New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-15


,heIr Accounts. Philadelphia: Published
NyOrder of the Board OF Controllers, $50.
Tbl Rel ort is one of particular interest. With
awise Arethought, which future facts have fully
sustained,he more enlightened founders and up
holders OF Or political institutions, have streAu-
ously advocaed plaza OF General instruction,
which should Extend to all classes of society
beneiting the rich'yitbout humiliating them, and
the poor, without sessibly subtracting from their
meas of support
We have no intention Of entering into an argu-
meut in favor of popular instruction The edu.
Gated man knows, from personal experience, the
value Of such knowledge as ne possesses, and the
illierate man has too often suffered from his
Ignorance, not to FEEL its weakness and misery.
We hold it to be an axiom, that no Republic can
be certain Of its stability until its people are
mlde Intellectually independent For by the
Aict OF opinions-by the harmony OF truths
b. the conservative principles which are in his.
try--by the improvements which are suggested
il daring imaginations-by tho cautious move
nents of logical minds-by the violent efforts of
uring passions-by the impossibility of herding
and driving, en- Daasse, an educated popuIace-our
reenstitutions are at present upheld, and to such
antgonistcal supports they must look for safety
hereafter The Report before usisfull of informa-
ton both retrospective and prospective. as to the
practical workings of the Common School system
in tie County of Philadelphia.
o. the 3Oth of June, 1850, the number of schools
in tat county was $50, teachers 1877, and scholars
1896 male, 81 ,677 female; an increase over the
preious year of schools, Al teachers, and ., 100
scblsrs The number and designation of the
sclools are: l High School, Normal School, SO
Grammar, 90 Secondary, 1870 Primary and 40 I'M
classified.
The total amount Of expenditure during the
school year was $685., 433 p. The amount ex-
pended, exclusive of real estate and furniture,
was 1921, $50 So. If this sum be divided by the
number of pupils, it shows the sum of Sc AZ as
the expense of each pupil This sum includes the
salaries of teachers, cost of books stationery,
fuel &c. everything in short, but the money en-
poyed in permanent investment and at so small
charge to itself the State is able to give an edu-
cation unsurpassed by that Of any schools In the
land.
In the Primary, Secondary and Grammar Schools,
the pupils receive the benefits OF a thorough Eng
Jish course. The Normal School is intended for
instructiDg females in the art of teaching. The
graduates of this School, after rigid examina-
zion, are eligible as teachers in the lower Schools
Connected with the Normal Is Model School,
where the pupils Of the former are practically ex-
ercised in their art. The purpose of these two
Schools is eminenty worthy of attention. The
High School has been long and justly an object OF
pride to the City of Philadelphia Under the care
ful guidance of so eminent scholar as the Princi-
pal Prof Hart, it has advanced with an energy
which promises to it's future graduates an educa'
ton which shall rival that of our first colleges
The High School is the furthest development OF
the Common School system. Toward 1t the am
bilious hopes Of the pupils in the lower Schools are
directed and the healthy stimulus, thus mparted
20 the youthful mind, has been proven OF more
avail, in melting to exertion, than whole bench
of pedagOgues armed with all the terrors OF the
birch The Report of Prof Hart embraces not on
~ the history the discipline the course OF study
and the present condition of the Schools, but also
n number of statistical tables of great value to
those who are interested in educational affairs
The Report is frank clear and minute, evidently
written by one perfectly at home with his subject
in its most complicated details.
The High School usually contains over hive hun
bred pupils between the ages offourteen and sew
enteen years, who are instructed by twelve pro-
fessors. The complete course OF study extends
through four years; and It may be safely SAID that
at the end of this period the pupil Is lifted to
leave his teachers and pursue with success the
more labOrious task Of self instruction. No more
can be claimed for any similar institution. The
number OF graduates is about two hundred and
fifty per annum, whose services are In demand
among the bankers, merchants, &c. Of Philadel-
phia So that the High School not only affords its
pupils finished education, but If they need and
deserve employment it gives them a start in life
which they could not have obtained without more
than common influence.
Since Prof. Hart assumed the duties OF Princi
pal, there has been so great progress IN the
character of the studies that the Legislature OF
Pennsy lvanie have empowered the School to con-
fer the degrees Of Bachelor and Master of Arts
upon It's graduates This is welldeserved
honor alike fattering to the Principal to the va
rious Professors, and 20 the intelligence and in
dustry Of the pupils
Prof Hart has introduced, within the last year,
into the regular course, a 0Taach OF study for
which he deserves the gratitude OF all who have
proper respect for their mother tongue. We re-
FER to the study of the Anglo Saxon language. A
language forming the basis of four hths OF our lit
erature is surely worthy of better understand
ing than can be picked up from the best etymo-
logical dictionary. This language is thoroughly
taught in the High School, and we believe in no
other institution in the country. The advantages
of such instruction are obvious, and will soon be
felt in their purifying influence on q literature
emascnlsted by the too copious introduction of
derivatives.
The discipline of the High School has one i'm.
nortant superioritv 10 that of Colleges IL is
a notorious fact that many young men, from the
amount Of thrir study being almost discretionary
with them, leave our Colleges with all the para
phernaha of A. B knowing actually less than
when they entered. Such cannot be the case In
fhe High School II combines the rigid discipline
Of the school--the principle by which knowledge
z0kens roiens 10 forced into the pupil-wlth the
dignity which attaches to the pursuit OF the hlgne'
branches OF learning.
We hope that all who are interested in the
cause OF popular education will carefully weigh
the facts and suggestions contained in this able
Report.