New-York tribune., 1868-05-26
REFORM IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

The Committee of School Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Board Of Education to investigate the
alleged grievances existing In connection with the pres
ent grammarschool system Of study met again yeser
day the Hall OF the Board, with Commissioner Warren
in the chair There large attendance OF teachers,
consisting mainly OF ladies, and many unable TO
address, in the OF which he said that the matter
for consideration Of serious Importance and one
that considered TO have produced better results than
which had been tried either in Europe or America
Eminent from foreign countries had expressed them
selves regarding IL being the nearest 10 perfection
OF any system used IN ancient or modern Times Com
plants had been made by teachers Of both that II
il radically and seriously defective; that It's burdens
almost too great 10 he borne and that their abOrs have
seriously affected their ply scal health II these alega
tons we're true the speaker thought that it time
10 retace their steps and inform eminent gentlemen
the speaker could not the wisdom Of the latter
He could, however hardly think that 1850 experienced
teachers could assemble and proclaim abuses which
wholly without foundation 1t then became necessary TO
ascertain what has produced the results complained Of
and how much OF the fault lies with the trustees teach
parents and children In the matter OF outlines"
referred TO in the complaints the Board hadony required
the Important questions in geography and other studies
In Algebra the fundamental parts had been substituted
instead Of the whole The speaker looked upon
studies somewhat In the manner he was accustomed to
regard Falsaf's' men in buckram. He thought great
deal of trouble caused by the anxiety Of Principals
to prepare their pupils for the Free Academy and that in
many cases they pushed their assistants too
much In 1855, the average per centage Of classes
was s.; IN 1867 1t was over So and for
the three years just passed it exceeded go
each week during ten months of the year being too
much time for recitation. In the former courses Of
studies teachers were required review once during each
week. while at present they required 10 review only
once month The speaker could not see how thorough
scholarship could be acquired without reviews. lie
wanted everything banshed from the Of studies
which not necessary TO be retained by the pupil
IL the system Of marking were abolished. teach
ers would not have the same ambition to excel,
and the present school system would down.
Assistant Superintendent Kddle followed with a long
address He desired that an examination be made into
the eXad amount OF complaint made by parents and
r1t1A np1a 10 IN hat hgan Ynuha
there can be little to investigate in legal verbage
there be corpus deitct. IL is not enough that
teachers complain as IL Is TO certain extent their inter
est 10 do II the Superinendants were allowed 10 re-
they too, would have much to complain OF.
In reference TO the charge Of Overworng the pupils he
thought secondary 10 the charge OF oyerwOTkng the
teachers He regarded the testimony contradictory In
several cases. and mentioned that parents had often
planned tlat their children had not been sufficiently EN-
pOyed. Tie of work must DC laid TO the princi
pals whOare bound to regulate the studies and not allow
their teachers TO do too much The outline system had
been adopted as being more suitable than the plan OF
specifying the page and verse As 10 the loss
OF the childrens health, he considered that
parents 70 blame in the matter, for allowing
their chnren TO attend school when the condition OF
their health bad He conteDded that the complaints
the number OF studies were exaggerated ana
remarked that attempts had been made 70 many
the abuses recently mentioned. In reference 20
inatOn marks he said that they not designed for
the teachers information, ana, II trustees had made
bad them the teachers have their remedy with the
Board AT the conclusion OF Mr. Riddles address Mr. Hun
ter principal OF the l3thst Grammar school, remarked
that Mn Kidde for period OF ten years had been IN tie
habit Of marking certain classes at from So 10 90 per cent
anu was proceeding TO COntrOYert the arguments OF the
latter-nnIned gentlemen, when an adjournment was
called FOR and further hearing deferred until the
afternoon VI Monday, June g.