The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-13
THE SCHOOL FUSION QUESTION.

SOLUTION OF THE sECTARIAN SYSTEM IN
THE PUBLIC scHooLs-DETAus OF THE
PoUGHKEEPsE PLAN-AcTIoN OF THE DO ARD
OF EDUCATION OF THAT CITY.
PoUGHKEEPsIE. April II. 1875.
the Methodist Episcopal Conference, which Is
now In session here, are to discuss tomorrow the
mooted question or Catholic and public
schools. Additional interest IL given to this
discussion by the fact tnat this dlnioulty
hes been solved 10 the satisfaction OF both Prot
tsstants ana Catholics by the Board OF Education
OF thp city. II il Eaown popularity as the ''PouGh
KeepSs Plan" and. thus lar, has worked out well.
The plan which WAS adopted about year and .
hair ago 10 as fonows.-
The ioundatiou or the plan IL not q compromise,
but In TACT conpeto surrender OF the schools
onrro Of the Board OF Eoueation. At nrst il was
proposed 70 establish conditions as 20 teach.
S Legal Tight 10 acre. 'eSuTai Iaes n az
iectlnE one or moro SCHOOLS and not the
rest. fney, therefore, SAID 70 the priest and MS
Your children; trust Us and we will treat you
farly." AFTER some nesitatlon tney concluded 70
lure TO the Board OF Education Tor a nominal
sum ior ten years, the only provlso being
lease sc the eno OF any school year alter
giving three months notice. me Board OF Edu-
cation next examined the teachers VINO nad been
IN cnarge OF the schools and nnding them quail
He'd 70 teach reappointed them and added 10 their
number others, all Of wnom nave passed the usual
examination, stand on the same footing,
ana are SUBJECT TO the same rules as teacn-
ers IN tue otner public schools. In select
ing these teachers respect has been SHOWN
to the preferences OF the Catholics but there has
Deen no dictatlon OF appointments, aud the
Tncy have attended the teachers institutes, and
are among the most eager TO embrace every OPP
portunlty 70 perfect themselves IN tue knowl-
edge OF their profession. appearing 70 tage
great pride In making their schools lully equal
70! 70 any others 10 me city. Inc next cues.
made TO conform to those In use In tue otaer
schools. Az first TINS complete cnange caused
someldissatslactlon, but the people were Induced
to see tnat the Board required IL only because Nc
was helieveu TO be for tue best Interests OF the
children, and they procured the new books cheer
fully. DIT. Mcsweeney, after careful examina-
ton OF tnen declared MS opinioa that the cnange
was greatly Tor the better
the public schools IN this CITY are OF four
grades-introductory schools, primary schools,
Rrammsr schools and High Scnool. 1hs CITY u all
considered ~ one dlstrict, aud children are
prefer OF tue grade which their attain nents cause
them to be assigned TO. PROVIDED there u room.
are embraced tnree grades = Introductory,
primary and arammar-dnd as matter
there wnhe the Prosestsns cpidrsn 20 eIsewsere.
There are, however, numoer exceptions on
potn sides, CATHOLICS finding It more convcnient
them. A. they pass beyond the grammar scnoOt
they All 90 together to the High school, In which
some Of zoe brightest pupils are from among the
There u no religious instruction during school
hours; but in the former Catholic scnOois and IA
the Iilsn scnool winch u tsugnr by Protestant
clergyman, the teacher and sucn scholars as
choose 70 90 50 remain aiser school Is dismissed
10 the afternoon Tor reneious exercises. 1no
buildings spoken OF are usea by the Board
only Tor school purposes the Catholics retaining
enables them 70 meet Ia the evenings and at
otdsr times as they choose, aud we Deneve they
frequently 40 80, wDen, OF course, the services are
entirely under their own control and rndepe ndsnt
W ahI RUE or resxicu0a IMPOSED ~ ths hoard.