New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-03
THE PUBLIc SCHOOLS OF OUR CITY.
ANNUAL REPORT.
CRY srPLHIyrIypEET' OFFICE,
Grw.YoRE. Dee 81, 1850.

EIw.YoRE. Dee 81, 1850
Te "a. Honorable ne beard Of Edsea'iSH -, - -.
The close Of another Official and political year. &c
cornpsnied az il is. by the withdrawal from the boa1
Of large proportion Of Its members, and the -uos'u
ton Of others in their places affords an appropriate ."
casion for review Of the past and ca exposition OF 'e
present condition and probable prospects Tor Tue iu'3ie
of our system Of public instruction Ihat system, u
der varou. names and different organizations, mss 10"
been active practical operation II our city 10,
Of nearly half century, during which time Il mas peeu
.teadly progressing in the confidence and iavor " VIC
community and in the successful accomplishment "a
the high OIL eets for which i was designed. orlsh~
ing in the enlightened beneTolen and comprehensive
views Of few pubic-sprited and phanihropic lhai'
vduas il soon attracted the regards and shared N inc
bounty Of the gisative ard municipal authorities anu
became enabled toextend ts influence from the mario"
compass Of private charity to the broad scope Vi
public institution. Embracing within lts oeheHoen'
sphere every child resdng within the city, VINO neeu
ed and desired It's benefits, and relying Tor US pec"
resources wholly upon funds the state Sn
CITY Governments s al nnstraion nevertheless oon'
tiuued for lorg series Of years and down 10 cop
evely recent PERIOD &c be conhded telts or
ers, and their corporate successors; ana un' ~
su,ces +, attained to high degree OF excellence ana
,uperi ,rity. The rapid and unprecedented grow
The cv however and the conflicting claims of differ
ent localities and interests, rendered exponent 70
ere their organic atio into vested with more tan
and comprehensive powers for tue attainment VI '"'
objects 10 view and in 1872 the existing system was
,ubstituted in its place. Fourteen years have since
elapsed and the wisdom and efficiency OF the change
have been amply INDICATED by the advancement and
rrospertv Of the important thus transferred
from the Public School Society to the Board OF Edu-
cation and their associate officers in the respective
Wards. Fity-two Ward Schools comprehending Il
Grammar Schools for Boys 40 Grammar Schools Tor
Girls and "A Primary Departments and % Urinary
schools have been established, in which have been In
,iruced, for longer or shorter peIloo uuIlns siT
year l3s co pupils, comprising an average daily az
tel dance Of % 600 during period OF eleven ots,
IL these schools and departments wv teachefs wv
of whom are females have been steadily employer al
nm aggregate compensation Of about siO,OOO t1ir
Norm al yhocs for the education and proper pIepsIa-
ton Of teachers are in active Operstlon one weekly
for the education OF female teachers IN tue seVef9i
Ward end Primary Schools with an aggregate attend
auce of over go; one semi weekly for male teachers,
with all attendance of 500; daily for young idles
peuariDe for the prof scion, n1mbedng lO and one
for the instruction OF cOOred teachers leny Even
ing Schools have been open Tor period oil hFe months
IN which ID GO rups OF both sexes have been IN al
tendance. and the Free Academy for Boys has hsd
under instruction it, several departments daring the
past year. GOO pupils
Ten corporate schools in different sections of the
CITY and is suburbs numbering in the aggregate wv
pupils have participated 10 the distribution o. the pup
lie money under special actH OF the Legislature me
whole amount OF money expended In the administration
and support of The entire system during 'he Ph'
ucludI the cost Of the erection, repair aDd aeid'on
of the necessary buildings furniture and tue ana ssa-
ries of CCicers and teaohe a. i $lQ!OOW, OF which
about $50 0t0 was contributed from the Sta'e Com
non School Fund aud the residue Wa raised by TAX
on the CITY, TIE actual cost of instruction. therefore,
wl,n distributed the aggregate nj hrr oil pupils
in the several Ward Primary, Normal Evening and
Corporate Schools and the Free Academy Is less than
SIC for each.
1iere can be little doubt that in respect to all the e'
sental clements which 20 to make up prac lC 81 ana
efficient system of popular edscat IN ana p9ol III
strnctop. the Ward aud Primary Schools OF The City
Of Noy-YoIk with their appendsges, the EveunS
SCHOOL, the Normal Soho If and the Free Academy
are fully equal if not superior to any In me world OF
this e,celepc- they indebted primarily to tue long
continued and perteyering eXertions OF those pusc-
spited and enlightened men, who hrst conceived tus
Cta bringing home the blessings OF education 10 t1e
children of the poor snd desutute ana then hpahceu
that idea so ss to embrace the children OF all classes
and conditions at tine common expense of all who were
capable Of cont butiDo in any degree 10 20 NOBLE an
Object but stCOndary and chiefly to ths constant ana
vigilhnt supervision 10y the members OF the Publc
School Society and Board Of Education, Their agents
a. d officers and the Trustees and Inspectors ot the
several " nrds-to the permanent employment AT Ito
eral salaries OF well quellfvd teachers-And To- the
adoption and maintenance ID ali the schools unoer he
charge % unifJrm ~ steU OF Ols"pln ana Oi H.
iolie,jua and moral instruction, admirably adapted 10
the iudicOus and harmonious development OF the va
nous faculties and capacities of the pupils. 10 all
these rtspects TO other shange seems desirable
than such as the system itself is capable OF evolving
from iis own materials-irom the progress aud al
VanCement of sceDce-trom the Improvement winch
experience observation and mutual Interchange OF veSs
among the teachers school officers and friends OF eddc4-
ZION are constantly suggesting and from the pressure Ola
liberal and en- ieheped public sentiment which cannot
fail TO appreciate the absolute necessity and para unt
importance Of generous and universal education Inc
externsl details of the systeDits machinery and or
canization-may perhaps admit Of consider abh modl
fcation and improvements and il may be- aud doubt
less is desirable eliminate from II all those elements
which connect in any way with the pclhci contests
of the day-to concentrate and simplify lis opera lions
ard 10 dispense with every agency not drecly
adapted TO the production of definite and valuable ie.
suite Thee alterations however, need not, and prob
ably would not affect The internal mscalnery OF the
schools which, under the benefcial influence alrea1y
given 10 their operations, may be relied upon to do
thelr proper work whatever fom may be gwen 10 te
external organization OF the system
coSDrIoS or THE SCHOOLS:
DuiDg the past year all the schools under the charge
of the Board have been visited, and the several de
partInens and classes thoroughly examined In ali the
bran hes of study pursued in each In these VISTA
tiol and examinations the Superintendent have gen
orally beer accompanied by the School Officers OF The
respective Wards and by large and gratifying at
tendance of the parents AID friends OF the pupils.
With very few exceptions the course OF instruction
prescrit co by the Board has been faithfully aud e'
entity carried by the principals aud teachers OF the
several Departments and schools and the tuition given
has been thorough and practical. 80 lar, al'o d
have been able 10 ascertain and observe the govern
neut order and discipline OF The schools have been IN
objectionable and prsiseworthy. Both the Interior
nd a