New-York tribune., 1873-07-26
OUR CITY SCHOOLS.
rrpI,er Ar rIIrlR MANAGEMENT.

MOVEMENT CONDEMNED BY LEADING ROMAN
CATHOLICS.
II is well known that q strong animOsity To
the public school system - cherished by some Roman
Catholics while large number on the other band arc
most friendly TO IT, aud prefer 20 send their children
the city schools rather than 20 those ~ fic Church.
long as 10 sectaran influences are permitted 70 sbape
their management. On the announcement Of the
OF the new Commissioners OF Common schools last
Spring it was discovered that only OF tho twenty
one was o Roman Catholic; and afierWard. when
the list Of trustees for tho various Wards had
been made out 10 noticed that the
greater number Of those also Protestant pro-
portion being sometimes great four TO one, in
wards where the Roman Catholics constituted major
Ity. Such a dlsprOpOrtonae representation In these
Boards which, between them have the entire control Of
the schools Of the city together with gogera cXpres
sious OF bgotry let il by one or two COMMISSIONERS
and various other gave rise 10 considerable
complaint among the Roman Catholics that as q class
they hod been uujusty dsrcgded n the matter oi ap-
poinfments and many Of those even who had previously
cordially supported the schools said 10 be- greatly
dissatisfied at this state o. things, believing that pro-
scrptiye policy about 90 O pursued 0y thc school
authoritiCs Tls opinion strengthened by ile open
attempts OF certain nauOwmluded persons 20 Introduce
sectaran considerations the action Of the Board OF
Education or one or two measures.
Tue existence OF tla. dissatisfaction soon became
generally known. and was greatly depored by the
friends Of the public schools, who feared that much
harm might result thcrefrom. II was fct by many
however that thc cause Of the complaint was on the
whole q good one, and 70 was acsnoWedged That
greater proportion OF the officers ought t. be accorded t0
a body which furnished 80 largo q Ium y oi the
scholars Mayor H3vcmayer on h.arnr 9t he trouble,
explained his action in TIE matter by saying that the
question Of rel ous belief had never occurred TO him
when making the appointments w Commissioners, but
that ne had cousl red probable fitness alone. This
explanation seemed reasonable, AMI gave satisfaction TO
many, 10 being generally felt tAat the Mayor w0ald
rectfy the oversight wacn an opportunity vas pre-
sertcd Tie other Objectionable measures were also
believed 10 have been duc IN tie main 10 want oi
thought tie part oi majority OF those eAa-Hg them'
rather tu u sp.rt Of .try. 10 was tle t.,!re of
every one Who had the interests ~ tie public schools at
heart that nothing Of pr scrDtive nature should
ever seem to enter MO their TauaoUen', or 1s0na0e
cause Of oIeuse be gwen ID any person, but tllt tho
schools should be conducted entirely without partisan
or sectaran bias aud that wherever any uuiaess was
found to exist, It should Dc rc4edcI as soon -s prac-
ticab.e.
Tie incpiont Dissatisfaction, was. however quickly
taken advantage of by the opponents of te system both
those who were anxious TO build up and extend tho
parocLal schools and others who had been Ilohleu
iuuot obtaining places and influence the rcoreauzA
lion u the department, together "lt i-" politicians
VITO hoped 90 secure their success by o'er'Ao"ns
thc uariyir power Every effort made by The latter
10 increase the discomfort Various Iumor Of intended
action Of great importance on the part OF the dsaheced
have been circulated ioT several months past Dut DO
definite plan of proceeding Appeared TO nave been decl
dcd ON unit i was reported few day ago that strong
and united movement Was about 20 DE I..ie fo' tha
carly establishment Of additional TaT0O. schools
throughout the city and the withdrawal of Roman
Catholic children from the public schools, after which,
the Roman Catholics generally. were 10 reuse i9 pay
taxes for the support OF The latter on th, ground @ as
they duot patrouze them they ought Lot 20 be as
sessel FOR maintaining them.
4 reporter Of TIE TRIBUNE, on visiting number OF
Roman Catholic ecntlep o., could not learn that there
was much truth in the statement It indeed found
that rcw parochal school about 10 be started In
the lower part S. Peters parish, in the First Ward,
building which had already been purchased, and was
rapidly undergoing al-, laOus DO order 20 DE ready for
occupation Dy sept /. when d. was believed 10y some
that large part OF The attendance the male depart
Iaaut OF Sic rGMlar school near By would De drawn
away by IT, The opening OF this school which is tho
only new one row prj cteG. WIS held however, 20 DO
simply in accordance With tie traditional policy 0f the
Roman Catholic Church, and 20 have been contemplated
for some lcugh OF time, while Father OEarrcl, pastor
the parish stated that be intcEed the new school
more especially Tor the education Of little children and
OF the numerous boys who attended school. Of
whom there were enough 10 i'll his school without az
fectng The other To any aUTI,ciabe extent one prom
uont Roman CatLOuc, who is well Known for lis
outspokcn friendship for tie system Of pubic schools,
WHOM asked concerning the extent Of the dsafaction.
said that be- did ut believe that tlo stories were
woH founded for he had NOT heard ~ any considerable
dissatisfaction. He thought that whatever feeling did
exist had been fomencd by the politicians for their
benefit and lie had been informed that meeting to
further this purpose had held by Of these
only o short time ago. He ie too that the discontent
confined mainly 10 those who bad never been we'll
disposed toward tie public school system, and he
-f1 rftf fn-
ing allowed to take part n TIE management Of an inti
tuition which iu prucpl. they were openly opposed
He believed, however, that the majority of liberal 70
man Catholics not inclined 10 take any action at
present though they were nor altogether satisfied nc
being neglected so greatly I'm the appointments. He
deprecated any movement hostile 20 the public schools
as very unwise and be did think could meet with
much success If made so long the Department OF
Education shall be conducted with Intelligence and lib
crafty. Concerning parochial schools De stated that
considerable difficulty was now experienced IN main
tanning them, and 10 seemed TO lin poor policy to
establish more while the public schools answered every
necessary purpose in educating the young.
Another Catholic gentleman, who Is also friendly 20
public school instruction. took somewhat different
view Of the matter, however. To him tls discomfort
seemed OF much more Importance than many wer" will
Ing 10 accord IT, and believed that the school author
ties would be wise to give it heel. He had heard Of
considerable dissatisfaction in varous quarters among
Roman Catholics, but did not know that It had yet
suited in any combined action against the city schools.
Still he felt that grea, cause OF complaint had been
given 10 them bv ignoring them SD extensively n the
appOntmpu, OF school oN 'er, rs VOL 9s iu other "1ysi
and he could nor help believing, from m" ucr1NceS of
several city officials and from articles 900 one or two
up,VsDapers cnupci with various ar, ~ rnMlIss 1uers
and trustees OF which he COg0izint, tut much Of
me neglect was intentional: that 30 was meant
had openly sIil. that lrslmen aAt t.ll. snould
AXE hack Spats IN the city c'ycrnm mr. The existence
Of such feeling he dpporei cNC'r ilu.Y, rs 10 only
sred 10 ,t up lnmosty, and produce dscorl, whore
tbprp shoull De- the utmost DOrtdIfv and tn fullest
harmony OF action. He thought N this course
pursued further 10 would celtuulv work rinr, TO tho
nuhic schoots whose interests these gcrt men pro-
fassed IN royo wholly AZ heart Tic establishment Of
n,rolgl ,shoos was part OF the policy or tu. Roman