The New York herald., 1873-12-31
EVILS OF CUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NEW YORK, Dec. IS, 1878.

/ NEW YORK, Dec. IS, 1878.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
1t must be gratifying 10 the many readers OF
your valuable paper to witness the generous man.
ner in which you devote its columns to the publ
cation ofcorrespondences, OF by which expression ol
individual and public sentiment is elected on the
many hive subjects OF the times, which to the
reader are both interesting and fnstruc-
tive. Especially do / find it SO on the
subject y OF the reintroduction OF corpo-
raj punishment in our public schools
by the Reform Board OF Education, which has met
with such stern opposition on the part OF parents
in denouncing IL as relic OF barbarous age and
other such like just terms, together with setting
forth such undeniable facts as to the injury which
would thereby be inflicted upon the children both
morally and physically, that am at loss to con-
ceive what other course this Board OF
Education can adopt than TO resign |;
the alleged cause assigned for the re-
introduction OF corporal punishment In our
Schools according to the statement OF the
committee OF this Board to whom the matter was
referred, being the deterioration Of discipline,
which they assert not only exists, but also de-
moraization OF an alarming character, recon-
mending such means as the only remedy. These
admissions OF the Committee on Teachers furnish q
powerful argument to the opponents OF the school
system, who are already making use OF 1T, and are
giving extensive circulation 10 the statement
The injustice done to female teachers In the
gradation OF their salaries, especially IN the lower
grades, IN accordance with the report OF the
Especial Committee on the Grading of Teachers
Salaries,n which report was adopted by the Board
OF Education at late meeting, after eight months
grave deliberation, is manifest TO any one who Will
examine the conclusions arrived at on this subject
by that inexperienced and mpracticable
Board. One or two instances VIII sufice
to elucidate this point the maximum salary OF
the vice principal in the female department, who
teaches the highest class, according to the new
rate is 81 500 per annum while the principal IN the
same department, who does not teach q class and
is responsible for none, is $1,000 per annum. The
difference In the salaries between the principal
and vice principal in the primary department is
5000 per annum, though the latter mas equal re-
sponsibility and labor as the principal. There is
the same difference between the first assistant and
vice principal.
1t WIN be seen from this statement that the
teachers who work the hardest receive the least
compensation ana this IN a special manner Is
true OF the primary department, where the classes
are exceedingly overcrowded and the pupils largely
IN excess OF the number allowed by the bylaws OF
the School Board. That the apprehensions OF the
teachers for worse IN the future are not unfounded
and that the Board will make them sOrely realize
by experience the truth OF the old adage, that
'mislortunes never come alone.n Is evident; for
has It not been moOted, nay but decided, by the
committee OF the Board to offer ior adoption
resolution ordering the payment of salaries Of
absent teachers, regardless OF cause or conse-
quence? And though 1t may not come to pass in
rapid succession with their aforementioned acts
as it may take them in a like manner eight months
TO summon courage to put themselves before the
PUBIC II the gul OF members OF pOarQ QeVOlQ OF
that Christian virtue, charity; nevertheless nom
present indications Ii seems Inevitable.
Retrenchment Ia la Green) being the recognized
hobby OF this school Board, md, in keeping with
their many unpopular acts one OF their first moves
in that direction was the aboish1ng OF the office OF
physician 20 the Boaro OF Education" !" whose du-
ties, among Others the visiting of the schools
to examine their condition to ventilation, heat
ing &c the detection OF disease among the pupils
the prevention OF its spread to report such to the
Board, and to advise such measures to remedy
such evils as only physician Is capable Of doing.
The sacrifice to which the health OF children in
our public schools is now subjected, in view OF
the foregoing facts makes 1t apparent that
delay In tins matter Is dangerous, and demands
the expression OF public condemnation at the
course pursued by this Reform Board.
Though this condition OF affairs may not meet
with such rapid and positive proof OF the evil aris
ing thereirom as was demonstrated q lew weeks
ago in a school in Merden, Conn.,, where. one by
one, the children swooned and had TO be carried
out into the pure air, caused by want OF proper
ventilation; yet Ii cannot be denied that II a
remedy be not applied by re-estabsning proper
medical supervision over our schools the germ
OF disease Will seat itself In the constitution Of
our children.
As TO what extent such condition OF our schools
may lead the health OF our children Is
subject which trust the medical faculty will, for
humanitys sake, throw light on through the col
umns or the HERALD, which Will be eagerly sought
for by It's readers and particularly appreciated by
parents and guardians as wen as by CITIZEN.