New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-09
sPrlDges.

We have shown in previous artcles that our
city school system is totally destitute of the essen
tia requisite of general oversight and central con-
troll. The only persons holding official relations to
the System who are led from their position to look
at it in that light ale the salarifd ofcers acting
under tie Board Ct EdGcstion-the Clerk of that
Board and bis assistants, the Superintendent Of
Schools and his assistants and the superintendent Of
School BuiidiDgr. These officers undoubtedly do
coed service in acting as eyes, ears mind and meul-
DRY TO the Board Of Education, which, but for the
supply of intelligence thus afforded and being
thus constantly pu. in mind Of their duties,
would we suspect, fail to ge. on at all involving
the whole business in ineItricsble confusion. But
these officers have no power or authority of their
OVID; they can only act upon the system through
the aseucy of the Board OF Education and the local
boards, ard the principal part of their energies,
we should Judge is exhausted upon the ris inertia
Of those bodies, now in painfully endeavoring to
pu.h them up bill in the right direction, now in at.
tempting still more painfully 20 prevent them from
rolling down hill in the wrong direction.
Though This want of ntrol and supervision is felt
throughout the whole sy STEM it perhaps nowhere
80 stIkrgy exhibited in the matter of the cree
ton of new school -hOuses-a subject which en-
crosses great deal Of the attention aud time of
the Board Of Education, bu. by no means With all
the beneficial results that might be desired. IL is
obvious that this business of erecting pew school
houses, whether we consider the amount Of eIpendi.
ture Involved tho new charges for current expenses
to which the school money is thenceforward annu-
oily subjected, and tie great difference in the
working and efficiency OF the whole system between
schooi-houses on good plan and schOol.hOuses on
a bad plan ,chool-houses in situations where they
are needed ard schco. houses built at The same or
gre ater e1per Sc in situations where they might be
dispensed whit is obvious, We Say, from these
Considerations, what great advantages would be de-
lived from ntIusiiug the expenditure If this money
10 sOuebody acting upon system taking cOnpre-
hensye view Of the comp Matve needs Of the entire
population add in all It's expenditures hooking no.
merely 10 The present but both TO he pas. and the
future, and that with the view of producing the
greatest results from the smallest means.
Now il is true that over these expenditures the
Board Of Education does exercise certain control.
1t OILY Cf a secondary and inferior sort. l. i. no
part Of tie business Of hat Board or Of sny officer
Of H. TO take the lead that matter BY determining
what Lew school houses are needed aud ought to BE-
built nor after !; il determined that certain school.
houses shsll Re built, 10 determine upon the pan
AID to supe;yi.e tire erection. All this strange %
say, Iests, ike the repairs aud current expenditures,
with the local school boards. 1t Is they who are 10
ce'trniLe in the first instance the need of new
school, as 10 which The Board Of Education mas no
originating suth"r'y bus only the power to say yea
81 ray; and Al ec The new school is de'ermlped Or it
toej Who sie 10 buLd the schcol-t case acc ri ng
10 such llsn', specification. and contracts A. they