The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-02
EducAtIon In New York.


EdacAtion In New York.
From the report of the Superintendent Of
Public instruction, it appears that the proper
ton Of children studying at schools and edu-
cational institutions in this State is larger
than in any other State of the Uaion, and pro-
badly any other country in the world. Asmm-
ing the population Of New York to be nearly
$500, 000-a large estimate--the proportion of
children receiving education is as in 3.5, or
in Z. The public schools give gratuitous
instruction to over 100000 pupils, and about
100000 are educated at private schools, AGA
denies and colleges We had occasion lately
to give the statistics Of Massachusetts, and
some other States, where the children at schools
are to the whole population as to 4, in the
States where education thrives the most sue
cessfully. One to four was also the proportion
recorded in this State by the last census Now
it is l to 3 s, and the increase of scholars dur
ing the year is larger than the increase of chill
dren- suggesting the hope that ere long the
proportion will be still more creditable
There is very little margin left for improve
ment in this respect. The total number of
and twenty-one, is returned at l,224,l27; Of
these one million 60 to school; leaving less
than quarter of million for those who have
left school, those who are i'll, and those who
are too young to learn. There may, however,
be some Improvement in the attendance of
scholars, which is not SO punctual as it should
be. This is matter for the consideration Of
parents.
We are sorry to see that, owing to some mis-
management of the funds, the number of
volumes in the district libraries decreases year
by year, Notwithstanding the annual vote of
$4,000 to keep them up. 1t is to be hoped
that MIR. Rice will sift this matter thoroughly,
and let US know the cause of the diminution
and the way to remedy it. Fifty thousand
dollars more or less are no object to the State Of
New York, if more money is req uired to secure
free reading to our youth Books are the best
teachers in the world. Give the boys and
girls plenty Of good books-as many as they
can read--if they tear them, buy more; do not
grudge the dollars-and the State will find
that its money has been we'll laid out. How
many great and good men have traced their
rise in life to reading some good book thrown
carelessly in their way!
The Superintendent draws public attention
again to the necessity of compelling the col
leges and higher institutions of learning to
cooperate with the common schools in edu-
eating the people, by throwing open scholar
ships to be the prizes of competition at the
latter. No one but the most hardened and ex-
elusive professor will controvert the opinion,
All institutions deriving aid from the State
ought to give full value for that aid by afford
ing gratuitous education to given number of
pupils, to be chosen by the school officers of
the State. It is the more surprising this has
not been done already, as it has long been an
established custom in France, Germany, and
even at the exclusive universities of England.
When the link between the common school
and the first class academy shall have been
soldered, it will be time to think Of some
thing above the latter. 1t will then be time to
see what We are to do with Columbia College,
and those other 'seats Of learning" which have
made themselves SO famous for turning out fast
young men, first rate whips, and crack players
of billiards, but possessing no relics of their
but these. We shall then have to decide whether
it is or is not our destiny as people, to spend
our life in adding up and multiplying, in build
ing, in running railroads and steamers, in piling
dollar on dollar, and in doing nothing else; or
whether we, like older nations, are destined
not to trust to the desultory efforts of individu-
al students for our reputation in the higher
arts and sciences, but to win for our country
great name in letters, in languages, in philoso-
ply, in the various branches of natural econo-
my, by gathering together under one roof and
round one table the leading students of the
country, and bidding them study on, and on,
for glory and truth only, regardless of sordid
hope Of gain or need, under the friendly shelter
and in the peaceful academic shade which an
intelligent people have provided for them.
This momentous question, said Mr.. George
Sumner in his late lecture on education, 1t
would be infinitely well for the people of this
city to determine at an early period. This
New York Of ours is already the centre of trade,
the focus Of enterprise, the goal of striving
men, the nations bank Let us make it also
the seat Of learning and study. A very little
money, very little effort will do what is
wanted.
A roomy building, in some quiet up town |
place, with little land around it, and few |
Gins planted in rows; a college there, with |
dozen professors or so-men Of fine attain |
ments and love for learning no rushing or |
straining for students, but accommodations for |
a large number at high rates Of tuition; half as |
many scholarships and bursaries as there are |
paying students; . quarter as many fellows
chosen from their eminence in science and |
learning and furnished with lodgings and
stipend Of say $1,000 year each, in order to |
enable them to live easily and devote their
whole time to study-surely here is no Utopia
to IN in aoo rob NJ. ond vaf uhot r,;xht ,xnt I