The New York herald., 1870-05-16
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Are the Public schools what They Pretend 20
be e-How do they Compare with schools In
Europe r--A Question Of Religion and Mo-

be S-HOw do they Compare with schools In
Europe PA Question Of Religion and Mo-
rniity.
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD -
AS the question Of primary or common schOoi
education absorDs so much interest OF the people
generally CT this city and state, may not nc ont OF
order in submitting few remarks founded on cxpe-
renee ana observation relative TO the subject
shall preface by saying that view the matter from
unbiased standpoint, having neither political
pecuniary motive at stake. may be permit.
ted TO state that have good, accurate Information
on what Is called .'Government Education" at least
in treat Britain ana Ireland and France, which two
nations stand second to none In the organization
and efficiency OF their schools. have visited many
Of the New York schools and have no hesitation In
pronounclng them
INFERIOR TO SCHOOLS OF A SIMILAR CLASS
In either OF the above mentioned countries. Let us
accept OF the three divisions of education generally
laid down; namely, moral, intellectual and PHYSICAL
and examine claims OF the public schools TO the
diffusion OF the first two divisions. AS for the third
omit any consideration OF 1t so far as the COM
mon schools are concerned.
shall take it as generally admitted tnat no intel
lectual education however brilliant compen-
safe for
DEFICIENCY IN A MORAL EDUCATION.
moral education Is to the people or nation
what bountitu supply OF water to the Vegetable
kingiom-keeping the tiny plant and majestic tree
healthful and pleasant To gaze on. moral educa-
ton according 10 Fenelon is the eight OF heaven,
the index OF wise legislation ana the bull
wark OF % state. There Is not country
in the Old or New World which requires
more vigilance in the moral education OF each gen.
Grafton than the United States, Its population Ii
composed OF every nationality on the face OF the
globe, ana natter how much men may differ IN
sects politics. tney can have one common platform
| on which 10 Notwithstanding Do the pupiic
meet this point TO the desired exentf Most
| assuredly not. large proportion OF the teachefs
| OF the common schools OF New York are no more
| fitted TO
OF the youth committed TO them than an aeronaut is
TO keen his balloon In a straight line There Is
small percentage of thein on the other hand, VINO
are a credit 70 any board OF education. Again,
| the Christian Brothers. Apart from every
| other consideration, can the moral training given
| In the pubic schools approach to that given
| by the Brothers? Take the case OF two boys
VINO would be nearly alike If they received the saPe
training. Let go 10 the public school, the other
Christian Brothers,, and 10 the most untutored
| mind there VIII be very unfavorabe contrast IL
cannot be Otherwise may be seen by visiting one
Of the schools conducted by each class of teachers.
There Is person who viii take the trouble To OBJ
serve but VIII be convinced of this fact, whether he
admit 1t not. IL Is old proyerb that as IS the
scnoolmaster so win be the school, and regret to
| have 1t to say that In Of the public schools
| visited tue principal said on the patlorm-
| SHE HAD NO RELIGION.
Yes, a person who openly confessed to having no
religion to be the OF Christian children. Let
those VINO idolize the ''whltewashed sepuichres'
| and in strain OF set, hioh-sounding words, praise
them Qor purpose), examine tins lact with an eye
oil justice, and ask them "a honorabie men 10 these
peopley / don't say tnat nideiIy is openly incni-
Gated but leave fallen man 10 his own propensites.
only lately have read in one OF the highe stoned
journals OF morality in England OF the depl0rabe
state of a great portion OF the people, on account oil
believing IN no religion The able writer who penned
the article TO which allude, said-A gloomy void
| exists in the hearts OF so many people, believing
| thor a n = in.ut 10 eprsA
the nideOus crimes which we read OF daily, and thus
can be accounted for the present state OF society
which Is corrupt to the very core"
l shall glance at intellectual education as
given by the Christian Brothers and compare 1t with
exist in The minds OF some that preliminary secu-
lar, but careful religious education is gwen in the
ION visit 81. Gabrers school, East Thirty sixth
street, and Judge for himself. and shall confess i
know nothing or the subject OF education II his dark
ideas be not dispeled by the hight, and his III
founded conclusions do not vanish into thin air. /
lind in thai school, which Is under the management
OF the Rev. W. II. Ciowry, about eight hundred boys,
receiving excellent moral education, ana an IN
teiectual educauon-English commercial and math-
colleges OF this city. This shows what can
be done by such a man as Brother Tatian,
OF Manhattan Academy, the jealous principal OF st.
Gabriel's 1t Is not very cheering be shown
Clearly that boys who have graduated In the highest
class OF the public schools are, on careful eXanlna
tlon found hardly ut for the third SECTION OF the
first class Of II school conducted by the Christian
Brothers. This may he very unsayory information
for those who whine so much after the small PIT
tance OF puplic money given to Catholic schools
There IS no man of veracity and honor but Will on
rejection admit that the amount OF good performed
by the Brothers In preparing the rising generation
become good anu virtuous citizens of this great re-
pubic is incacolable 1t is evident thnt If the
present system OF public instruction be continued
another generation shall not pass away without
HEAPING THE WHIRLwIND,
which IS now sowing broadcast In the minds OF
those who viii be the future citizens of she republic.
IL would be well that those whose nerves seem 10 be
so much excited ABOUT the common schools, which
are last becoming the parents OF religious ndfier-
ron atllt tN ~
| Washington, the 'Deiverer OF his CounJIyn
| X.