New-York tribune., 1873-01-30
each period of fiye years:

These tables show very remarkable falling OF In the
of increase OF attendance In the Common Schools
since 1882 when for the five years preceding 1t had been
81 per cent whereas for the period of FIVE ending
at the close OF 1872 has only been per cent
The rate Of Increase In the attendance at the corporate
schools It will be observed has been sustained OF aug
mented While in 1857 there were only about 1000
children tsught In these schools there are now
| taught more than three times that number
| While there Is doubt that the schools OF tue
Cbidrens Aid Society and the American Female Guard
ian Society gather very many children who, without
the charitable aid Of these societies, would be unable to
attend to the Common Schools, from want Of clothing
food it Is equally certain that man parents not In
absolute destiUts circumstances induced to send
their children to these schools by the offer OF aims The
bestowing OF aims is, OF course, necessity; but the
question arises whether It is requisite to associate edu
cation with IT, and whether the object OF these benevo
lent associations would not be made efectual by
discovering them entirely from school operations, eay
ing the latter the exclusive care Of the Department
OF Public INSTRUCTION. which is the legal custodian Of
| these interests.
| The whole number OF classes examined by the Assist
superintendent during the past year Is ASA beside
which is classes inspected without being nnutey
examined In 1871 the instruction In 9l per cent OF all
the classes examined decidedly deficient being only
fair below that grade: in 1872 there is exhibited only
81 per cent of deficiency in 1871 about i per cent Of all
the classes examined excellent in the character OF
tue mSUucuOui TINS per Ctht aio
ported excellent.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT NECESSARY.
In 1871 the discipline In about six per cent OF all the
classes visited defectiyedisorder inattentOn and
Of control the part Of the teacher being mani
fest this year. this has been found 70 exist In only u
per cent OF the classes visited; and the number OF
classes evidently under superior discipline 1871
per cent OF all examined inspeced; while thus year
was 72i per cent. The general management OF the
schools reported to me. indicates similar degree OF
nun
duty Of reporting such suspension TO the Trus-
found adequate prevent constant OF the
most henious oenses In the schools on the part OF
to teachers violent and Injurious assaults upon other
pupils the destruction Of school property, gross
dsobedence and constant disregard OF the rules OF the
school All these ofenses have multiplied very greatly
in the schools and still multiplying; and the e1pul
sion Of the pupils. while 1t reduces our attendance Is
not the EVIL &c Il , only so Tesrta I aRS
Rs rapid growth % and most eItenson The Hesc"
arises: What should be done to remedy this state
long Experience, both a teacher and superntendent
and careful observation OF the results OF the e1
pertinent OF exclusive moral suasOn in our schools
during the past two wears: Reinyest the principals
with the right to inct, under proper regulations and
restrictions, corporal chastisement upon those pupils
who show themselves amenabe 10 no other 'niluence.
The Board Of Public Instruction IS in loco parents in It's
relations those children and whatever means would
be right and necessary for parents TO resort TO In order
to restrain and reform their rnrgy asd @ narS
through its agents and teachers, to employ
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION..
revised course or instruction board
In January last has been in full operation during the
principal part OF the year. and s provisions have been
quite generally carried into effect. Considerable i'm
proyement has been manifested in the methods en-
poyed in giving the instruction in elementary science
prescribed in each Of the grammar school
grades Instead OF the mechanical rote method
formerly general there has been more teaching from
the actual objects, or from representation OF them
by ssa1l in p dsyeopng the essnee Ok the pupils and
accustomng them TO the observation OF natural objects
ella AltaA pNfn han
merly There is, however stl room for very great i'm
provement in this respect The advanced studies in the
first highest grade of the course have not yet
been entirely introduced, nasmuch as the necessity OF
preparing pupils for into the College OF the city
terfered with the carrying out OF this part OF the course
ann Of the opinion that hs strength d and energy OF the
So the cGgs 5 SuPn
energies OF our system should be- in part, brought
bear upon other objects equally II not more, important
But small part, comparatively, OF our girls can become
cation. Why then, administer the system only in this
directions Why pot diversity Its aims and AFFORD some
specific preparation for other pursuits than those OF the
teacher, the lawyer, the physician, etc. 7
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Previous TO the close schools at the end Of the
term OF 1872 examinations we're held In them with the
following results or 2l3 classes examined % were ex
ceent, 40 good 81 fair and Indifferent At the e1'
aminatons Of 1901 OF total Of l6 classes 3o we're
ceent Il9 good, 81 fair, and 10 Indifferent II win DO
thus seen that marked improvement was exhibited
Sufns last .eres 4 sgs@lastiGns Fhs whole num-
i965i males, aud CLIO females; the average
attendance for the term was 1850 males and
SI6 females; while the largest average at.
tendance for any single week was 1851 males and
1859 females This is exclusive Of the evening high
se hOo and the coored schools The attendance
Of the latter l22 the whole number enrolled, As
The average register number not being reported Is not
possible determine the rate OF absenteesm IN these
schools IL wi however, be observed that the number
enrolled Ia very greatly in OF the largest weekly
average Many OF the pupils admitted into
these schools attend but short time, and nave no
doubt also that there is change from school
10 school IL Is possible therefore, that the names OF
many pupils on the registers Of several schools at
the same Ilne, S.--.l------~Lr-----s- -