New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-07
Free schools.

Free schools.
The following Report in favor Of making the Com
mon Schools Of our state absolutely free to an chill
lren-thm is to support them by tax on Property
adequate TO supply the whole deficiency OF the
school Funds very properly attracting attention.
The following Report in favor Of Free Schools wa
made a, the late Convention Of School snperniend
enis at Syracuse il twas not defniively acted upon
bat merely submitted for public discussion. Let Us
see what ne People think Of il:
Your Committee on the subject OF Free School.
would respectfully beg leave TO report that every
consideration of duty urges the recommendation
and adoption of the most speedy and efficient mea.
-nres for the support Of public instruction. Ii has
been asceraincd from statistic sources that more
than cn-eghihs OF this entire community receive
their education from Common Schools: hence il fol.
lows as our schools are 80 is the education Of the
people When turn our attention 10 that i'm
porani subject II j. very natural for us to conside
The condition Of our Common schools and. if the
system for the support of those schools is found de
eciivc il then becomes our duty to suggest and de
wise q remedy While il il admitted that our sys-
lem of public instruction is good one and that the
schools under itarc making steady progressive i'm
provcmcnf il j. not 20 be supposed that the system
s yet perfect or that the best measures have yet
been adopted to perfect and secure an education ioi
we have Il fund and an annual appropriation from
hat fund OF two hundred and scventy-tve thousand
dollars and an amount equal 10 that appropriation
annually raised by tax for the support OF our Com
mon schools vet il l. matter OF fact, that even ihi-
amount j. insufficient fully and satisfactorily 20
-wer the object olthe appropriation. There are chi
ircn In the state OF New DIRK, and we have reason
% believe in almost every County Of the State. who
10 not attend any school, for the very obvious rca
on that their parents have not the means 10 pal
heir rate bill and the sefrcspcct and pride of hos
parents forbid that they should be oXonerated from
such payment by The Trustees. Nor is this al
without funds from some public source sufficient e.
lefray the entire expense of our schools and tina
IN such a manner "a 70 make them acceptable a.
he rich and available 10 the poor. we give rise 10
private and select schools, and TO the higher semna
res of learning, thus creating a distinction in so
riety that ought not 10 exist III community of free
men who profess to believe in. and at'emnt 10 sus
ain the principles OF Republican Liberty. Tn,
question then arises. how shall this evil be averted
Your Committee are ofopinion that we should fol
IOw the example OF many OF our sister States. yea.
nore-that we should follow the noble example
ONE of the Cities OF our own State: New York
Poughkccpsie Buffalo. and Rochester by alopiinp
II once a system Of Common School Education tia
free-thu- aaordInc the facilities for instruction 10
H. whether rich or poor.
VIII It be said that the Free School system i'm
POSES TOO heavy a tax on those who have no chill
lren TO educate VIII it be said that il impose
90 heavy tax upon the wealthy As well nigh
m objection be urged against raising a tax for othc'
purposes; for dciraying the expenses of our Court
II Justice in the trial OF criminal cGuses the supper
# the poor AMI for cvying taxes IA time of oi
he national defence.
II Is said that some of the most wealthy citizens o.
me city of New York, asked. and even peitone0
he Legislature for the passage OF law, 10 tax ihoi
property for the support Of their public schools
hereby making them free for all whether rich Of
poor In this they acted upon the principle that j.
was unsafe to live in community where any por
ton of the rising generation are suffered To come
upon the stage without education, mental and
moral
Ask the citizens and the supcriniendcnts in those
cities where the Free School system has been adop
Ted aud where we are told the experiment has beer
successfully and iriumphauily tested. are they
willing 10 abandon il No-thcy cling to it with an
tonacitv, the only means OF ailordne
an education To all their children. and of sccurinl
protection TO person and property. Under all til,
circumstances of the case, your committee hav,
come 10 the conclusion thai it is not only duty but
a wise policy. 10 adopt the Free School system
throughout the length and breadth of the entire
State ANA that ii should become law-iherctore.
R,s0lrtd. A. the SENSE of this Convention that we
decidedly in favor of Il Free school system. believing
better calculated promote the interests and Nh,
1eIlnanency of civil and religious institutions iani
any other system thai can be devised
DAVID NAY, Chairman.