The New York herald., 1878-02-07

comprising each three departments md three
with salaries aggregang from $40. 900 TO Sll 900.
which looks like extravaganza. That some change
commends itseIi 10 the judgment Of the Board
ferred from their resolve 10 appoint no new vice
principals That some margin exists Tor a reduc-
ton In salaries. at least IN the case Of new
appointees would be Inferred also from the foiowing
Official statement on page "a OF the report Tor 1876
'Tns number OF applicants Tor positions teachers
due n measure 10 the depressed financial condition
of AFFAIRS indicates that true policy would oe ad-
In all respects the condition OF appointme ("
rate OF compensation 10 larger than in any o'her
city"-does not necessarily Involve the CONCLUSION
that excessive pay rs gwen TO all teachers III every
grade alike. We are advised from reliable sources
that the average salary OF iemais teachers In
grammar schools 5000 to $500 not 100 bign, but
that the SO called apprentice teacher IS not fairly
worth Tor The FIRST year TWO over $500 per annum.
and that In the case oi male teachers averaging,
where Two or are employed. 81, 652, and where
one only, 81, S55l the pay Is somewhat excessive
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
We quote from the report tor 1876 page 2o:-"Ihe
primary school teachers have lower rate oil pay than
our grammar school teachcrs--and the primary
schools have ssed training places for the bet
ter paid positions IN the grammar schools lustruc-
ton discipline more diihcut in the gram
mar schools than IN the primary The majority vi
pupils receive all the education they have 10 the pria-
~ aud never enter he grammar schools This majority
deserves the Grst consideration. We ASK Do these
pupils over soloo Of me entire number, receive me
first consideration? Let us gee. The number oil
pupils TO each assistant teacher s:-ln grammar
schools, male and iemale 36 primary department
OF grammar schools, 40; primary schools 40 Do
these laborious teachers IN the primary departments
receive sufficient consideratonr Possibly while
gazing up the top Of the system are overlook
ing these bard worked and scauly pad teachers aud
the 7o.lo0 oi all the pupils at the bottom
JAyiToks
Tho salaries of janitors tor 1876 were:-
In the grammar and primary schools $l2206l 63
Normal College
JaDiior.... ,u00
Assistant Janitor and engineer.... !, 500
Trailing school. ll9V
Total. slz7 ISL 50
A reduction OF twenty-five per cent would effect
saving oil about So, 900 some reduction is contem-
plated. ana certainly would be reasonable. A number
OF Jantors combine with the care ana cleaning OF the
buildings the duties OF engineer in managing the
nesting apparatus but many residing in tho buildings
without charge for rent, lue and lights unsKlled
nborers ana receive conn largely in excess
oil the same class o labor IN other positions.
CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS.
is evident that the Board OF Education can sensi.
bly, reduce The cost oil maintaining the public school
system. So far, however, as the reduction sin ex-
penditure will DO accomplished by an arbitrary
Without Discrimination, It Is unwiss and 1a. IN,
just Til ere are bowcver, grammar and primary
schools which by reason OF locality doubtless have
small average attendance OF pupils In these schools
the principle oI consolidation may be safely applied
In schools where The boys department, Tor example,
includes fewer than 200 pupils-Nos B, 7, Il, % "a
nnd 29--and where there are also lower than
250 girls IN the female department, the force OF
principals may be safely reduced without mpairing
the machinery Of adm nistration. Que principal,
with cniei assistant teachers IN each deparl ment
could readily accomplish the labor Of supervision
fhe pest and largest schools IN the city relatively
the least expensvely managed In No. IL (Fory-
seventh street) there are a,lo4 children, aud the
COS. co is $50 No So on fhir.eonlh street, with ssS @
IN all. costs s27 year per pupil. In No AZ Twelfth
strcet with 1875 pupils the cost Is $22 6S per
mum. Nos. % and "a lin Guy Hall ace and Elm
streeI about 200 children each return $35 and
$34 as the annual cost per pupil
IL would be unjust. without careful and cxhaus-
analysis OF all the schools the consideration
OF special circumstances which compel temporary
EXCESS OF cost over the average ma ntained
ias board Oes Eac.,,oa ana largest 70 clam tina.
