The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-13
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

the schools.
or all the local Legislative bodies there is none
which can exercise much influence on the future
welfare OF the metropolis and perhaps, of the entire
country as that board having charge OF the public
education The influence which it exercises may
not be felt directly, but by properly training and
developing the youthful mind OF the metropolis it
can give to the nation intelligent ana high minded
citizens. Such citizens make good public officers;
and with men Of culture in Official positions and
dealing with intelligent citizens the progress Of the
nation cannot be doubted. Unfortunately, now, ig-
norance, impudence, ehicanery and corruption are
the distinguishing characteristics Of the majority
of our municipal managers; and when we
reflect that they their elevation to
office for the most part to the influence
OF money or muscle, and the happy faculty OF know
ing nothing OF responsibility refinement other
than can be learned In fashionable bagnios or faro
banks 1t is cheering to think that body OF gentle
men can be found by whom the management of the
schools is undertaken and carried on as labor Of
love- Repeated efforts have been made TO interfere
with the conduct OF the school system by corrupt
officials disappointed politicians and mathenati-
clans whose calculations might take rank with Mr..
Depew's census. But Notwithstanding the attacks,
open and covert. which have been made, The duties
deyolving upon the board have been faithfully and
successfully attended to, and the result Is that the
system of public education in this city ls such that it
may be pointed to with becoming pride by II right
minded citizens of the metropolis.
After recess of seven weeks duration the schools
throughout the city will be reopened tomorrow morn
ing and the cares and studies for another year be
entered upon by the teachers and the pupils. In this
connection. therefore, it may not be undressing
know what has been done and what is being done to
enhance the value OF our school system, and TO rem
der those connected with the schools comfortable
and contented.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
has been highly cOmplimeated by a special committee
OF the State Legislature which was appointed to Ter
ret out the alleged neiciency and prohigacy Of the
management. and the failure Of the system achieve
all that it had been designed for. Most glowing Gu
logiums have been passed upon IL by educational
committees from the principal cities OF the United
states, and even from Europe, and committee from
the city OF Boston, after visiting the schools
and examining the system made 1t the sub
being composed of gentlemen OF the highest stand
ing IN Boston, gave in their report clear outline of
our system, and showed that they had carefully
studied its pecuarties and ts excellences and
their opinions on the subject are entitled to some
weight They recognized In the oiilce OF the CLERK
OF the Board the efficient simphcation or the entire
system OF business management which at first APP
pears complicated and they justly say
hi; once the cen s wssS Ss Whole work
Mates and which returns and the returns required
SO perqec and arranged thai IS possible to obtain the
Clerks Office at time all essential facts In relation to
every school.
In regard to the educational portion OF the work
they saw
Clerks the OF the material admins
raion of the New York system the superintendent Office
be mainly through these two channels the Clerk OF
the Superintendent of Schoos-that the New
York system has reached Its thorough and exact external s
spirited and progressive internal adm nistrstion.
But the important feature In the New York schools In
that the OF Instruction indicated bv the subject Of
books The Local Committee, the trustees In each ward,
order the OF such they select from the list permit
ted by the Board OF Educaton and they sometimes SINH
lar and sometimes different In different schools But the
Board OF Education determines the subjects that shall be
by the different grades and these uniform In all
the grades and In all the schools and the programme OF
thus indicated SUBJECTS the
nation by subjects and not by text hooks and conducted
by expertsby the Superintendent and his assstanthat Is
by who masters OF the subject and nothing
about particular text books
This system OF instructing by subjects and not by
books, the report says, ''seems to be giving to the
New York schools a remarkable degree OF uni
fOrmty and steady progress In each school,"
THE SCHOOLS
under the charge OF the Board during the past year.
were 81 In number and comprised 1877 separate de-
partments, fOllows:-t'ramrnar schools for boys,
~ for girls, As; for both sexes, I; primary depart
ments, S.; distinct primary schools. SO. These,
together with the evening, corporate and normal
schools make the total number OF schools under the
direction Of the Board 26O. The work performed at
these several schools during the year ending Decem-
Der 81 1907, may be adiudged from the following
table,