The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-16

That the system OF evening sceoos now carried on
under tho direction Of the Board Of Education has
proved to be decided in general results and
positive blessings In many individual instances cannot
be denied visit to any OF the schools during the
evening sessions will amply repay the time spent or the
trouble, II trouble be, experienced in making the
visit In all tho schools degree Of order and decorum
will be found to prevail when 10 known that no such
thing corporal punishment s allowed In the evening
schools and that for the most part those who attend
are persons who might ordinarily be OK
pected to devote their evenings TO relaxation
and who, being free from the restraints
to seek further restraint subject themselves to sur
velancs superntendence Of any kind But 70 those
who will reflect for one moment the solution Of the
problem will be found quite easy. Tho greater part OF
tho attendants ~ the evening schools are those who
choose for themselvesand who have learned by bustng
with the world, II even only for short tme that edu.
cation 10 the safest and surest rudder with which to
steer onward to success In life Not education in the
highest sense Of the word, but good soiid every
day knowledge OF the rudmens which rub of the rough
points and enable woman TO feel that he or she
possesses that which will allow him her to take Do
son in society without the possibility OF being put
TO the blush or sighted ON the Of ignorance
few years since there were some fifty evening
schools but the results attained from SO large number
fell short OF the general expectations little IN
vestigat0n showed wherein the detect lay and the
Board Of Education Immediately commenced process
OF pruning and training which has succeeded in pro-
ducing present efficient system, and which will no
doubt receive the endorsement OF the ontre public as
great blessing a. the period ABOVE alluded 20 pupils
scted to very rigid inquiry as to their moral standing or
the necessity for their attendance At the evening
schools. Now no pupils are admitted TO these schools
except those whose age avocaton such TO pre-
won't their attending day schools and they must, when
applying for admission, be accompanied by some re.
al
the principal attesting their Identity and respectabity
No male pupil under twelve years Of age Is admitted
and no female pupil under ten years of age.
During the past year there have been in operation thr
teen male and eleven female schools showing average
latter 1885, making total average attendance OF 562
During the preceding year the average attendance IN
$685. In addition to these ward schools which include
three schools devoted coored persons there is esab
iished 'high school, in which the average attend
during the current season was 100 pupils and dur
ing the same period OF last year 100
For the purpose OF instructng this number OF pupils
27O teachers employed 12S males and 142 females
or these 1856 are employed in the male schools l42
in the female schools In the high school there are
employed sixteen tutors
The course OF studies pursued in the ward schools
embraces reading, spelling, definitions and penmanshp;
geography by means Of outline maps and oral explana
tons In those classes whose grade in arithmetic 10
above the nth prescribed for grammar schools, and
arithmetic in part by mental exercises, in calculation
aud analysis with practical applications Of tho princi
In the evening high school the embraces Eng.
lish grammar and composition; reading and declama-
ton penmanshp, bookkeeping and arthmetc algebra,
geometry and ugonometry: natural philosophy.
chemistry and sstronomy: American history and
the constituton Of the United states the State constr
tuition with the outlines Of municipal and international
mechanics: navigation and the F. snch, spanish or
German languages, when the number applying for
instruction In the same or any one Of them 10 not less
Persons applying for admission to the high school,
In addition 20 the requisite evidence OF good moral
trad IN naQQ "A mi natl in
reading, spelling elementary geography, grammar and
arithmetic, through common and decimal fractions,
and their applications to denOmnate numbers.
From the above it will be seen that those who need
and who desire II ut themselves 10 appear we'll in
bu. themselves If they do not succeed laying the
foundation for solid supsrstructurs OF intellectual
improvement.
tages of the evening schools during the current season.
about twoffths Of the whole number or males were
sixteen years Of age and onetourth over twenty
one years and Of the females one-haf sixteen
and but onennth twcnty-one while from twelve
70 fifteen hundred Of the entire number were over
thirty years Of age
great deal Enquiry has been made in certain quar-
tiers regarding the attending the evening schools
can be estimated as Observation-Disclosures schools
$50 600; high school, $40 900; gas printing, &c,
Expenditure Of 600 This may appear a. first sight
large amount but the average attendance will be
found to be less than IS for each scholar.
pupil discharged from one OF the schools for mis-.
conduct cannot be admitted 10 another evening school
except by the consent Of the City superintendent and
when pupil Is dismissed the principal Of the school from
which he 10 expelled furnish notice Of the dis
missal to the principal Of other evening school,
that in making up the average attendance the
pupil cannot possibly be counted more than once.
The City Superintendent and his assistants make from
time TO time personal visitation and inspection OF the
evening schools; and the Superintendent in his annual
report states that the results attending these schools
have fully vindcated the wisdom OF the Board Of Edu-
cation In establishing them that the schoos
the most nourishing condition. both to scholarship
and discipline that the high school has proved emil
neuty successful In accomplishing the objects for which
IL designated aud that the crowded attendance at
that institution the organization Of another
similar one.
1.-The most skepticn in regard to this matter would DO
converted By limited investigation into the work.
ngs and influences Of the evening schools and the most
psrsimonious and fault finding could not avoid acknow
Lodging that the money expended on the evening
schools Is undoubtedly we'll spent
On wednesday evening the schools will close In
this city, and the present week will be devoted TO the
distribution OF certificates and awards OF merit