The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-17

s and is years, a. should appear from the last n
port OF the trustees OF the district. Ii was requre
that the schools should be kept open during iou
the trustees should direct. WhsssSeroa ans were re
Qured for the payment OF the teacher RS wages ate
deductng the public money of the district, were t
be raised by q rate bill, from those sending chill
dren to the school, in proportion to the number o.
days such children had been in attendance. Such
were, substantially, the main features OF our com
mon school system up to the year 1873. To say
that il had accom- iished much good tothe cause Of
education, and had realized the hopes Of Its origina
tors and supporters, would be awarding il but q
faint need Of appreciation. II had surpassed the
most sanguine expectations of its friends Under
its influence, as appears from reports furnished to
the superintendent of common schools for the year
lS49 there had been organize ii S97 school dis
trcts, and the number of children that had receiv
ed instruction ring the year, was 1874 500, being
an excess OF 59. 3l2 over the number between the
ages OF and Is years, and is, l9l over the whole
lumber taught during the preceding year, while
the schools had been Kept open during an average
period OF eight months Well might the phllan.
throplst point with admiration TO system produc-
tive of such results, and the skeptic in the science
of free government Danish his doubts, in view Of
such universal diffusion of knowledge.
1t has been urged with much pertinacity, by
some Of your petitioners, that the city of New York
had prepOnderanng influence upon the question !;
that her majority of more than 81 900 votes in ia
vor of the act fastened the system upon the State
and that, as she had an educational system of her
own, separate and distinct from the State at large,
question. The plausibility Of this objection is
Gomez dtd but, in the opinion of majority of
your committee, its ground is wholly untenable
II II can be shown that the city of New York 10
separate in interest and policy, and 10 in no way
dependent on or advantageous to the other sections
OF the State, then might some weight be attached
to the objection But such is not the case New
York ID the heart of the State, receiving and giving
back wealth to every portion thereof Her
greatness as the commercial emporium OF the
Union, is reflected upon every part of the State.
But for her agency the abundant harvests of the
farmer might rot in his fields but for the in dus
from its greatness The interests of both are no.
mogenuous. Whatever conduces to the prosperity
and glory of the enc, appertains in proportionate
degree to the other II II ID admitted (and who in
can form of government is the best adapted to the
happiness OF the people, and most conducive to
their prosperity, the question then yecurs to the
beet method to continue that government It will
free institutions is based upon the intelligence and
virtue of the people and the chief agency of diff
fusing these il the common school. The educated
child, it is fair to assume, will become useful
citizen lit is equally fair TO assert, as general
rule, that the uneducated child will prove the re-
verse. Fects warrant the assertion.
From the report of the Inspectors of the State
pnsons for the year 1850, it appears that of 66i
years of age at the time Of their conviction 4S7
had never been taught trade 60 could not read,
and lag could read only, and that indiferently.
" ia convlcts at Clinton 10 could not read, and
20 could read only. AT the female prisons, of the
II remaining in December last, Is could neither
read write, IL could read only, and the balance
had received very limited instruction in the ele-
mentary branches AT the Auburn prison, l09
con, lets were, previous to admission, undcquanted
with the alphabet, or could r.ad but little, and "a
bad no knowledge of arithmetic. The Inspector
closes with the remark, "that the frequent exami.
nations into the causes of crime among the con-
victs almost invariably lead to the same result,
aad force upon the mind the startling truth, that
neglected education in youth is the source of all,
or nearly all, the crime among u.s." These statis-
ties are pre- scented in confederation of the general
statement OF your committee, that crime and igno-
rance are generally found in unison. Ii can be no
matter of surprise, therefore, that the citizens of
New York, from perusal OF the daily records of
their CRIMINAL courts, and their daily obst rvatlon Of
the vice and misery that must ever cling to, and
flourish in, great ctes, should manifest deep in
terest in the cause OF education, and desire for
its universal diffusion. Philanthropy, at least,
would prompt that they should be heard.
Again: prudential considerations demanded that
New York SHOULD have voice In the matter.
She is part Of the State subject TO the same laws,
snd should be entitled to equal privileges with
other portions of the State. With an aggregate
veua,inn Of reel and personal estate amounting to
SYST 0OO, coo, or more than one-,hud OF the entire
valuation OF the State, and with this property
liable TO be affected ty the legislation OF cody
elected by the universal sufrsges Of the citizens
Of the State, il would have been manifesly unjust
TINT her vote should have been excluded Your
committee have been induced to pre- sent their vie
Upon this subject from respect TO the large number
OF your petitioners who have asked for the repeal
OF the Free Schoo. act, on the ground that such
aCt would have been repealed by the po ouar vote
had the city of New York been excluded from any
action th-reupon. Including this vote, therefore,
the expression Of the popular will of the State is
emphatic in favor Of the principle of free education;
Tor one IL is presumed, will hazard the opinion
that The vote Of New York was cast in favor Of the
act OF 1919. Her citizens were unacquainted with
the practical operation of that act, aud the infer
ence is natural that il the principle only that
was ra1hed at the ballot box
The income OF the school fsnd of the State is
distributed among the different towns in proper
ton 10 their population. The county and town
taxes levied by the Supervisors, are, Ia conse-
queDce. tax upon the basis of population; and its
operation ls, Therefore, unjust, unequal, and OPP
pressiye. large and populous county may, I'M
der tais sy stem OF taxation, be compelled raise
more money than an adjoining county with less
population, though with larger assessed valua-
ton of real and personal property tbs obvious,
therefore, that this inequality is particularly bur
tbensome 10 the agricultural interests Of the State,
for In such districts the population 10 usually
larger In proportion to the valuation OF its property,
than In the cities or large towns or villages This
inequality will appear, by glance at the following
statement. In 1Sio, the taxable property and the
school moneys (apportioned the basis OF popula-
tioD) in the following counties, were in this pro-
POTION
TdIGbis property. School mowsy.
New York ....... $3.50. 1918 S40,62i SO
Albany ............ 10 $50 $40 S,455 81
Allegheny 37g7 lsb 1894 2S
Cattaraugus ........ 3,s2I,59s 1891 .
The counties OF New York and Albany are de-
voted TO trade and commerce, while Allegheny and
Csttarsugus are purely agricultural counties The
came inequality will appear from comparison of
different rates OF taxaiion in different towns An
illustration is afforded by some OF your petitioners
in the case OF the following towns in the county Of
Genesee, In lS49-
Tarabie Property. School Monsy
Batavia ......... 81 235,ll0 sag ~
Sp fiord ............ ia 23I 03
"a,