New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-16
TIE COMMON SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK.


We have received in advance Of its publication the
report of tie Secretary the Common Schools to the
Legislature of this State, and not having the to
publish the whole, make the following ample summary
of its important and interesting contents:
The total number of districts reported by the town
pCTintendens l,6s4, increase the enumera
ton OF the preceding year of 81 but actual increase Of
l44 as AZ districts reported in 1851 than then
existed. s7ss of the above total number were whole
districts consisting OF territory lying in the same town
the remaining $3.50 Joint districts made up Of
parts of two towns. The law requires the number
Of these parts to be reported but the abstract as the
case last year. is evidently deficient in this partcalar
The reports required by law were made from 5000
whole, and 5,7l7 parts Of districts leaving the sta
tistios of 1873 Of the former and ostenbly 275 of the
latter unrepresented in the general table of returns.
Fourteen separate neigbOrhOods Of districts at
tacbed to districts in another State and the school houses
Of which are in another Sate-were reported. But,
was the case preceding year. the number of children
in them given and hence the existing provisions of
the law in their behalf be fully carried The
schools kept open for average period of fraction
over seven months and twenty three days; they
taught by licensed teachers for the average period Osven
months and eighteen days This ia four DAYS than
the average Of 1884, and more than that VI 1850 The
number children between the ages Of four and twenty
one years returned in the district censuses taken the
3st day Of December 1882 as residing within the organ
lied districts of the State, ll5O532 The number
ported attending school throughout the year 3255
Tor months and less than twelve, ls495 eight months
and less than ten 80 349 six months and less than eight
10 500; four months and less than six, 166458i two
months and less than four 7g4O7 lees than two months
tween the above ages who did not attend school, 52s}6
This exhibits great falling Off from the average period
OF attendance in 1851 but the unreliable character of these
returns is demonstrated by the fact that while 62226s pu
pills reported attending for the above stated periods
which should of include the whole attendance, the
whole number of children taught is reported in the
same returns at s6G935, discrepancy of 244OOO
The OF these glazing inaccuracies will be adverted
to hereafter Ii is improbable however, that the aver
age attendance has been actually less than during 1851
The number of inspections of schools by town supern
tendens was $50 considerably less than twice for each
school, and several hundred less in the aggregate than
in 1851. The number OF volumes reported In the district
libraries 1904 0 increase OF 3iO79 from the pre-
ceding year The number of unncOrporated select and
private schools l57 the average number of pupils
attending Them 6l4-an increase in both items from the
preceding year The number of schools for colored chill
dren 2s the number of pupils taught in them lGsO
There undoubtedly omissions in these returns as they
exhibit failing of from the preceding years which is not
otherwise expiaina6le.
The following the estimates and accounts OF exPen
ditures of the school money. Teachers wages-Ihe
of money stated in the reports of Trustees as ay
ing been received in 1852 sl273 49, collected by
district taxes ssGs4 Al by rate bills under the act OF
ls5l s4l 80 received from local funds s23si3 Al
paid for teachers wages in coored schools beside the pab
lie money s53 81 collected by district taxes to pay the
tuition of INDECENT children exempted from the payment OF
rate bills s2AO32 4O collected by district taxes to supply
deficiencies in rate bills, Sl331e 80; making total ex
penditure for teachers wages, sl'93l,s7O Is
he amount public money expended for district lbra
res during the year s9l99 49, Collected by district
taxes for other purposesFor purchase Of school house
sites s33s57 IS building school houses S2O3lls 80
hiring school houses $3.50 g. repairing school houses
eGs3l II insuring school houses S63l6 "a purchasing
fuel S92.is IS book cases, books and apparatus
ss976 10; other purposes s1li 56 making INSISTS yo
Add teachers wages sl,93l,s70 ls library money,
$4,000 3d. Total amount expended for school purposes
during the year being s2,469.2is So
The whole amount of public money received and dis
bursed was follows received by town supeIintendents
from all sources during the year, sl623576 so appro
lriaed Tor teachers wages, se694l5 10 appropriated
ior libraries s43329 making s6i3l274J and leaving
unappropiiatod s3lO,O3l %. . -, .
The wear 1851 in the items of teachers wages and insect
lanecus expenses This fact becomes significant taken
in connection with the apparently d1 mn nSaoo az
tuIe Of library money from the preceding year, nc
counted for by the fact that under the law in force prior 70
Nav lS5 the Boards of Supervisors in the several
COMMITTEES were REQUIRED TO annually raise by tax an
amount of library money equal to that received from the
State Fund The reports OF 1881 therefore lncude tue
sums so raised by the supervisors in 1880 The large ex
cess over the usual amount stated as "unappropna,
ted Is measuraby accounted for by the non payment
OF the school moneys due from New York and Rensselaer,
Counties in time TO be received and app9Tnoned
nv tho town supeIintendents in the several C0un
ties to which balances were due prior to the Isl
of July, when the reports OF these ohcers were ue up
Tho State tax of $4,000 apportioned among ine
eyeral counties and certified to the county clerks on the
nth day Of June last in the provided by law ny
income OF the Common School Fund, and $4,000 from
the income Of the United States Deposit tund were SET
apart for the support Of common schools durlng the cur
year This exceeds by $1,000 the appropriation Tor
the same purpose in 1853 The school moneys have been
increased by other To relieve certain unrepored
joint districts in The County of Saratoga alluded to In me
SuponnteLdent last annual report the Legislature on
the 10th dGy Of April, ls5s appropriated s? $50 20 to be
paid 20 the Treasurer of that county.
The following exhibits the amount OF school moneys for
1854 appoTnoned ard nnapportioned Apportioned from
income of Common School Fund, $4,000; epporioned
from income of L. Deposit Fund, sl65 900 appor
toned from avGs OF School Tax ssoOO0O appori med
fom balance OF excuses in hands of Superintendent
81 500 81 make a total appoFiione1 6 24O 81 and
leaving an unappOroned balance in hands of Superinen
- and IA SclOlGrie IF
SID 81; giving total Of sl,l0l,si4 70,
The Secretary presents Ilansor The Improvement and
management of the Common School tand AMI for the be-;
er r9aniaaiion Of the Common schools The increase
I'D 5'rin.fon of tie Common School Fund during tie
Stelcfscal car ending The son OF September ls,i'
end be revenues Of the fluid for the same year are eAn'