The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-08

stone 7O7 of logs OF these 6O were found in good
repair $50 in ordinary and comfortable repair and
in bad repair or totally unfit for school purposes. Tho
number furnished with than 544 leav
ing s,79o with one room only. The number furnished
with suitable play grounds is Sal the number not
furnished 33 The number furnished with a single
privy is l,so those with prves containing separate
number Of those not furnished with any PRIV whatever
is 642S The number suitably furnished with venient
furnished at 5972 The number furnished with proper
facilities for ventilation is stated at 5ls. while the NUM-
her not provided with those essential requisites 1889
mo subject connected with the interests OF elementary
instruction affords source Of such notifying and humi
otng reflections that Of the con ition Of large por
ton OF the school houses presented in the above
mereton One third only Of the whole number visited
were found in good repair another third in ordinary and
comfortable condition only in this respecn other words
OF the teachers and pupils while the remainder consist
ing of3,3is were, 10 all ntents and purposes, unfit for the
reception Of man o. beast"
But 81 out Of 36s houses ved contained more than
3l3 destitute Of any suitable play ground
nearly unfinished with seats and
desks nearly 600 destitute Of the proper facilities for
venstion and upwards of 900 without privy of any
sort, while OF the remainder, but about 900 pro-
vded with prvies containing different apartments male
and female pupils! and il is in these miserable abodes OF
accumulated dirt and filth, deprived of wholesome air,
exposed without adequate protection to the assaults Of the
elements, with facilities for necessary exercise
taxation; no convenience for promoting their studies;
crowded together benches not admitting of moments
rest in any position and debarred the possibility OF yield
ing to the calls OF nature witnont violent nroads upon
modesty aud shame; that upwards OF 100000 children
scattered oil the state compelled
spend average period CT eight months during each
of their pupilage Here the first lessons ohuman life the
incpent principles Of morality and the rules Of social in
ercoursc 10 be impressed upon the plastic minds The
boy is here receive the model Of his charac
ter and TO mbbe the elements Of his future and
here the instructive dclcscy Of the young female is to be
expanded into maturity by precept and example. Is il
strange under such circumstances that early and in.
ivincitle repugnance TO the acquisition Of knowledge
mbbed by the youthful mind that the school house is
regarded with aversion and disgust and that
parents who have any desire TO preserve the health and
the morals Of their children exclude them from the dis.
ic school, and provide instruction for then ,sew here
The above extract points out most glazing and deplo
rable mperfecton " hch would not be tolerated in the
worst governed country oil Europe. The Irish hedge
schools where DIR. O'Toole regned despotc, not
coul not be Indeed, il it stated by
questioned authority, would scarcely be held credi
Bile that such state Of things could exist in the United
States OF America.
The reports OF the County Superintendent unan.
nous in their testimony to the wisdom Of substituting
Town Supefnlendents for Commissioners and Inspectors
Of Common Schools end they are no less agreed upon the
injurious tendency Of ireguarity Of attendance the
part OF those Who dependant the district schools
FOR their education. II parents who wink at IL they
the promoters of the abuse Of the valuable
life would attend TO the interests Of their children
they woull enforce strict and regular attendance At
school Two years OF constant and regular schooling Is
better than OF occasional and interrupted attendance
and children might well not go at all as to 60 and learn
to-day what will be forgotten to morrow; and Is truly
said that the negligence Of parents sows their chidrens
path with Dragons teeth"
The superintendent Of the franklin Co has q clever
port corporal punishment" which subject was spe
cisly assigned to him to report upon He truly observes
that the subject Is well nigh exhausted and long matter
which the best thinkers have disagreed The present