New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-28

as VARIOUS anu huin' -rous az they can efficiently
1t Is indispep' able, therefore, that the Trustees
should be cor 1petent to Judge OF the attainments
oi of their aptitude 10 instructof the So
perloeF dvantages ofdferent methods OF instruction
al d OF the merits Of the various text DOCKS wncn
az skors are pressing them TO adopt. IL - desTa-
ole and highly important, that they should feel
constant and anxious interest for the increasing
prosperity and efficiency of the schools under their
1 charge and be able to devote much time to them
as a proper regard to their Advancement demands.
| With such body OF Trustees, County Superln-
tendent of proper qualifications and love Of the
duties of his Office could cooperate with great ad
| yantagesto the ystem The system embraces num-
bers sufficiently large, and interests sufficiently i'm
portsnt to demand the entire time Of such an officer
Such an officer, by devoting his whole time to
| the business Of the schools, may soon be able to
suggest the best means OF etfecting improvements,
| which seem to be very much needed.
sCHOOLHOUSEs
There can be no doubt that the school rooms are
too much crowded and the class rooms too few and
! too small While it is believed to be the common
| judgment, that buildings recently erected are an
improvement upon those Of former years, yet the
conviction is as general that the health and pro-
gress Of the students require rooms better ventll-
ated, and with fewer inmates. The body must
become languid and the mind listess, after being
confined for months, during six hours Of the day, In
poorly ventilated room, containing severaf nun
dreds and crowded to its utmost capacity. II, as
is the case with many Of the school houses, the
seats are without backs the inevitable tendency 10
to occupy a stopping posture, than which nothing
can be more deleterious TO proper physical devei-
opment, or to the general health In subsequent NE
INCREASE OF TEACHERS.
Efficient instruction requires that the number Of
teachers should be increased. In most, if not all
of the schools, the higher and more advanced cas
ses receive relatively the time OF the principal and
superior assistants 1t is impossible with the pre-
Il. ..kN -
scholar which is required to receive thorough teach
ing and efficient progress
If proper arrangement Of schOol.rooms and re-
citation rooms. and a proper supply OF teachers
should make the schools satisfactory to all, and put
them in condition to give proper attention to the
personal habits of the scholars adapt them to pre-
serve health, and increase their efficiency to such
degree as upon the best consideration is attanabe,
and all this should add fifty per cent to the present
current cost of instruction, it would not then equal
onehalf of the cost Of educating children OF the
same age in the private schools
Those who now send to private schools might
then send their children to these at reduced ex.
pense to themselves and would find, in the general
advantages resulting from the improved education
|! of all, the indirect yet important Dement'S which
must be felt in all the relations OF the civil and So
| cial condition from such q cause. Popular educa-
ton is Of such vital Importance, is so pervadng and
comprehensive in its influences, is destined to ope-
rate so powerfully for veal or for wo upon the des
tiny Of the country, as well as OF the individual,
that every measure calculated to effect its opera
TONS deserves the careful and serious c0nsidera
ton Of every parent, and OF every well wlsher OF
| his country and OF humanity
No doubt is entertained, that the people OF this
city will cheerfully pay all that wise expenditure
shall require, to make these schools what they
ought to be- to the proper education OF those
to whom all the diversified interests Of its business
and of its social and political condition are soon 70
be confded.
TEACHERS SALARIES, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
1t is also believed, that other reforms might be
made, which would tend to reduce expenses, and
improve the efficiency of the schools. AS the law
now stands, there are eighteen distinct organza-
TONS consisting Of the trustees Of the several
Wards, having full power TO employ teachers, Sc
ect and purchase books and TO furnish supplies for
the Ward Schools of their respective Wards. |
There is no provision for bringing them together TO
interchange views or to discuss the subjects con-
nected with the system of public education. There
are no means by which the officers of Ward
avail themselves Of the greater experience and
better information of those of another. Their total
disconnection with each other is not calculated TO
.s;-ule.A efforts their part to bring the heaviest
expenditures to some common standard, consistent
with the highest efficiency Of the schools and while
securing the best, to also secure the same text
| books and ut n common price for all the schools.
The great diversity OF school books, upon the
same subjects is an obstacle to the progress of the
scholars. AS often as change in the residence of
| their parents obliges them to enter different
school they may have entire set Of books placed
| in their hands, unlike any they have previously
| studied. This is undoubtedly great discourage
! ment to children. The books cannot well be OF
equal merit. II they are, all objection to attempt
ing uniformity is at once obviated II they differ
in merit those using the poorer sort are unneces |
! sariy study ing at a disadvantage
| The best method Of securing desirable reform |
in this matter is not obvious. The Importance of |
the subject entities il TO the serious and practical
consideration of the Board, of the school officers Of
the several Wards, and OF the teachers in the diff
ferent schools.
If a wise uniformity can be secured, it would
then be easy to purchase books and other supplies
at q reduced expense. Enlightened Trustees, act
ing for such purpose as body, might, at stated
periods, furnish statement of the books and sup
plies required for the schools Of their respective
Wards. If proposals for furnishing them were re.
quired to be advertised for, and the lowest bids
cepted, there can be no doubt that saving might
annually be made of several Thousand dollars.
After the kind of books to be bought was
satisfactorily determined, it would not be of much
moment whether the power to purchase them
from the lowest bidder. was delegated TO commit
tee of this Board or a committee of the Trustees,
acting as a legal and responsible organization, pur
suant to some provision to be made for that purpose
by law.
1t is also importsnt, that some means should be
devised, to secure a nearer approximation In the
amounts paid for the salaries OF teachers OF equal
merit, in similar departments. Nothing should be
done tending to introduce into the schools an in
ierior class Of teachers On the contrary, the aim
should be TO secure an efficient body OF men, fitted
for the important work intrusted to their hands,
and animated with purpose to perform their du-
ties with an anxious care for the welfare and best
training Of the pupils under their instruction.
The salaries Of the principal teachers are highly
disproportioned They undoubtedly differ in some
respects In aptitude for their positions and salary
appropriate for some might not be just compen.
sation for others. II would be an unwelcome con.
vietion, that their merits are as various as their
salaries and such is not believed to be the truth of