New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-25
Progress Of school Reform-Love and Kind
ness the best Incentive TO Youth.
Correspondence Of The Tribune


Correspondence Of The Tribune.
BosTox Jan. l6 l5f7.
As your Journal almost alone Of the political pa.
pers has shown itself interested in Social Reforms,
aud had the courage to speak out in behalf Of true
Social Progress, and knowing that you have been
an interested looker-on upon the not unimportant
struggle that has been going on during the past
three wears in our community between the Pro
gressives and the Retrogressives in matters OF Ed
ucation, it has been my intention TO have appused
you sooner of the onward progress OF the Right as
shown by the result Of our late Municipal Election.
The friends of School Reform, for the first time,
have obtained an ackneTlsdged and impregnable
majority in our School Board and the work OF he
form in these important institutions will 90 steadily
and surely onward. The best part OF our triumph
1 is that il has been openly and ialry fought and
won by means OF the diffusion Of light among the
people il was disputed inch by inch, and the sue
cess Of liberal views has been decided that we now
feel ourselves almost too strong tor contest
Three years ago several Of our Pubic schools were
in deporsbie condition. and most OF them tar below
their proper standard. The instruction was fupeTncai
and the discipline often brutal Although our CITY made
the most liberal appropriations and we al held up our
Schools o. models. yet they were woiuly oehna the
condition would fam believe and ite deseI'eu ulc
nraises they received sort Of holy alliance among
the masters was instituted 10 prevent the progress OF
any troublesome and trouble giving innOVauohA anu -
srnbers were bound 70 stick together rght OF wrong
But at last things carried too lar ono SchOO DC
came 50 VIGOROUSLY mismanaeed tnat an ih'esu-sl'oh
could not be avoided and vast amount Of canning ~
in that and other Schools came 10 hent' AIsnousn VIZ
master temporarily escsped was white" asHeo anu t.
elected the eyes Of the people were opened Anu AZ Wy
foi,vfnr election broadside nred most uneN
edly into the brotherhood OF the bafnnsdo ana ,ne
scource Tor the first time distinct Scnooi tsi9IlH
nar,v snranr up and elected nearly nall the Board OF
nner nndisg1iscd friends OF Reform; many o. thcin
were strong men, influential and capable. need only
mention such names as DR. sam w. Rove p a.
Parsons VIM. Brigham. Rev mr. cOoeose, hes. nlI
Neae sidney Bartlett &c &c. 10 give you some iaea oil
their calibre and standing -, .,., T..
the first time In the country OF examinations Dy written
ouos,ous and answers-a thorough testing OF the con-
diion of the Public Schools and apubhcauo9 OF he TO-
suits Ten thousand copies OF their annual c
eula,ed among all the citizens exposed ID o,scA anu
white so that there escaping lainehpAu'c l-uo
rance these were among the fruits oil the hfst chOis
OF the reformers. will not detain you oy releiIng
now thatmemorable report when may pe saIeiy az,
as the era OF one of the most important ieioin7 " 10
wav in the history OF the country. use sIohe
bu, think none too much so, You know as wen a. ;,
how great is the influence in matters OF EdScsuon .a.
goes out almost hourly from tbs . ey changed.
MN p ~ ,h Heioftners were not majority and their
movers for good were limited lhey coulu nOl 90 All
bev would but they made demonstration ana promul'
a,1d viov,s that have taken deep root lew oil the
more crying abuses were remedied Excessive eorPo'
real punshmenis checked by an order for the re
iectonsbe Of the teachers were removed and TWO or
three excellent substitutes were selected among nese
AMBROSE WELLINGTON, the Teacher oil the Colored
School stands preemnent No picture can give an al
eouate conception of the condition OF his school when
be took IT, and words hardly do justice 10 tue al
most miracle he has wrought In one bret year oy per
severing kindness The basunado mas oeen osnisnea'
the rod dispensed with, not blow has been Struck
physical pain has become thing Unknown, Tor more
than year and the School mas attained rank such as
it never had before This too among the most aoJect
and debased of our population.
But in spite OF the efforts and zeal OF the Reiormefs an
apparent reaction followed and their cause seemed lost
the election Of the last year desperate spasmodc
and secret effort was made by the holy AAanee OF
the despotc powers pack the Ward meetings and de-
feat the denomination Of the Reiormers. To do THIS,
however they had 10 select of some independence
and character and they were consequently not SO sue
cessful they seemed True they defeated many per
sonay but they substituted others who proved, IN sew.
eral instances quite Jealous and decided IN the good
work The word had gone FORTH been felt and the leayen
was still at work and although the AntReiOrmers had
nominal majority in the Board, the Reform has been
making very decided progress. The new masters were
retained, corporeal punishment disused IN several
Schools the registry OF punshments enforced ana sew
! eral important reforms commenced The work was
done quietly but the less surely and meanwhile
the minds OF the people have been undergoing very
venehcsl change, and this year at the primary
the Reformers have carried everything before them
Wards that last year hoty contested were THIS
year carried by the Roformers without an opposing e
fort while others before mpresnsble were carried u
| ufnpnhnuy.
Many OF the old Refonmers displaced last year have
been restored and ones equally decided IN their
views have taken their places for the first time ere
has been but one drawback the defeat Of Dr. Howe IN
South Boston OF the earliest most Kealous and un
| fnchng champions OF Reform. But this is to be at
trbuled almost solely his allowing bis name 10 be
used against Mr. Winthrop the regular Wing candidate
for Congress. Another year will see him once more at
! his post trust.
But his loss is only matter OF personal concern. The
cause Of liberal and sound Education here viii not be IN
any danger in consequence. The cause OF Reform has
taken rank hold among the people and Is now safe
trust forever Boston may yet he able with safety 10
point 10 her institutions for the diffusion Of knowledge
with an honest pride and satisfaction with the fullest as
surance that they worthy of her liberal appTopra
lions worthy OF her reputation and worthy TO be held
I'D as models 10 the OF the Union These changes
and this progress here cannot remain uniet elsewhere
The success and complete triumph OF kindness and love
as the only safe basis Of instruction in Boston must have
a most benign influence wherever II IS known and iet
and il is in that view that though now only matter oil
local interest have thought progress might not be
without its interest to your readers Let this be my ex
cuse for troubling you with this, fear. too extended
! letter. Yours truly. SOCIAL FkOGhLsS.
Law Courts.