New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-13
Orphan Asyiums and the Common School
Rund


To NE Legislature Of the State Of Neic York, in Senate and
dsseDabig conUensd.
The Brooklyn Orphan Asylum incorporated in
1885 respectfully show that they have heen in
formed that an application has been, or is about
TO be, made by or at the instance Of the Board Of
Education Of the City of Brooklyn, for repeal Of
the several laws under which the said Orphan
Asylum Society is entitled to a distributive
share of the Common School Fund Of the said City
Of Brooklyn.
Upon what precise grounds this application is
made, the Managers are not advised, nor can they
conjecture any sufficient reason for the repeal Of
Law which conferred upon the Asylum Of the
CITY of BROOKLYN what had already been granted
to all other Asylums in the State, as the Managers
have understood. Nor can they any thing, in
principle that calls for the invdOus action by
the Legislature excluding the Asylums of this
city from a privilege which is allowed TO all
others, Of participation in the Common School
Fund.
If the real object of the application is for
repeal of all laws by which Asylums entitled TO
this privilege, the Managers of this Society would
not consider 1t particularly incumbent upon them
to interpose any objection, but would trust TO the
sound policy of the Legislature and be content to
abide by whatever rule should be prescribed, az
fecting all alike.
But after the deliberate passage Of laws con.
enjoyed by others, if the design now is to resclnd
these laws and deprive the Asylum of this City of
their share Of fund which other societies are
left in the participation OF, the Managers of this
Society deem it their duty to demonstrate against
any such action by the Legislature.
If the laws in any respect ambiguous or
doubtful, it might be proper to modify them so as
to leave no room for question, though it is very
far from being evident to your remonstrants that
there is any such obscurity in the present laws;
and the tenacity with which the Board OF Educa-
ton has held TO q construction of the laws differ.
ing from that of the State Superintendent and also
from the opinion of the Court to whom the ques
ton has been submitted, should not, perhaps, be
regarded as certain proof that there is intrinsic
difficulty, when we find them following it up with
an application like the present, looking more like
a personal controversy than candid regard for
the Just rights Of all parties interested In public
education.
Still your remonstrants do not oppose such
modification as shall seem proper to the Legisla-
ture, and which shall leave the Society upon an
equal footing with others but they do object to
such partial action is called for by the Board Of
Education.
The Managers of the Society respectfully show
that they have carefully observed the require
ments OF the law, according to their understand
ing thereof. They have made no claim except for
children actually taught in the School OF the Asy-
lum and all of them inmates OF and supported by
the institution and they respectfully submit that
it is right and proper that q share of the Common
School Fund should be allotted to them as is now
provided by law. The children belonging to the
ASYLUM are of tender age and destitute of pa
rental care they need to be constantly under the
guardianship Of those whom this institution has
placed in charge of them. 1t would be cruel to
send them out into District Schools; most ofthem
are too young to be trusted by themselves, and
all can be better looked after and watched over
and educated within the walls of the Asylum by
persons whom the Managers have specially en-
ployed for that purpose, than by committing them
10 teachers in the District Schools who have no
particular interest in this institution, and cannot
be expected to have so much at heart the great
charity for which it was established, as the Man.
ayers and those employed by them.
The Managers of the Society believe that the
proceeding of the Board of Education is not one
that should commend itself to the favorable con.
sideration of the Legislature; and, as trustees OF
an institution which has heretofore been justly
held in high esteem by the citizens Of Brooklyn,
they interpose this remonstrance against any past
action by the Legislature and pray that before
the subject shall be finally disposed of, they may
be heard before a Committee of one or both
Houses and the whole sube be fairly considered.
Brooklys, Jan 10, 1851. - 49, -
ANNA WOOD. Recording Secretary.
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