New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-01


.o,+ g the Cry Superintendent OF the Publc
Schools. in which will be found good deA On NV
fer well worthy of attention. The Super'n'e"a'"S
hsOins with congratulations on the tact ths'' an''
the prostration of 40 many other interests ~ 'n'
late financial tornado our noble system OF PuoHc
obstruction hiss safely Spd uninjnred rode our .'s
q ..orm." In that We rejoice as mnch "A anyeod/S
AT the same timb il will be well that this esespe
sbou,d NOT inspire undue confidence. II VIII d.
well. also, to learn 8 lesson q wisdom 'r"'' "'
misfortunes of others. Of the Establishments "
individuals PROSTATE around u.s. the greas part "e''
top-heayy. They were attempting to carry Wv
much sail They had extended themselves TOO iss'
and too far, had put up "new and spacious e'i'
fees with reckless disregard of the cost ana IN
their anxiety for "new accommodations AMI
modern improvements" had rushed hesdloas
into ruin. The administration of our system OF
publc schools will do we'll 10 profit BY ths exam.
pie; and, in the present depressed state Of Pecu-
mary affairs to look with caution and hesitation sf
every new expense
A 70 the statement Of the Superintendent that
our City School system is and has been administered
"with scrupulous integrity, and win an earnest
. and dx;uterested desire" 4" to enable II to accom-
8, nl;.b in the most efficient manner the great 90
;sc,s for which il was established, we very muco
fear that he INDUCES in eulogy when the isc'S
will no. warrant. He speaks, indeed, we suspect
decidedly more TO the point when ne suggests -
ba afterxsrd doss, "that, in the hands OF lgno-
Z. rant and corrupt demagogues, designing pouu-
4. c;,ns. and dishonest public officers, the "se't
:. and most perfect organization which the VII OF
;. man can devise would produce results fatally dis
:. sstrons." and when he warns US =" that wnst We
have chiefly TO guard against IN the ADMINISTERS.
" ton of our system Is the deleterious ana 'a'A
:. influence of political strife and party splr,t com
bn.d a. il too often is with personal corruption
and reckless dishonesty" 1t certainly is ver
general opinion that seats at the Board Oh Educa-
ton are often sought not much out OF any dish-
terested regard for the cause of public instruction
as for the opportunities it may give to transfer
certain portions Of the school money into certain
private pockets.
But while speaking of the schools themselves "a
well as their management in terms perhaps little
colored by an honest enthusiasm well becoming his
position. and indeed essential to it, and while
wisely deprecstng mere experimental changes, the
superintendent does not hesitate to point out some
very strong objections to our system as at present
administered He protests anew and with energy
against the course at present pursued of imposing
tasks upon the children which, in addition to tho
six hours spent in school, require three or fou-
additional hours Of study out of school. Every in-
telligent person who has children in the public
schools must, We think, be ready to join in this
protest against method by which " the time that
should he devoted to rest, to relaxation, 10 Sleep
sis seriously and Systematically invaded, the
mental energies overtssked, and the very springs
" of life imperceptibly but surely undermined -
system, in fact, by which education is obtained
only at the risk Of ruin to the health. II seems to
us, indeed, very questionable whether course OF
gymnastics might not be adyantageously substituted
in place of certain exercises-such a. the defining
of words too simple to admit of defntion-which
while they seriously task the children, are Of very
questionable use.