New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-01
AnS,PplrrLs or THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Alb>l KID lbs w III. II Dill - ll'Dl-N.
rur rooR CHILDREN THAT cANNor 60 10
1nrN-PUBuC SCHOOLS FOR THE WEALTHY
FREQUENT CHANGES OF TEXT BOOKS.
To me Edttor OF The Trt6HHe.
SIR: \ friend, WHO was 4 looLcr-on in the city,
expressed Wish To- visit Of oar schools or 70 speak
more largely educational lpstitutious!" OF course
should betrAy that the friend WAS woman, for
never knew man. except 1t was directly In his limo o'
business In way. who cared enough TO make these
things study even Tor "a day
We went arst to "a Ragged" or Industrial school,"
Il set ~ weary, wornOohng children. learning the rud
rnrnt, merely given dinner of the paines which was
luxury compared with the food at home and taught
also sewing the afternoon This Is the ordinary course
IN ,omo they are In addition taught To scrub ana clean
properly. cook Just tribe. to wash dishes clean TO
lay table, dccentIy; to make bed to sweep and dust
room without raising dust than Is carried AWAY
II WAS u good thing. and the product Of private
charity and hard work on the part Of ladies.
But why" said my friend. are not these children
tau.lt I'm the public -choosl | thought that the
very object of them"
90 no. they are too poor 10 TO the public schools"
TOO poori do not understand
"Why they don't teach sewing III the city schools
nor ANYTHING these children need to Know, except
reading aud writing. and they can't dress well enough
You see, thoy make their own garments In the after
noon and recci, them ~ II reward for diligence; the
material il given Dy those who support the schools
"Ah scc."
The next day we visited the public schools with the
usual crowd OF all ranks and conditions aud when they
came to the Latin lessons the bad aud We came
away Passing rather imposing building, with some
intimntion that II was Il school" over tho door, we
went In observing row Of smart carriages AT the
door There was u crowd Of people oy'ry thing was III
gaia trim, flowers everywhere. IL was examination
day, We were gracously allowed place and saw girs
OF nil ages In full dress Of yarcty-whito null
and double skirts. slshcs and bouquets, hair III
tho latest and Widest disorder, aud flILed'
The thing was neatly over. but looking on IN"
programme we found French and German music
and drawing. In addition to all tho OloSes' ana piI%o'
were given and little diplomas tod Win rppon''
which the young dascs Tilted M, on the highest vi
heels to receive We out before the crow" anu 'no
carriages had multiplied
.Whosc institution IS this 2" said my friend
"rhisi on, thi, is pablo school
"And the carriages aud the dresscs"
"Wcl you Soc the people save tuition bills; wo pay
those mud hen they can things that Ican'
"Ah sol" said my friend, who had not forgotten
driving up one of the avenues aud saw some public
building standing alone whats thati' she said.
"Oh, that's the Free College"
"For those who too poor to get an education !
Why don't they work out like Faraday, and many an
other man !"
"Letu. go IN" We courteously received, ana saw
some clIsscs nj recitation. 80
Glow well dressed they are, and nice looking .
"Mcl they be- IL IL free To hll Ihat ch'p Is me
Of rich lawyer; that one OF ron
OF them could afford Ia college IN tho Iand
"Ah, soW again reflected my friend We stopped one
day at bookstal for moment There Jay some schooi
| books with label. Public School, NO -.
"Oh thcy-wc-farnish all the books, and when the