Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-10-06

NEW YORK EDUCATIONAL CoNvENTIoN.-This body
of educators and friends of education held their
nual meeting at Elmra last week, the Superintend-
ent of Public instruction, Hon. II. H. Van Dyck, in
the chair. Only fifty of the one hundred and thir-
ty.two in the State of district commissioners and
city superintendent appeared in the Convention
We make the following extracts, based the
ports of these officers, showing the condition of
the schools in New York:
1.-THE statements were generally much alike, and
the state of the schools, although improving under
the present system, shown to be far from what
it should be. In every district there some good
school houses and Teachers but, with the exception
Of the cities ard villages most 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
thrd-rate teachers. School trustees generally
remiss in the discharge of their dues and exceed.
ingly illibera-being satisfied with teachers at 10
shillings a 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 one in ten sending chill
dren to them, ever entering the school-house, or in
any way aiding or encourag ing the teacher by per-
sonal attendance or counsel. Every effort was
made in some districts to keep the schools open six
months of the year on the public money, the peo-
pie seeming to have unaccountable horror Of be-
ing taxed to support schools 1t was broadly hinted
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 % 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 our system
of Common Schools is clearly superior to that OF
New York, and is effectng more 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 cases where practicable. Third re-
commencing ike consolidation of the library mo.
ney for the institution of libraries, suited to the
character of such central high schools
The following gentlemen were now elected Off
of the Association, the State Superintendent,
President-Hon. S. 5. Randall, of New York. For
Seretary-Daniel Beach, Of Schuyler For Treasu-
rer-L W. Moody, of Broome.
Mr.. Randall here called up his first resolution, in
relation to reading the Bible in schools, which, after
spicy discussion, in which Messrs. Bulkley, Of
Kings; Smith, of Tioga Farley, of Livingston
Pattngi'I, of Steuber: 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 address occupying half an hour,
containing suggestions and setting forth his views
in regard to the best methods of procedure on the
part of Commissioners. According to his showing
the Commissioners almost poweress to do more
than examine teachers and give good advice to
School Trustees. They have no power to appoint
teachers, to insist any improvements however
necessary, in regard to Schools and school-houses
The address eloquent, and was received with
extreme favor"