New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-21
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

| OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The City Superinte ndent aud his Assistants
have just completed the semi annual examas-
tisn and inspection of she Ward Schools, CON-
uen,ed 10 January last. Ninety tSo Gramp,r-
Schools, continuing the male and fenals de-
parimens respectively OF forty six Of the Poolic
Schools, have been visited and examined By Sd
perintebdenfs Kendall and McKeen, and from
forty to fifty Primary Departments by Saperin-
teDdett Seton. About sixty Primary SCHOOLS,
some fourteen or fifteen schools for colOred chill
dren, snd the several corporate institutions par
ticipstipg in the public funds, remain yet to be
inspected.
In these schools upwards Of one hundred and
thirty thousand children are receiving the bene-
fits Of education, dispensed by over thous md
teachers of both sexes. Each school visited has
been subjected to rigOroos and searching exam
nation in the various branches Of study pursued
during the past half year, including reading spell
| ing, definition, grammar, arithmetic, geography
algebra, book. keeping, history and astronomy, in
the pre- sence of the several school officers Of the
ward members Of the Board Of Education, and
crowded and deepy-Lteresed audierc es Of pa
rents and other visiters. Toe entire arrange
ments, order and discipline of each have been
carefully no!ed-its capabilities ascert.ned-its
defects and shortcomings pointed ous-snd its
whole organization andpractIcal worsings shrown
open 10 the view Of sll Interested in its welfare
and prosperity. The result is an increased conf
dence in these noble Institutions and in the sys-
fem If NH lie arr Of uhi hat for
part; d stronger conviction of their excellence
and value, and Of she hold which they possess on
IL g public regard; aud q clearer assurance Of the
wiidom of that eDhghtsnd policy which orgia-
sie6 ind sus.ans this great and all pervadiog ia
trest.
These examinations have been a su ,cession Of
Ia idays TO the children Of the several schools, as
we'll as source o. pride and gratifcston to the pa
rents oDd school officers They have, with very few
exceptions, been opened with tho reading Of the
Scriptures by the Principal, followed by the
repetition Of the Lords Prayer and the singing of
some appropriate hymn by the pupils. A. fee
quent intervals during the examination Of the
classes. the exercises were varied by specimens
of vocal and instrumental music by the children,
and by the reading of compositions. defamation
and the like. Exhibitions OF penmanship, draw
ing, needlewOrk and embroidery, adorned the
walls and class rooms, and the perfect order and
discipline which prevailed and the promptiEude
and accuracy OF the Rotations in the various
branches of study, excited the admiration of all.
At the close Of the exercises brief and appropri-
ale addresses were made BY the Superintendent,
school officers, and other gentlemen in attend.
ance accompanied BY the distribution Of premi.
uus aid certificates OF merit to those whose uni
form good conduct, punctu.lity of attendance, aod
superior scholarship entitled them to this mark
of dstinction and special regard.
We can unhesita!iogly aad cheerfllly CON-
mend the public schools t, the entire confidence
and regard of every parent, in whstever rank or
station of life. So far the various branches OF
good, thorough, prsc .icAl English education are
concerned, they are unsurpassed If not unequaled
by any other institutions Of learning in the CITY
public or private. The personal appearance
manners, department aid conduct OF every child
enrolled on their registers are carefully ATTENDED
TO- genuine Christian morality is inculcased, and
the intellectual faculties systematically and sue
cesifulDy developed and cultivated. And what is
tue, in the,e respects, in One is true Of al-con'
sti,u,ing, ss they do, one entire and uniieru Gs'
tenn. .msnatit fromone aud the same source, pre-
sid ed over, watched and carefully guarded by
officers selected by ihe people, andsupported and
.usteined from common fund. Noone could have
witnessed the successful results Of rigorous aud
horough examination Of these institutions, ex-
tending over period Of three months, without
being entirely saii,fed that the annual expendi-
ture 80 literally appropriated to their support
and extension is the most judicious aud profitable
investment Of the public funds which an en-
Gshiened municipality could possibly have de-
yised for the common benefit Of lie present and
future citizens.
1t is especially due to the teachers, male aud
female of these Institutions to say that their ef
fciency, industry aud ability have been uni
VERBALLY acknowledged and sdaired. A more
f.ithful, competent ard devoted body of instruc-
tors 10 nowhere to be found; and it Is only to be
regretted that their lsbors and scrl6ces In behalf
of the hundred thousand children committed to
their cbnse are rot In general more literally
compensated. We sincerely trust a more equi.s.
Bile and generous STANDARD Of salaries, aud espe-