The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-16
Our Public School System.

Our Tubuc SCHOOL system.
The new Board Of Education was organized on
Wednesday evening, elected a President, and ap-
pointed its executive committees for the ensuing
year. We are glad to perceive that it eschewed
politics at the commencement. Thus far it has
done well; but it has only begun its lAbors, and it
will require all the vigilance OF the honest and dis
interested portion of its members 10 prevent it
from degeneratiDg into mere political machine.
The immense amount of money which is expend-
ed every year for educational purposes, and
which last year reached the sum of eleven hun
dred thousand dollars, has tendency to attract
towards this body not only the earnest attention
but the active interference Of dishonest and de-
signing men. The erection of new school
houses, the alteration and repairing Of old ones,
the purchase of books, stationery and fur
niture present splendid opportunity for realiz-
ing fortunes, and it would be absurd to suppose
that such opportunities have been neglected.
The contract system is, in fact, as well under-
stood blythe politicians of the Board of Educa.
ton as it is by the Common Council; and it is
said that somo of them, who have become sudden
ly rich have acquired their wealth by selling
report for 1855 it appears that for the erection
and repairing of buildings and purchase of
books over three hundred thousand dollars We're
expended in that year. and during the past
twelve months We are assured they nearly
reached the sum Of five hundred thousand. If
the increase of expenditure for public education
continues az this rate in five years more IL will
amount to two millions, the greater part of
which will be certain TO ind its way into the
pockets Of politicians.
To check this reckless expenditure aud to
preserve our public school system from the odium
and contempt into which it Will inevitably fall IL
not kept free from politics, the people must look
nto the character aud abilities OF the men whom
hey select for the important offices of School
Commissioners, Trustees and Inspectors Every
year public indifference in respect to this matter
appears to Increase, AMI the consequence must be
that we will eventually have Board of Educa-
ton composed entirely Of trucking politicians,
who are as utterly incapable Of approaching or
judging the merits Of a teacher as they would be
OF performing the responsible duties of their
Office faithfully and with higher motive than
that Of pecuniay gain.
Unfortunately too little attention mas been
given to this subject by those who should be
most interested-the parents of New York. They
have, as general thing, been content to ina
gine that their children are receiving an ex-
cellent education, and when gu election for
school officers takes place, vote for the
candidates without the slightest reference
TO their character or qualifications. Political
schemiDg and swindling enter as largely into
the nomination and election of these officers "a
into the nomination and election of al Alderman.
ard he who pulls the greatest number of wires is
generally the most successful candidate In this
respect the Board of Education is constituted
like the Boad Of Aldermen, to which Il is every
year bearing stronger resemblance. II Is.
however. an entirely Independent body, as IL
should be- and recognizes no authority TO which
il is responsible, except the people bu. the
supervisory power with which the President Is
invested could be made the means, where there is
the will, of checking dishonesty and putting \
stop to The glaring evils Of the contract system.
Not bill can be paid unless Il has fire. received
bis signature and to him, therefore, the people
suoulu TOOK 1Of nrOtecuOh lrOu pJntiCti
schemers Every item should be inquired into,
and oil the work performed by contractors aud
Others, estimated at its actual value, judicious
economy cxactcd OF teachers and children IN
the use OF school books, and the many evils con-
pected with The system Of education exposed and
corrected. Nearly oil this can be done by the
President, and we are pleased to perceive that he
is Of present actively engaged in the correction
Of some Of the evils complained OF. He has al
ready called attention to the fact that $40, lO7
has been paid TO institutions which have properly
no connection with the Board Of Education. But. |
after all, this Is trifing matter compared with
other msappropriations Of the educational fund |
IT he desires to bring the expenses within the |
limits Of a true and just economy, he must look |
sharply into the fulilment Of contracts and fine
ces'my, see that every brick, every plank every |
desk aud every article or material that is used in |
the construction Of our school houses il worth
what Il costs In THE way Nc Green can render |
an important service TO The public and prove that ,
tbe confidence which those who elected him have |
in his honesty has not been misplaced.
"
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