The New York herald., 1869-09-07
PupLIG EDUCATION.

Opening of the Schools-Changes in the
System.
The familiar sight Of numbers Of children vending
their way to school greeted the eyes Of people yes
terday morning. 1t was, indeed, happy, cheering
spectacle to see them coming and going in all
directions, and none OF them, apparently, trudg
ing 'unwlllingly to school," There were greet
ings and welcomings between teachers and
pupils, and the rolls show q very good
muster. There was OF course, not very much
done in the classes except reading writing and pre-.
parlng the lessons for to-day. Tie renovations and
improvements in the buildings and rooms were duly
criticised and commented on notes OF ho the vaca
tion was spent were compared during recess hour,
and many tales OF pleasures and adventures partic.
pated in told by the young heroes and heroines
The schools throughout the city opened with what
certainly seemed to be cheering auspices, and the
grand system Of public education will be continued
through the season, no doubt, with its usual suc.
cess. The changes contemplated in the sys-
tenn have already been referred to In the
columns of the HERALD and are such us
VIII undoubtedly and to Its efficiency. The
subject of dividing the city into districts
and appointing general superintendent to each IS
held in allowance. The project does not meet with
much favor from the City Superintendent and his
present assistants for the reason perhaps that they
imagine such an arrangement would imply doubt
OF their abilities to perform the work OF their
have certainly never entertained a doubt of
OF supernendents bt Thew beieve e yo cthps p
examinations could be made more frequently and
the WORK OF the superintendents considerably
leasened Dy the proposed plan, ana that the actual
standing or each school could be determined more
minutely and at shorter intervals.
THE GERMAN QUESTION
wlll OF course, be aptated with the usual Teutonlc
perhnacity, but the fierce efforts being made to IN
doubt have the eflect OF crushing 1t. The French
language Is more the language OF the Continent than
citizens" in their petition to the Board OF Edu-
cation, ask to have the bylaws amended so as to
read that Latin and French may be taught in the
sorted as regular study In at least onethrd
Of tho schools, and in all classes from
the whole number of hours occupied In teaching
all the public schools was 1905; In teaching French
100 hours. There were twelve teachers employed in
teaching each OF those languages and the cost was
for twentyihree hours OF German the difference Of
time between the hours occupied In teaching French
and German) the cost was s2,427. Ihe German CON-
the school officers an idea of what they
consider the absolute Importance OF having
the plan OF the Prusslan public schools shows that
language but German Is included In the OF
be warmly argued, and, II the Germans win, will
give rise to other petitions of as much weight from
American citizens OF Other nationallties. 1t may
possibly occur that movement Will be made TO
have Chinese taught In some OF the schools. as the
innux or coolies and the growing intercourse be-
tween the United States ana China demand consd-
GRAFTON.
THE FREE COLLEGE
Will not be opened until the 10th inst, and before
that tluc there VIII be a debate ON languages ct
meeting OF the trustees to be held for that purpose.
The professorshp OF the Latin and Greek languages
Is vacant and numerous applications for the position
are the bands OF the executive committee Messrs.
w. b. siber and Fitzgerald 1isdale, both tutors
the department., are working untiringly 10 obtain
the appointment Mr.. SLIDER Is nAp OF much ex.
perence as teacher, having held the position OF
Instructor OF ancient languages aud literature In
the college since 1851. Mr.. Tisdale graduated with
honors as classical scholar from the college and
has been occupied some since 1860. Both have
Just claims to the position, and the Faculty
OF the college In IN such q delicate posi-
tion that one cannot be recommended more
than the other. Dr.. O. q. Herberman, lay
the moet finished Latin ana Greek scholars In the