Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-10-02

NEw York EDUCATIONAL CosvENrloN.--This body
Of educators and friends Of education held their
nnal meeting At Elmra last week, the Supsrintehd-
ent of Public Instruction, Hon. h. d. Van Dyck, in
the chair. Only fifty Of the one hundred and thir-
ty-two in the State of district commissioners and
city superintendents appeared in the Convention
We make the following extracts, based on the re-
ports of these officers showing the condition of
the schools in New York:
"The statements were generally much alike, and
the state OF the schools. although improving under
the present system, was shown to be far from what
it should be. In every district there are some good
school-houses and teachers, but. with the exception
Of the cities ard villages of the school houses
were pronounced to be bad, very bad and worthless;
some Of them mere miserable shells. The lack of
qualification among teachers universally COM
planned Of and the Commissioners, almost without
exception, stated that they should be obliged to
close many of their schools if they rejected even
third.rate teachers. School trustees were generally
remiss in the discharge of their duties and exceed
ingly iberal-being satisfied with teachers at 10
shlings week, and seldom visiting the schools
This charge was shown to apply to more than two.
thirds Of the entire number of trustees throughout
the State. To these evils was added the general su-
pineness and indifference of parents ard people in
regard to their schools, not in ten sending chill
dren to them, ever entering the school-house in
sonal attendance or counsel. Every effort was
made in some districts to keep the schools open six
months Of the year on she public money the peo-
pie seeming to have an unaccounable horror of be-
ing taxed to support schools. 1t was broadly limited
that many parents in the Empire State devote much
more personal attention and money to the training
and development of their horses, cattle, pigs and
puppies than 20 their schools and the education of
their children"
This is by no means cheering picture, and we
present it to encourage the friends of education in
this State. If this account be correct, system
Of Common Schools is clearly superior to that of
New York, and is effecting good in proportion
to the children to be taught.
We extract further from the report of the pro-
ceedngs, as follows:
"Mr Randall offered series of resolutions in IA
vor first of opening schools by reading portion o:
Scripture Second, recommending the Legislature
to provide for the establishment of central high
schools, in all where practicable Third, re-
commencing like consolidation of the library mo-
neg for the institution of libraries suited to the
character of such central high schools.
The following gentlemen were now elected off,
GERS of the Association, the State Superintendent,
by virtue of his Office, being President For Vice
President--Hon. S. s. Randall, of New York. For
Seretary-Danie Beach, Of Schuyler. For Treasu-
rer-L. W. Moody, of Broome.
Mr. Randall here called up his first resolution, in
relation reading the Bible in Schools which, after
some spicy discussion, in which Messrs. Buckley, of
Kings; Smith, of Tioga; Farley, of Livingston;
Pattingill. of Steuben: Todd, of Wayne, Mr.. Ran
dali and the State Superintendent participated was
unanimously adopted amid applause.
The other resolutions were laid over, and Mr.. Van
Dyck delivered an address occupying half an hour,
containing suggestions and setting forth his views
in regard to the best methods of procedure the
part of Commissioners. According to his showing,
the Commissioners almost poweress to do more
than examine teachers and give good advice to
necessary in regard to Schools and school houses
The address eloquent, and received with
extreme favor"