The New York herald., 1851-07-15

operation in other cities Of the Union, and IN th
private schools, it shall also be found to be rela
lively economical and that while its expense has
| from year to year, with the population and re
sources of the city, increased in amount, yet, )m
pared WITH either or all of the above assumed bases
of estimate, it has relatively diminished, instead Of
our system, its organization, its administration
being either in their principles, operation,
Suits cause Of uneasness or alarm, it is, in all
these particulars, matter OF just congratulation
and encouragement to philanthropists generally,
and the friends of popular education in particular
to 60. on perseveringly until they shall have ex.
tended the inestimable blessings OF this system to
every child within our borders, whether high, or
humbly born.
The report then goes on to compare the relative
expense Of the system of popular education in New
York with that of other cities and having furnished
table, continues:-
"From the foregoing table, it appears that
whether We take, a basis of estimate and COM
parison, general population, valuation OF real
registered attendance in the common schools, or
the average daily attendance in the same, both the
annual aggregate expense, and the expense per
scholar under our present system Of popular educa-
ti0n is relatively less than the same in almost every
other city in the Union. For example, while in
Boston the ratio Of aggregate annual expense Of
common school education on general population is
81 1852, that of New York is only $0533, less than
one third Of the former on valuation of real aud
personal property in Boston, it is so 0Ol33, in New
York $000O96; on registered attendance in COM
mon schools in Boston $ll OF, in New York 81 523
and on average daily attendance, which is the true
expense per scholar in Boston it i, $l4 SO, while in
New York it is only 30 So, less than half the for
mer.
1t will thus be seen that, upon all these bases of
estimate and comparison, New York in expense, is
greatly below the general average as she Is in this
regard below the other principal cities individually
So that, whether the comparison be made of our
system with that Of the other cities Of the Union,
taken either separate or collectively that is the
expense of the individual city, or the general ave-
rage Of the whole the result in either case, is alike
favorable to the economy of our own system, and
should be satisfactory to those who more imme-
diately interested therein and who contribute to its
support.
Now, under our present system of popular educa-
ton, the whole cost per scholar, including books
stationery, fuel, and all other supplies, Is 50 50
year less than sixth of the cost in the private
schools. When viewed in the aggregate, although
the relative proper lions are similar, the result of
the comparison will be still more striking.
The average number of pupils daily taught in
the common schools, during the past year, as
shown by the annual report of this board, just
made, is 40 O55, and the actual expense of their in
struction, including books, stationery, and fuel.
t24,794 50. The expense Of the same number of
scholars, for tuition alone, in the private schools,
would, at the rate We have assumed, have amount
ed to 81 COZ 200, showing n difference aud saving
in favor Of the relatye economy Of the common
schools, of 81 327 405 a. annually; saving equal
to almost hye times the entire expense OF support
ing the common schools.
Whether, therefore, we compare our system of
popular education and its present management
with our own experience of the past, with the sys-
TENS in operation in other cities of the Union, or
own excellent private scho DIS, we find abundant
reason for the gratifying conclusion, that sys-
TEN, while it mas been elevated in its character and
extended in its application, has also been in a
markable degree, economical; conclusion as gra-
tifying to the friends Of the system and Of the
schools ri III shOnld he satisfactOry N thoaa WI
sustain them.
THE FREE ACADEMY.
Among the various improvements Of late intro
duced into system of po pular education none is
more novel peculiar in its character, more in
terestipg in its object and results, than the last,
the Free Acs deny. Such an institution had long
been felt by those familiar with, and who had
watched the progress Of our system, to be not only
a gread desderatum in the system, but absolutely
essential to its perfection. The Free Academy,
therefore, may well be viewed as the crowning
excellence of our system of popular education.
tie erection Of the building, fitting up of the same,
expended s9i ,372 s3. The yearly interest on this
sum at at & Per = cent per annum, is 4ss; to this
for the last year, and We have an amount Of
$2l ,752. Divide this amount by $50, the number
OF students and it gives, as the average per scholar,
SG5 81, including books, stationery, &C., which,
being deducted at the rate OF 81 81 the Scholar the
actual cost for the last year, the average of
general expense per scholar is reduced to S5S "a,
beiI less than two-fths of the average pei scholar
in the colleges. Increase the number Of students to
..x hundred, which it will probably reach in the
course Of the next year, and extend also the cur
rent expenses to the limit Of the statute, say
s20O and the amount, with the interest on in
vestments, will be $25, ,iS3 Divide this amount by
six hundred, and it gives average per scholar Of
S42 a. including books, stationery, &c., as above;
at 800 scholars the average would be S3l 80 per
scholar; and extend the number Of scholars to
naI h ~, La~
duced to S25 49, This average must, of course. be
varied and increased by any nece .sary increase in
the current expenses for additional instructors and
supplies; but it must ever fall far below the cor
responding avera ges in the colleges.
Pupils Of the requisite age, OF at least one years
standing in the common schools, and of the neces-
sary proficiency in the required elementary studies,
have Tree access to this last and highest institution in
our system Of popular education. The course Of
studies in this institution is liberal in its outline,
minute in its details, various in its subjects,
thorough and efficient in its instruction, in the
higher, Older, and more richly endowed colleges.
Ills Honor, the Mayor, in his inaugural message,
has associated the department OF Common Schools
with those of the Aims House and Police. On first
impression the ardent and sensitive friends of edu
this association but, upon more mature reflection
they will think, be led to the conclusion that in
this the Mayor has done well for there arc naturally
and necessarily very near and interesting relations
existing between these several departments. So
intimate, indeed, are these relations, and so imme
date and strong are the reciprocal influences
sprngpg out of them. that the more you cherish
and sustain the one the more relieve the others
the more liberal and difusive your system Of educa-
tion, and the more you contribute for its improve
ment and extension, the less you will have to pay
for the maintenance OF the other two departments.
The more that, in an improved and extended sys
tenn OF popular education, you subject all to the
elevating, refining, and conservatory influences of
a wholesome moral, intellectual, and Industrial
training, the more you relieve your Aims House
and Police. Extend education and you diminish
paupcrism and crime. Increase the number of
scholars, and you diminish in more than a CORES.
ponding degree, the number Of those who are other
wise to become the recipients Of your charity, or
the subjects of your penal CODE Between these
alternatives you must decide. Can the choice, in
civilized and Christian community, be either diff
cult doubtful, will not say to the philsnthro.
pist merely, but even TO the tax paycrl That
choice city has already made; aud It Is nov, in
improved and extended educational institutions,
receiving its successful developement. Its fruits
and final result the future only can fully disclose;