New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-06
PTBLTC SCHOOLS.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE ST.
PERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTUC-

TON.
The Introductory portion Of the report contains the
statistics of persons within the school age, number OF
districts attendance, expenditures, &c.-'ie leading
items of which have been stated in the Governor
Message
The whole amount expended for school purposes in
1853 was g. 600 80 The vsit9tons OF sch 'Ols 10y
the Town and County Superinten dents avera ring
about one and balf per annum TO each school, may
toe regarded a purely nominal.
The fixed contribution Of $500 600 raised by State
tax for the support of schools il argued, must be
increasingly nade quate with the growth Of pppul
IL enlarged to SsGi GOO, which would make Il cores
pond with the increase in number OF persons entitled
TO tuition an addition OF per cent, the additional
tax would be less than haf Of the additional ability to
meet H. the aggregate assessed valuation having Ia
cseased ~ per cent sincethe tax was voted Tne Sd
perinteudent concurs heartily III the Justice of ee
concentrations Of those who have urged nil'taX bit
recognizes th fact the present period Of depression
in the industry Of the country Is peculiarly nausPl-
cious to the success of such recommendation. lie
il more resGily reconciled 10 the lOstp0nement of
this measure fom the conviction that cOmpsr iively
small sum expended in securing, by proper system
Of supsrV sion the judcioUs aud effective sinuisra-
tion Of the alre idy granted, would do more for
the eNte nsOn and adVa cement O education than the
lsrges; APPROPRIATED tnGt has been sought WITHOUT
such supervision.
Great irregularities result from the distribution,
under the existing law. of 1851 2ol o. equally )ng
all the districts without regard 10 tcer population.
IL offers premium Or llb t1rlucr O1kslOu OF
already too weak 10 the greatest economy aud
the best classification in the schools IL Induces
tinued efforts the psrt Of those who suffer by IT,
Ia secure special legislation to cure the ey IN their
own localities. Thus the POuchkcepsie charter au-
thorizes the countog Of every - persons of school
ace as a district; while Cti:s. which is now Onc dss
tiCt, would. upon such basis. be counted g. %
districts, and would gain over 5000 per AMMAN.
The report recommends the adoption of some general
rule for estimstlng districts by population where
their Territorial boundaries are not marked.
The act for the formation OF tnion Free Schools is
operating very benefGially though from is provi-
sions not beng generally understood, few districts
have as vet been consolidated under il. They are
admirable a. media of voluntary irsuston fro the
present ystem to that OF entirely free education for
all, being preferable 10 compulsory legislation, aud
hence should receive every practc Al encouragement
The necessity of more ample provision for the pro-
fssondl training of teachers aside from their general
education. Is strongly urged. The existing agencies
for this purpose are the State Morning School,
Teachers Departments in the academies, and Teach
ers Institutes n the Counties.
The Normal 'hoo has in 10 years turnef ont 80
pupils who completed the prescribed course OF study
auc received diplomas, az an average cost II tue
state Of S915 each. Including these, there have
been in attendance, itr a longer or shorter time,
2262 pupils whose instruction has cost al average
of shout s45 each. These pupils are doing
service directly, by Their OWE labor. az ln-
directly, by stimulating others. large pro-
portion OF the graduates enly permanently in
many. after serving here q reasonable time have &C.
cepe,i more lucrative snd prominent edu ,stiona po
sitlon IN other states. The Superintendent recon-
mends a higher staudSd Of admission tina. the stu-
cation may be more strictly professions ana less Of
general chsrscter-thsi none should be sent to this
school except those Of crrcIt hsaht, which ls tls
basis OF endurance ami gives clear and steady turn
of mind, SO important 10 control and 10 teSch.
The Teache- Department i" the Academies have
been sustained for the lss. four wears Al cost OF
$50 220 for the instruction Of Isl pupils during
term OF sixteen week each. Tbs cost for each p1pil
is very nearly tcus regard being hsd 10 the time Of
instruction, "a that of the Normal School while II
cannot be estimated approAlmating 10 the same
equality the >Elae Of she results. The system IL
liable TO great abuses from the facility of msTshans
any pupils whether designed 10 tesch or not, into
nominal teachers cl.sses. There is no sdequs,e Sc
curity sgsinst the diversion Of the flnd TO greater
or less extent 10 mere bounty 10 ordinary &C sdenc
pupils. With proper safeguards IN this respect the
Superintendent believes the appropriation may be sd
VantsgeOusly continued, since the value Of the in
struc,ion far exceeds the outlay.
The Teachers substitutes are of great importance
stimulating the same esprit da corps among teach