The New York herald., 1874-09-08
OUR PUPL-C SCHOOLS.

Re-Opening for tho season-A General
Attendanco-Tcachers and Pupils-Thc
Opening OF tho Normal school-Ad-
dress by President Nelson.
The general re-openina OF our public schools. In
accordance with the orders OF the Board OF Edu-
cation. took place yesterday, and 1t was conse-
quenty day OF general encouragement through
out the city-no, perhaps not general, for parents
feel quite differently on tine subject from teachers
and children, and are. no doubt, heartily glad that
the long-yes. terribly long-vacation is over. The
period OF mischief has come to an end, and for as
least some hours In the day there will be peace
and quiet in the household To be sure, "h0okey"
will be again extensively patrontzed. but after
all, there are means to overcome even tho strong
est desire for ''hookey," and woe be to those who
don't put these means in practice.
But In connection with the opening OF the
schools those most deeply interested are decidedly
the teachers and the pupils. For two Jolly long
months the male and femae inculcarors OF learn
ing have been playfully laztng In all parts OF the
Unlon and even Europe, at the expense of the city
and of many who help to pay for what they GER
tainly cannot enjoy themselves. The subject has
been preached why these people, ablebodted and
strong as they are cannot be put to some use dur
ing the vacation, which is only necessity to tho
children. Clerks and saieswomen consider them
selves very lucky In getting two weeks vacation
alter laboring twelve hours day for eleven
months and a half, but school teachers:
eight months in the year, counting the
Saturday holiday. must needs have two
very near $500 900 And yet to see the sort OF halt
lazy way they oil acted yesterday, cross and dis-
satisfied in action. II was evident q month or two
longer would not have been dtstastefui. The first
lew days OF work, again, are the hardest IN the
year, and one teacher said TO the writer that it
was questionable II this coming back to work
again was not harder than all tue vacation was
pleasant. Like Oliver Twist, they want "more !"
10 this rule, however, there may be some notable
exceptions, but they are 80 lew That much can't
be said about them. ~
Bad as the teachers feel, however, at resuming
work, their agony was as nothing compared to
tnat OF the children. on, their suffering was
beyond computation. This IS the one great black
shiny days In county places are mere memory,
and nothing in prospect but nasty blackooards.
1erues Is it any wonder they don't Ike 1t 2 Yes
teroay you could see them going moodny along
dusty shelves Tor months, under tnetr arm. Their
features were pensive their march anything but
joyous. and tae whole world DARK ana disagree.
better disposition over 1t, and took things
more senslby on the whole. 1t is one OF the pref.
test sights OF the town, this grand march to school
IN the morning. and how marvellously charming all
these young beauties look as they trip all slngly
and IN pait 3 to tue schO0hOuse. yer-
The first dav OF the session Is not one OF much
order; everJ thing is in a snarl The boys
hee sn is mo Sey
teachers do not Try to keep much order aud con-
slider it very lucky II they can preserve any at oil.
is gone through with. The principal has Q load OF
work on hand and finds 1t about the hardest day
Of the whole scholastic year.
The Compulsory Education bill seems to have
had at all events, as yet no very perceptloe enect
upon the attendance Mast OF our schools nave
and 1t would seem as II IN New York either com.
pulsory education IS unnecessary because IN, IN one
the system lacks enforcement as vet. The latter
is probably the case, the means have yet to be
system can be carried out as the bill intends.
During the recess large number OF the schools
and another. Public School No. 20, situate il
West Thrtieth street. and also No. 4s,
located street have re-
site Of the intended Court House on 12sth
finished in December next. The cost OF the entire
structure is to be $9s,OoO, and 1t promises to be
the various schools have undergone extensive re-
pairs, plank walks and sheds IL the play grounds
IN Vest i5stn street has been extended back thirty
500 pupils. The First street school house, on the
site OF old cemetery, Is also IN course OF erec-
ton. Much has been said as to the unheathiness OF
the location IN consequence OF the presence
OF on insect known as the myrmidon which
tnlests old cemeteries which have not been
dIsinfected aud which Is said to produce malaria
in any building erected on the site. The iounda-
tons OF the building have been laid but the build
ing will not be finished before next spring Gram
mar School No. 81. in the Twenty second ward has
also undergone many repairs. The walls have
been raised, stone stairways built and new furni-
ture provided. The Old public school No. 2, in
Henry street, Seventh ward, has mad the rear wall
rebuilt ana new stone stalrways put up. New
wings have also been put up: The work is
Twenty-Ourth street, near Eighth avenue has
been overhauled, new floors and new heating ap-
paratus put up. And among the others reno
vated in various ways are Grammar School No. 20,
in Greenwich street, No. l. in the Fourth ward, No.
A, in the Fifth ward, and No. IL in The same.
The Normal School opened yesterday morning,
with an address by W. Il. Nelson Chairman OF the
Board OF Education. There were present some
1,2O0 pupls-that Is to say, an addition OF 500.
Mr.. Nelson said, among other things, that the
course study mas 0ecn sim .lified and made more
thorough course would embrace five studies
the temper OF the attendance was very good.