The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-08
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL
COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR VIEWS u1on THE
rNERs DE Examined PA uNIrrcArroN OF
OUR DUAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM REQUIRED
The late discussions az Albany by the New YORK
State Association OF School Com missoucrs and City
has again brought the question OF pub
lie education prominently before the people OF tns
State IIn these discussions some exceedingly i'm
portant points had touched to the moral value
Of education and the effect OF school training 10
poltics Touching these matters 1t has beer
found. upon inquiry, that there is but one
wish among the great mass OF tho people,
that Is that pains or expense should be
spared to mako present school system IN this State
one in every way adequate to the wants Of the sua.
ton. How this may best DO affected, the people be-
cve is matter for the State Board OF Education and
tho Legislature to determine The system as IL at
present stands although not SO good as that OF several
other that could be named has thus lar done good
service TO the youth OF both sexes who have particle
pa.ed in its benefits but !. claimed that the time
has now arrived for taking such steps a. will crown
the cdce OF our State educational structure and ren-
der il equal 10 tho task OF training up the rising gen.
Grafton to lcvo with the enlightenment and cviliza-
tion OF this age
As TO the vexed question OF reading the Bible In the
schools t which has very properly boon LETT 10
the hands oil district trustees II Is thing which 70
subject general rule and is placed entirely IN the
management OF local boards Thus 1t happens now
that while IN some districts the Bible Is read In others
the contrary rule prevails In most school districts OF
this city the Bible IS authorized TO- be road. but in
some oil them II IS not Nothing can be iarer than ior
each to be governed by the decision OF It's own
WHO SHALL EXAMINE THE EXAMINERS?
Unfortunately among US the public servant Is like
rypsy's pack horse, he loaded TO the ground with
ali sorts OF useless trumpory, aud abused because ne
is unable 10 make much progress. But nis want or
progressive power should rather DC attributed 10 the
owls OF wrong system than TO any dissemination on
his part to move on. And tho school examiners, Ike
other officials IN this city. Tor their own share
OF public dissatisfaction II they fail as they must IN
dscharging their duties so rs to please every
BODY Tho following letter, which comes fromc one OF
the dissatisfied. speaks pretty plainly 10 asking VINO
are responsible Tor the AFFINITY OF tho School Ex-
aminers to do their duty
To rHE EDITOR HERALD:-
Is there provision made in our admirable school
tho time has l. would seem :, call Tor is
ton Of the city which bring these
s s'ss Or public
SsSi
get tho notion facts must Eo behind the re us
these unconares reflex OF the standing OF either
D S ns
inasmuch as they pay gentlemen. Interested in
ask. VINO sh all examine the examuers!"
SUPERINTENDENT RIDDLES VIEWS.
Mr. Henry Riddle, City Superintendent OF Schools
had bis attention called yesterday context the
ABOVE communication He do not know how ~ treat
IT. The names OF the gentlemen who have positions
under Mr.. kiddle. are:-Messrs Thomas + lIarrsoc
Superintendent Of Grammar Schools; Norman A.
Cuikns, First Assistant superintendent Of Primar-
sstaut Superintendent; Jonn Jasper. Jr.. ASSISTANT,
superintendent; Arthur McMullen, Assistant super.
intendent All these gentlemen are men whose ~du.
catiopal qualifications have never been called
IN question: They are literally educated, having o"en
either professors OF branch OF learning princ
pals OF grammar schools They have served different
periods from twelve to thirty years, or moro, IN the
department of education in this city, and IN what way
they require TO DO themselves examined Is 10 dlSc1t
to CONCEIVE.
on tho general subject OF tho New York school sys
ten Mr. Riddle said, in substance that we still rs,an
tho old method OF organizing BY districts ln the
other States, particularly throughout Now England,
the organizations by towns is the method uscdi
and this Is found 70 work very WELL the
Hon. Neil Gimour. State superintendent or Public
Instruction. has some time ago generally recon.
mended tho change IN New York. Tho great difficulty
misslonera These officials have tho licensing Of
teachers, duty, which Is In many respects the most
important performed by any officers connected With
school system IL is obvious that tho standard Of
scholarship and efficiency teachers employed IN the
districts must depend entirely on tho requirements
asked In licensing them. These Commissioners
who WELD tho great power OF licensing teachers
elected by public vote. They arc not, many cases
persons who havo acquired n good education; some.
times they are by no means educated men, IL Is also
be remembered n connection with this TACT that small
out 0i the way districts want TO obtain teachers as
Q low rate of compensation and IN this manner very
mpcrfecty prepared teachers are often employed In
district schools The result Is that lose consider
ably the fruits OF our normal school system, normal
school graduates being crowded out by those pcrsons
who without any previous professional prepare.
ton. The State superintendent has recomm the
fixing OF proper standard of qualifications for the
School Commissioners, IN order 10 remedy this OWL
TEXT ROCK QUESTION.
The proposition To Tx the limits of tho school age
very wise one-at instead OF hvc years, as Tor
merly the State, and to make tho city law In this
respect the same that OF the State, which would
New York four years. and thus very greatly
relieve many OF overcr0wded primary depart.
ments. The matter OF the diversity III text books 10
regulated by the district trustees. II would net be
good plan Tor the State Commissioners as was
suggested, 10 prepare text books and restrict the
schools 10 set OF them only; such scheme would
eliminate competition with regard 10 the character oil
the books be selected aud intrinsic value With
respect the manner of getting them up as we'll az
their literary merit This proposition involving The
adoption OF any particular set OF text books Tor tho
State was tnorouehy condemned last week at Albany
DOUBLE HEADER.
In New York we have double system OF education;
primary, which is under the superintendent OF tho
Board OF Regents OF the University aud secondary hc
common school systen). that Is directed by tho Sta0
Superintendent. The visible want OF unity between
these two systems interferes In some measure with
their efficiency. state Board OF Edcaton, properly
OF unity our double systems OF instruction must
have the natural effect OF rendering tho schools In
icror those Of Other States The normal high
schools colleges should all be brought together and
case in tho State OF Michigan and some other places.