The New York herald., 1878-02-07

as ar as the fourtn grade n the grammar Less thaI
twenty per cent OF pupils In the grammar SCHOOLS
found IN the three highest classes. The tota
numDer in these shrse grades tn 1876 s.Osi
Introductory % @ psf class OF Of the College % Of Ne. @
YORK, and tho 7a9 in tho nrst and second grades q
high chools should be established conyenient
tious the city Consolidation OF existing schools
would doubtless furnish all needed buildings without
The College OF New YORK and The Norman College. II
maintained should be simply training schools tor
teachers, and as sucn should be supported by the
State OF New York, in like manner The eight nor
mai schools at Albany, Buffalo and other places.
Such system 10 IN operation IN Boston. whore the
number OF children attending the public schools Is
nearly ninety per cent of the children OF schoolage.
system seems TO have been attained. II IS obvoas
that n this way the best results woui0 be possible OF
na no NJ w a sSe .es G1 Se
method adopted simply because wo are accustomed
70 IT,
NEW YORK coLLEGn
II is not in spirit OF hostility TO the College Of tho
City OF New York that the committee urge inquiry
into system OF manage ment the character and
scope OF It's operations and the committee believe IL
unjust and impoiltc TO advocate the abolition or SUBJ
stantial modification OF the college as separate
measure OF reform Both this institution aDd the Normal
College have ouIgrowu the original idea underlying
their foundation, and u 10 not altogether clear that
the development has been healthy or IN the direction
OF the greatest good 10 the community. On care.
fu study Of the situation the general suggestion OF
outline Will be found least open to objection
The Governor OF the State OF New York IN The
annual essage OF January L. 1875 refers TO the enor
nous oil money ralsed by taxston for school pur-
poses. and uses the following empnatic iangaage:-
II gs ws0.s S1i ALREADY
Hes in the principle Of applying large amounts OF the
raised taxation 70 the support of hign Seh9o
branches OF study required in the learned professions.
for .nc nq s S
children good common school education IL shonid leave
e Their capacities ft them for To 80 beyond this Is to
inJure rather than benefit them.
Nuch "A 70 y hes nlain kan orda
has served TO bring forth evidence OF strong public
sentiment approving these views, aud TO show oeef
keep down men OF genius, wno as ever IN shls coun
try, Will be sure 10 rise through their own inherent
energy and strength
THE OBJECTS OF EDUCATION.
According TO reports IN the newspapers the school
authorities are divided IN opinion on the subject at
issue. One thinks the object oil all education, SO
TAR taxation is concerned, is TO give boys and
girls just so much learning as will make them
etu members Of society and relieve the police
department aud the poor house department Of their
charges and that beyond that IL is,agnins our prin
ciples OF government to go. Another has enlarged
viuws TO appropriating private unds for pubic or
I'm his case we may say ior) private purposes: He
mas the right, not tho privilege, TO demand for
his child Whatever education, in general way,
may require to at him tor any position thar open
TO MIN IN this country. Another, contending for
arc to be looked ior as the result OF each
higher fight IN mental education WHOM he
says, "As Tor me, l believe in fewer policemen
colleges and fewer reiOrmatorIes and prisons" Our
educational motto should be millions tor education
and cent wasted. Here It may DO interesting TO
reler 70 an abstract Of paper on useful ednca-
ton by Mr.. X Bingham In recent number
of tho Polytechnic, containing many facts aud
observations worthy Of nolce In these times Of
forcing IN education. Mr. Bingham does not believe
that school education tends to dimiush crime. He
says mat the ratio OF crime TO population less
Ireland than Ia Massachusetts, and that property is
more secure IN Italy with its many mil
;Uns sta,s with srA'' all IL % SCHOOLS or 1 the s ss
prisoners received last year inIo the Western Pen.
Tertiary Of State Of 2So had attended
pu bic schools, 10 private schools aud 20 had never
gone SCHOOL OI The 1888 prisoners received INTO
the Eastern Penitentlary OF tho same sta1e during
the ten years ending wl:h 1889 l7.2l per
cent were illiterats aud Sl.S3 had never beeu ap-
prenticed "Ail observers will admit, " remarks the
author, "that there Is not much Intelligence aud
skill working the farms now as there was twoniy
ago. The fears OF the farmers were not that their
sons would know 100 mucn, but that they would do
with work they feared, but making hay in the
shade farming by the 6resde; pluoking geese
Kns III" psn and saras.cI for the pcuh and harvest
fork. The change has not been from prison to school
so much as from honest labor 10 idieness and crimc
Everything else being equal menta! culture raises the
STANDARD oI m orality Out we would choose comnu-
nifty OF INDUSTRIOUS aud iterate members rather fhan
one OF Idle and literary habits for high standard Of
morality.
PRESIDENT wooD's VIEWS IN 1862
Prom report OF the Ci,izens' Association Of New
ing suggestions bearing upon the system Of public
instruction IN this cty The chairman Of snat COM
OF the Board OF Education:-
The only ground which the State is justified in
2. that h Ss Of
posed sy the nature OF the case upon the p.raetion
substantial elements Of instruction given to the youth
viii enable him to d. himself for the scharge OF The
what is called the higher oranches .hs departs
as sues. es satn I into her own hands what rs1s"is
Dsonss to private enterprise The soy and danger TO
happiness whicn must result TO the victims oi parental
danger. the stats has no business with nis educa
instruction, since II we DO 50. where Is 80 be
still further and found public schools Of law OF medicine
the contest can any one tell the m. os the ';D ss
S" !. a. srs aS s%,
making elevate those schools dig
ns Wiz IN psa o
s: Foss As % s'Sai sn so
legssu s,..,. ,u.,. ,,., A.. 80, .,,,o,r. ,,. .,.
t"y free schools but the more appropriate for academies
ana colleges There is no popriey in giving boys and
rounded in spelling and srammar an Srn"mensAi ednea
what merely made sacrifice
OF more useful accomplishments; 90 sai
with 's nssrueton & o the ssaren o. Its sssns such
such the growing capacty successive Of chill
cren acquiring it, tina. all the essential outlines of know
dren VINO are under that age
With those who older the acquisition OF know
edge the patcu trade business profess
sion which the child is to follow should This
either In the counting and the workshop
the colleges where special occupations professions
taught. The New York Coleg, WILL IL allowed to
exist, become finally the school Of certain Professions in
imitation Vt other colleges.
OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
Inquiry into the condition OF our system of public
cd uc.ion involves too grave important respons
bities TO be appro ched without the power and the
leisure consistent with an Official ana complete ex-
There essential weaknesses In
the system which are disclosed In part
but In part ouly. on cursory study OF
the question. Having IN view the aims the poss-
Diites OF we'll regulated common school SYSTEM the
committee urge the presentation OF memorial TO the
Legislature for a COMMISSION charged with the duty
Ol close inquiry INTO our state and city
schools all their departments The expenditure OF
q few thousand dollars such an investigation, the
Commissioners being armed with Official powers,
wouId undoubtedly lead to better comprehension OF
the requirements OF the system
New York CITY expends So zoo, 900 on the ucation
OF less than 15, OOU attendants upon the schools IL
is not unreasonable TO that the aggregate OF
expenditure under revised system would be- contrib
ucd cheeruy were tue taxpayers assured that there
was no waste or extravaganza.
GEORGE A. ROBBINS, Chairman.
M S lSAACS,