religious one. To
this kind Of diclaton from authority, the people
rs yet unascustomed. Audit the peculiar influences
that have secured his appointment wish TO be sue
cessful in this experimenithey would do well TO put
the execution OF II in the hands Of some whose
dealings with the pr5judces, so 10 call Them, of man.
kind will be conducted with little more gentleness
and TACT
We arc not sorry, however, that this question,
which must ultimately be settled, is likely TO be
brought 10 an issue sooner under The Doctors man
agsment than il could be under that of any other
That question will be whether the Constitution Of
the State authorizes the Legislature itself 10 make
any law respecting Religion. Reading the Bible in
l.rn risn M dinp
concerned, no doubt would come within the powers
with which the Superintendent! is invested. Make
an abstraction of this reading IN exercise of Edu-
cation and the rest is purely matter OF religion
Equally is II matter apperteining 10 ReiIsion and
the Rights OF Conscience secured 10 all 10 Judge CT
the special version that should be used. Now this
part, which we think entirely beyond the province
OF the Superintendent of Common Schools, is pre-
cisaly and exclusively that on which Dr. Reese IN
siss us portion Of bis duty for no reason that we
can perceive, except as an exciting theme, cacu-
lated ut once to disturb the harmony of The colnmu-
nty and thwart the best interests OF what all desre
the general education OF the masses.
Let US for u moment suppose hun successful
Having tire right, by authority OF law, TO have the
Bible read with without The consent OF the peo-
pie il will of course he his duty define what YER
son shall be used. II he allow the Catholic version
in one school, on which ground will he exclude the
avorite version OF the BapIiss, the Unyersalsfs,
or the Unigarans in another What will the con-
sequence be THAT large portion OF the comrnu-
nty will withdraw their children from the schools
in which either Of these versions shall have been au-
,horiZed. If, on the other hand, he introduce King
James's version into all the schools, another portion
will necessarily and for the same reasons be with
drawn, But if he allow each school 10 adopt that
version OF the Bible which is approved by ma
ority of the scholars therparents IN such school,
il is evident TIE minority will have 10 submit TO the
reading OF u version which they DO not approve or
else 10 retire. What will be the cons quence then,
of all this = that the schools will be turned Oil by
lines OF sectaran demarcntion rs eieciuaiiy as II
they were called by henames OF the various demon
nations in the community.
Is il possible that Or. Reese DOES not ioesee this
consequence Or is il possible, again. that, fore
seeing these consequences, he is prepared TO dam.
age the system which he Is appointed TO oster ana
protect rather than torego his chiinerical and unlm-
practicable theory ? If indeed we are 10 have a
State Religion forced on the community, there ID no
reason WHY Superintendent Of Common Schools
NAV not try how far the public conscience 10 pre-
pared for letters, us well any other But lhen
we should expect al least that the avowal oil The
purpose should he openly made. No law Is binding
until il is promu gated and we are cot aware oil any
statute conerrns on DR.. Reese the authority 10 de-
term;ce how much OF Religion, or Of what peculiar
onslity is requisite 10 quahiy teachers 10 npatt or
pupils 10 acquire, that neasuIe OF Secular Educa'
lion which the laws have contemplated IN the Or
enniz alton of Common Schools.
The attempt OF THIS luDc'ionaly 10 exceed the
powers of his office has provoked marmars OF dis
content which are neither few nor nnin,ellgible.
He has already done much, apparently, 10 disturb
The harmony OF the Common Schools. Instead oil
aiding The system by suggestions OF improvement;
instead of giving that light OF superior direction
which his office supposes him 50 possess TO the va
rous Trustees and other officers OF the Schools; IN
stead OF acting in coocert with them, or winning
them over to the adoption OF improve menis tor the
f,sIsring If educational Interests, We lnd MN en-
g. r.d ia fierce controversy with seve!e! Boards al
In sam. inns. And we think quite likely that it
he do not uniersisnd least the limits OF his au-
monty, he himself will have TO go through, on that
subject al least, The process ofpupisse, ard-iearn
Now what Is thu mighty fault imputed by him 10
III Sc officers What is The great apple OF Gscord
which causes the officers and Superintendent OF
public Schools to be thus arrayed against each
oihsr in public controversy simplymsnas 10 this
snd No, Education He does not complain that The
nnn;Is do not read. lie does lot complain that
they do mol learn. He does not complain Thai, so
far regards the mere exercise reading one book
-, No, hs ma good as another; bur he does COM