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


AN 0SoOOA wv 4O1Ns
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Address Of the state Central Committee.
To THE Town SUPERINTENDKNTs AND FRIEND
OF FREE EDUCATION OF THE STATR OF NV
FELLOW CITIZENS AT meeting recently he'll
by the Town SuPerintendents of Oneida county
the following resolutions, among others, wer,
unanimously adopted
the safety and well being Of the community, anc
the stability OF government, that the free schoo
principle be fully and permanently sustained.
Resolved, That we deem il both just and neces
sary that our laws be 80 revised as 10 make il obi
gatory on to fix their estimate of property
real and PERSONAL at its cash value, and that such
penalties as would be reasonable should be imposed
by law on all persons concealing their property
from assessors and there by defIaudlng the State
its sources OF revenue.
Resolved, That for school purposes, there should
be raised, by statute, an amount OF money equal to
the sum annually apportiOned from the income OF
the State School Fund-that county tax should
be levied in each c, unity, equal to twice the amount
which the county receives from the State School
Fund the town tax being no longer obligatory
and that an annual poll tax OF fifty cents should be
levied on each adult male pSrs in the State ex-
cept that aliens should not be SO taxed till they
shall have been six months in the State.
Resolved, That we believe il to be equitable and
expedient that one half of all the public money
ceived by each town, should be divided equally
among the several school districts, and the other
half as now, according to the number of children,
OF scAoOaee, residing in the several districts oil
the town, due regard being had to the joint dis.
trcs, 80 called. as we'll as to those which are en-
tire.
Resolved, That we deem it essential to the
proper working of the free school system, that
every district should support a school, by compe-
tent teacher, at least eight months in each year.
Resolved, That we are opposed to aboli shing
the Office of town superintendent; but we believe
that great benefit would result from having an as.
sembly district, or county superintendent, not for
ovrxyrsv Tan mi .nk0x k,,tf rr
and condensing town and district reports, and for
warding them to the Department of State, and for
hearing and deciding appeals from local boards,
and for calling and visiting county normal schools
Resolved, Finally, That we recommend to tn
town superinte ndents and friends Of free education
in each Of the other counties OF the State that's
early as practicable, they assemble in convention
to take into consideration the present condition of
our schools, and to embody, In resolves, the views
OF their fellow citizens in relation to the subject.
Also, that they appoint delegates, equal in nual-
Der TO twice the representation Of the county in the
Assembly, to attend State convention, to be held
in Utica, on Wednesday, the 2Sth Of February
next.
Resolved, That a corresponding committee be
appointed to issue call for State convention, at
the time and place mentioned, for the purpose of
consolidating and haTmoniziDg the views Of the
several counties of the State, and petitioning our
present for such alteration OF oar school
laws as may then be agreed upon.
tons affects and interests the whole State. Our
present school laws are confessedly imperfect.
They demand revision. The people claim revision
as right, as justice, and they will have it. The
alterations needed are radical and thorough. The
committee indulge the opinion that no class Of our
citizens are 80 well prepared to say what aitera-
tons our school laws need and what will be salts
factory, as the town superinfendents OF the State
practical working of our present school system in
every city, county, and town in the State They
are prepared to state where il has worked we'll,
here it has not and the reasons for the different
results.
The committee would respectfully call the atten-
ton OF the town superintendent Of the several coun
ties to the sentiments involved in the above reso-
iuiioDs. They also hope that the town superinten-
dent Of the shire town Of each county will immedi
ately issue a call for a county convention of town
superintendent and others intere stea, to take ac-
lion on the suggestions of the above resolutions,
and 10 appoint delegates To State convention, to
he held at the time and place above stated. And
in case the superintendent specified of any county
sbal fail, neglect, refuse 10 call such meeting
within ten days from the date of this notice, il is
recommended that any two superintendents of such
county shall issue such call; euch convention 10 be
held in the usual place of such meetings.
The welfare of the young, and the prosperity OF
our State and nation demand the action we request
at your hands. Our legislators are now considering
The subject OF amendments to the school laws
They want light on the subject, that they may
not commit ss great an error IN legislation, 90
the one under which We now labor. II is the most
important question that will come w for the con
sideration OF our present Legislature Il should be
fully discussed and judiciously settled. And the
committee hater themselves that the action of a
state convention Of those who are acquainted
with the wants Of the people would be heard and
needed by our law. mskeos.
We are happy TO state, that in the opinions ex.
pressed by us of the utility and importance Of such
county and State gatherings of the superintendents,
We have the private appreciation Of such of our
SAM IN a m 4 a
had the privilege Of converting with Now is the
nmr for action, before the frae school law has
been Internationally repealed or injudiciously
amended.
II is hoped that every county in the state will
be fully represented.
The papers of the State are requested 10 publish
this coll
Utica, February 3, 1851.
ID. s HEFPRor, JOSEPH MckgEs,
A. @. SALISBURY, X. ID. JONES,
II X. VrELE, o. b. PIERCE,
M. CorrERNoLL.
State Central Committee.