lravagant in the management OF .ne schools
An important equitable consideration occurs which
teachers cannot he terminated witnout regard their
rights. legal aud moral Assuming lnat the policy OF
:episi--and the Board have resolved TO discon-
lnue appointments to The grade OF vice
compensation cannot be cut down. at
east curing the period i1r which the engagement
v as made. II Is quite possible that people may
demand reduction IN the expenses Of our system OF
ana yet be honest utterly Tree from
secret hostility 70 the cause.
In England there are writer's OF eminence who
,ouly oppose all Tree educaton But in this State
md even In this city Of New YORK, beyond doubt
prncpe OF tree elementary education for the poople
rooted and grounded in the convictions OF thought
ut men--a Cardinal article OF faith, underlying all
;onhdeacs In the security or republic resting on Tree
suffrage.
II Massachusetts, and Connecticut. public schools
fountains OF intelligence, aRily called-iostercd by
he jealous soIcitude OF people who never once wa
'ered in supporting them. although well nigh crushed
)y their load OF taxati0n. The Governor OF the lat
er colony in 1870 reports one-tourth Of revenue
aid out In maintaining tree common schools Tor
sducation Sf It's children; and after the |
IF the Revolution the State Of Connecticut amid the
exhaustion OF tho long struggle noby eonsecrates TO
his purpose from the proceeds OF her Western Reserve
ands, 81 100000 1t would be absurd doubt that
'ur tax ridden city Of New York to-day this prin
% the affections VI Intelligent people, ready ever
respond 10 all reasonable levIes tor its support or
hat In this crisis In our municipal affairs, any reform
~ called which should serve TO cripple tho common
school system proper, would be deemed dear economy
indeed They look, not only Tor Its contlnoancs, but
or its extension 10 meet uhc demands OF iucreas-
ng population. But while consenting to be taxed |
10 furnish each untaught chrid IN this city good |
ommon school education, large numbers are begin
aing wake up and Tor clear understanding as
10 what are the proper limits OF public education and
hat these may not be crossed They ask II there !
may not be some steps TO retrace, II there has
been drifting away from frst principles; whether. In
some way, We may not lay hold OF these again:
more wisely applied; WHETHER IN TACT, " cannot. by
inherent right, De CLAIMED that elementary Eng-
rom taxation. They see hat the mass OF the young.
or whom they are willing to be spent, ask |
or no more and they are beginning 10 believe
hat II broader and higher education is wanted 1t
should be had at private expense. " Is their un-
ierstandng that as free institutions could long
,hdure save the foundation Of an enlightened |
people, the conmo school was established to oppose
education 10 ignorance IN order that
might senu iorh each child into the world well |
itcd through discipline and habits OF industry for
east selI-susaining service in his walls In lie, aud
or safe membership IN society and tho State
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Their notion OF the sort OF training requisite for
his end and OF the false tendency OF present
em dnds partial expression IN the following preamble
,nd reson nons, adopted At IA meeting OF tho Board
,i Education, January IL, lS76:-
Whereas numerous studie, having been from time TO
lime added TO the course of instruction which
a,ed TO withdraw The pupils tim. and attention from the
TO encourage in them habits Of
hought Of tho most superficial character, and
rs consequence many of the children pass into
he active pursuits of lite without being aUie
discharge the duties demanded of them; and whereas
well known fact that the great majority 0t pupiis
eceye all the educaion they ever obtain in the primary
schools aud consequently the instruction and discipline of
hese schools should be made and thorough there
ore.
Resolved, that the Committee Course of Study
and school Books be requested to examns into the
t the earliest moment and and reduce the
ects III the cou'se OF study enable the pupils to
devote their time with energy attainment
,f knowledge OF the elementary branches Of English
education.
Taxpayers remark that little by little have built
upon this original system OF common schools until |
now FREQ education sig es merely instruction In
Inc elements OF knowledge, but IN the several |