The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30

senton given 10 the study of the natural sciences
IL Is waste OF time and mental strength TO devote
80 many precious years 10 the details OF geo9rapny.
PROFESSOR feomans says:-"h appears 'na' " Se0"'s
DISCIPLINARY USES or GRAMMATICAL STUDY
not even foreign language IL necessary, much less
= dead one When Il is remembered that the He
brew language nad no grammar TIL a tnonsanu
years after CHRIST; thai the masterpieces OF Greek
literature were produced before Aristotle first laid
the grammatical foundations OF that language tnat
the Romans acquired the Greek without grammati-
cal ala bs reading and conversation; that the most
eminent scholars OF the Middle Ages ana later, Al
ana Dante, Latin scholars, who have never since
been surpassed, learned this language without the
assistance Of grammar; when we recall facts IKE
these, we can begin 70 rate at something like their
true value the claims OF the grammatical study OF
defnnct forms Of speech for mental training. In
view OF such eminent auth0rites and the universal
experience o! all educators we are certainly safe In
making some radical changes AT once. wonld re-
specially invite the attention OF the Committee on
Course OF Studies to this subject
Mr. BELL next addressed the Commissioners on
soon alter the organization OF the Board OF Educa-
ton, under the law or 1859, the members became
ana the commttee on normal evening and col.
naed schools was empowered by the Board
n pepn'e ana Sns school, ana 10 hrs
suitable buildings for It's use. The building
AT the corner OF Fourth street and Broadway, was
accordingly fitted up, and stan OF professors and
tntors appointed, selected mainly from the teachers
in the public schools On the l4th day OF February
1870 l06S pupils of the female grammar schools
were admitted by competitive examination to the
Normal College ttnen known as the Normal and High
GREAT REVOLUTION IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
was erected; and we are happy to know, from the
testimony of parents and children that this change
has received their unanimous appreciation. No
complaints have reached the committee or the
Board nor have any appeared In the pub &c press
course OF study was adopted, wide in It's scope
and useful alike 10 the student and teacher. We
propose not only to prepare teachers for their work.
but To inpart TO them such knowledge OF French,
German music and drawing VIII enable us TO
dispense with special teachers Of these subjects,
hou hnn napfnx m,
the Board. The average attendance Of the Normal
College has been almost 1000 since lis establish
ment, ana the attendance and punctual1ty OF
the students have been remarkably good
There are over 1000 In the college at the present
twenty -four last February-making l2I since the
foundation OF the college. Some have been CON-
20 Ua %
cities. The president OF the college became con.
WINGED that no normal institution could be tho
roughly effective without q training school. He,
therefore, recommended to the committee the estab
llshment OF such school, and they secured No. II
ST. Marks place, In which about the beginning OF
last September
was established under Miss NJ. l.. Doake and five
critic teachers selected impartlaly from among the
graduates Of the Normal College. These positions
were granted, like all the Others, solely on the
grouna OF merit. The Model Primary commenced
IT'S work Q few days after the opening OF the other
gradually grown up to have in attendance at the
present time about two hundred pupils. These
aPs aqS aS Sna %s 'g Iae
at time, teach IN the model school under the eyes
and instruction OF the principal and critic teachers.
Criticisms are sent Dy the principal TO the president
OF the Normal College, VINO makes them the bases OF
lectures on school government the methoas OF IN
structlon, &c This model school, as We'll as the col
lege, is doing an excellent work.
Mr.. GROSS made short speech upon the necessity
free education for ALL and that talent III any station
IN life shond have the opportunities for the highest
culture Free
EDUCATION rs PUBLIC MORALITY
The responsibilities OF the Board he considered to be
ment he challenged anybody TO produce any evi-
dence OF want OF prObity.
grammar and referred To resolution offered to the
Board by himself in regard to taking the study OF
ANALYSIS from certain classes. He gave some anus
ing illustrations OF the folly OF requiring children to
repeat what they can't understand, analyz
ing sentences and applying rules that he
eve any member OF the Board could. lie objected
to the present style Of reading book, and suggested
that .'Robinssn Crusoe" irvine's works or some
thing interesting be put in place of the stun now
given to the children He referred TO the report OF
the City Superintendent That forty seven pupils had
been expelled In a month"; and asked
WHERE WOULD THESE CHILDREN COZ
He thought that teachers should not have the
power to expel pupils without the knowledge OF the
Board
Lawrence D. Herman DE Clerk OF the Department
or Pubic Instruction; that John Davenport be Audi
tor performing the Clerks duties In his absence.
The following gentlemen were appointed 10 the
offices annexed 10 their names:-Supervisor Of
Buildings, Amnon Macvey; Engineer Of the Board,
President SHYTH then announced the following as
the standing committees Of the Board:-
Finance COnlyninee-Messrs. Bell, Wood Palmer,
Brennan and Lewis
Teachers Conmttee-Messrs. Gross, Sands ana
Lewis.
Bufiding and Furniture Con,ui,tee-Messrs. In.
gersull Palmer ana Lewis.
Committee ON Suppties-Messrs Brennan, Lewis
and Palmer.
auditing C0,lHnttee-Messrs. SANDS, lngersoll,
Van Worst and Jarvis.
Committee on course Of StudV Gc.-MessrS. Gross.
Van Worst and Brennan
Committee Sites and NeD SchOOls-Messrs.
Jarvis, sands ana Bell.
Committee on Normal College, fc.-Messra Bell,
Duryea, Jarvis Gross and Wood
Committee on BDtd,cs fc.-Messrs. Jarvis Duryea
and Ingersol.
resolution was adopted transferring all matters
pending before the late Board and the several Com
M lssioncrs thereof 10 the new department.
The Boari then adjourned.