New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-04

highest intelligence and philanthropy will be SO
lected for the managers and directors Of this vast
and monentous establishment.
The comparative value of the public schools to
the community will be better appreciated by sn
examination of the following statistics Of the
UNCONVENTIONAL or parocbisl schools no. under
the special care of the Board OF Education.
There are thirty.six of these schools as follows:
S, pupil. & Dutch sssPS loo pupils
SPresbyterisn... 25e pupils wih........ 72l pupils
2EPiseOFaiisn... nS pupils ,.,,...,., ,sS1..,,,
seveneeniho the number sush IN the schools
under the charge OF the Board Of Education.
The Catholic Schools participate in the appor-
tonment of the school moneys; the Others are
sustained by the respective denominations. In the
Jewish Schools there are thirty three and
In all the others about seventy or one-eeventh of
he number engaged in the Public Schools. The
Industrial Schools serve very good purpose as
pioneers 70 bring in children from the streets and
create an interest in the subject OF edu-
cation in the minds of the parents; but after
few months their scholars should be promoted to
the Public Schools, because the influences sur
rounding them are of necessity depressing to
10 their mental activity The Jews although
maintaining their distinctive characteristics in
many respects, have never made any direct oppO-
sition to the policy of Free School system, but
have in the main co0perated aud ayailed them
selves of its facilities for good commercial and
english education for their children. Within a
few years past, there has been a considerable in
crease in this class of our population by emf
grafton from various parts of the old world. This
has led to the increase of their parochial schools
which are supported by charge for tut
ton the same as other private schools.
1t will also appear from the foregoing
stat, ment in regard to the Catholic schools that
only small portion of the children Of Catholic
parents attend their denomn stional schools
probably not more than one-eishth of the whole
number of suitable age TO attend school. This
fact demonstrates either that the great majority
Of the children of Catholic parents do avail them
selves of the public schools and receive tho
benefits arising therefrom, or are growing up in
ignorance.
From all these considerations it will be easy
for the public to perceive the great import anco
of having faithful, earnest and intelligent men
elected to fill the vacancies in the various boards
of school officers and especially those in the
Board of Education, for upon this body deyolves
the legislation for the whole system. The apprO-
pratOBs of money for its support amount in the
aggregate to over six hundred thousand dollars,
and must soon amount to million per annum.
This Board has also the responsibility Of appoint
ing a corps of Superintendents to watch the
practical operations of the whole establishment,
and report to the Board upon its efficiency
Much of the success of the system must depend
upon the faithfulness devotion and intelligence
of the Superintendents who should be able readily
ing the grand object for which they were organ
ized--the education of all the children of tho
people. In order TO do this successfully the Super
intendents should be men possessed of habits Of
industry tact, good knowledge Of human na-
ture, great perseverance, and energy with thorough
and minute information as to the details involved
in the working Of the system, coupled with
broad and generous conception Of les design and
scope, as connected. with its future development
and usefulness.
AnOtha very important feature of our popular
educational system is beginning to assume a
position that will demand a great deal Of ti,se,
labor and attention from the superintendeuts.
We allude to the numerous evening schools
that are to have two terms each during the com
ing season. There are to be in session during
the coming fall and winter twenty -four of these
schools, fifteen for boys and nine for girls, com
mencing on the ID Of October next. These
schools should be made to reach those classes of
the people who least estimate the advantages Of
education, aud who would be least likely to
devote any part of the day time to providing their
children with mental training. 1t is worth con-
sideration Also whether they should not aim at a
more general course Of instruction than ia
impaired in the day schools embracing as large q
variety as possible Of knowledge that can be
made Immediately useful for industrial purposes.