New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-19
FREE ACADEMY FOR GIRLS.
To u, Ed,tO, Of TA.N y Tr.5un4

To ne Edito, Of TIE Y Trtbun4
SIR: The Common-School system # our City is
justly cherished by every true New-iorktr; for il is
generally admitted that in the establishment Of
Free Education for All is secured the welfare Of our
conn unity, and the success and permanency of our
free n'ttuioDs II ia the duty, then of every citi-
zen Of every friend Of &c ucaton, to guard az amt
approaching danger and to stamp the seal of di.ap-
probation upon any and all projects which may tend
to weaken and dee.roy the efficiency OF our noble
educational system.
Hence, before taking the position assumed day
or two since by daily psper OF this Cny-strongly
advocating the establishments az another Free aea-
deny--ltt US pause a little and reflect. E1perence
sAonld teach us useful lees With every csntem-
plated project, common sense ~ well a. Scripture
suggests 10 the wisdom of first counting the
" cost" and considering whether the results will
prove Der eficial, or the contrary. Has the Free
Academy for males fulfilled popular expectations
Where hes ii made its m,rk in this community
The taxpayers of the City, which term includes all
those who own or hire house, will cordially submit
10 any thing that Will add efficiency 10 our Common
School stem: bnt there is danger Of going too far
Let Us lock Of a few facts let US compare the Free
Academy with Common Schools 10 which the
City looks for piDeentts Of its future cizsus The
pupils Of cur Common Schools are educated at cost
not e1ceeGiI $40 each per annum including interest
on the cost of school buildings and other expenses.
How il il with the Free Academy LAST year the
BOARD Of Education appropriated. l think, over
ESQ COO for lie support during 1854. The premises
have cost nesry 500 900. Add Tie interest of this
amount TO the foregoing $40 OOO and We have & sum
in the peigl borbood of S40 900 for supporting the
Free Academy for one year As the average attend
arce H. believe considerably short Of 400, II will be
seen that II cost is about 500 per schOlar. Thus il
will be perceived that we educate Ten pupils IN our
Common Schools for the same amount OF money that
II takes TO educate ore in the Free Academy With
the free scholarships in the University and in
9th in hat ~ s-ea
would doubtless be found much cheaper for our Bosrd
OF Education to send each and all of said pupils tn the
beet Colleges of the land, rather than to hat Poor
Mans College" technically called the Free Ac sde-
NY ia which mostly the IONS OF the Tich able TO
r. msin for any erea, length Of time.
Now would ak, hsr that Institution been Of cor
responding beIeht 10 the community We think not.
On the contrary venture 10 assert that boys leave
schools 10 take upon themselves the sc.ive du.
ties of life, better prepared practically than the
graduates of our Free Academy. II is a notorious
fact, which SONS Of The of public in.truc-
ton in this City well know, that the pupil. of the
Academy after being imnured within il walls, por-
irg over Latin sid Greek for three or four years,
out tberefrom hsvIP lost sll readiness in some
of the fundamental branches taught in schools
state of ibrss which upts them either for teachers
IN the schools, for any active department OF me-
charicsl or mercarfile life.
But, say some. it eIer's glorious influence
our Con- mon Schcols-stlriDg them up 81 With long
pole, from its high ard unapproschabe position.
Glorious influence st IL may be found some what
Questionable when looked 81 carefully Every teacher
Ia the Public Schools well knows At not one in ten
OF boys desires 10 enter and tina, not n
forty of tie youth generally ever really does enter
that Institution. Nov, Sir. Should College" that
couceins, cay st the very best but oH>-tenA of our
pupils, be PERM ted TO entirely mold the studies OF
tie otter HiHe-tsnthsi And yet it does this to too
great al extent. IL that healthfu influence which
tends TO unculy rlv.t the attention Of the principal
teacher some Of whom may be cOurting the waves Of
popular Spplausel 20 tmsll fraction of the youth
snoer bic charge 10 the comparative neglect II may
be, Of 'be ereai II ass Of HI pupils
Ii true that the require meflts for admission com.
pithCnd some fuIdsCentsl branches which eysry
IupL should be thoroughly taught. But sss s e;-
sbshnt ut cesientc 10 restrict the branches taught
IN ur schools 10 hcse only upon which 80 Jc sut for
ADMISSION INTO the Academy are examined d our
meroairle AID mechanical intertst sDd the Jude Oh.
.1.rc'se OF lie responsible Gu les of American ci.
zership demand, or does the DEVELOPMENT of the
branches
lie Ere Academy. then, should not be allowed .
make oOr schools entirely suhservi-nt 70 itself Il
t1efts perDciOus influence wnen il makes the pub
he'ctoo teacher feel ii al his al utation
u usy be biz professional salvation, depend. noon
ihe number Of boys be sends thers Are the ci.i IN.
OF the Academy psranoun. TO those of ths comm.
nifty which Il aDIiou,y looking to our school. for
intelligent ard wei informed men TO fill the vadou.
ceDertneuts Of Industry, and Of commercial Iifsl
The fact Is il 10 me that the people newer de-
signed thar Institution 10 be anything but an Acade-
ny sort of High School where the fsx boy. VINO
might be fouuc in all schools anxious to pursue
their studes further and with additional practic.
besTir e. could a small amount OF iDcre ased
expenditure. Our pIesent Free Academy is nothing