The New York herald., 1878-02-07
A COSTLY SYSTEM.
Grievous Waste and Extravaganza
Attributed to 1t.
NEW YORK COLLEGE.
Why Its Abolition Should Be
Seriously Considered.
TEACHERS SALARIES REDUCED.

Some time ago, when the question OF the cost OF tho
public schools Of this city was exciting unusual at
lcntiop the Society Municipal Reform appointed
committee to investigate tho system OF public educa-
ton with a view discovering its faults and
abuses and suggesting tho necessary measures Of
reform. The committee went to work at once, aud
aer long careful preparation presented the follow
Ing report tho last special meeting OF the society
1t accepted and ordered TO be printed aud VIII be
distributed in pamphlet form to members Of the Leg
slature others authority The report first CON-
plains OF excessive the public schools and
recommends a partial reduction of salaries. 1t also
suggests the investigation OF the Normal School, the
College OF the City OF New YORK and the Nautical
School
Your committee having been asked to investigate
.he system OF public education IN the CITY OF New
York with view TO the correction OF abuses and the
reduction OF expenses, WISH 10 say IN an
assume tho role experts, qualified by
special training and apu3e to point out technical de-
fects IN the quality methods OF educaton as such.
furnished by system They come as private citizens
merely, in nlrgardly spirit, but IN common sense
lashion inquire II the moneys raised 10 maintain
The system any wasted, still iurther
If The system itself lays upon the taxpayers Of Now
York city an unjust burden IN violation OF natural
rights and the necessitIcs OF sound public policy.
Assuming the present system of Tree education 10 be
her lust one We may search Tor abuses nere
and there amid the details OF administration
to 6nd II may te. an aggregate OF saving worth the
having; or, taking wider view we may look TO soc II
any features OF the system seem open 10 lair objec
hon, themselves abuses, calling or well considered
and possibly heroic treatment. Let us briefly do
both.
Tue Board OF Education, a company of intelligent
gentlemen, serve without pecunlary reward IN ad-
minstering system OF which they are not the build
ers, and give cntnu much valuable tmo aud
hearty the OF their fellow citzens To
them praise and honor are due Tor their zcaous and
efficient laburs. They stand al the head OF q large
band OF patient workers who, though little Doccd by
inc passing "oria are spreaalhg oroaucast ieaven
which is 10 work through aud build up The very
framework OF our social structure These too, the
vital forces OF the system are worthy all praise.
strange, however, II, during the trying Pc
Rcd oi IIdation and crazy waste now drawing 10 a
close, the system Of education, indeed, the Board
OF Education had altogether escapeds contagion;
and II now, the wild debaucn ended, there
were here no place Tor readjustment and
inner consciousness, stimulated, perhaps, by
Sprinklings oil criticism through the public press and
Diher channels is evolving slowly tho spirit
OF economy. Out OF opposing counscls within will
doubtless come judclous retrenchment IN sympathy
with altered conditions aud the ntolerable burdens
pl an enleeblcd taxpayins community This report
taken as basis Tor inquiry hsnres and iacts set
orlh report OF the Board oil Education 1876.
pear. ana reduced apportonment com.
,es reduced expenditure in some direction
Tor tho coming year, IT is quite possible that some
Items OF unnecessary expense to which aiius,on is
here made may not appear or will show reduction
is short and do propose weary you with long
lines OF ngares, which have OF late done iaith-
iul service again ana the PUBIC prints,
which will soon be superseded ny those OF 1871;
but desuory way 10 rather indicate the direction
IN which We may look Tor possible curtailment with.
all attempting to state precisely IN ngures
the full effects thereof
COST or THE SCHOOLS
The amount raised IL the city oil New YORK IN 1875
tor educational purposes was AS foilows:-
State school tax PAID to the state OF New
York. Isl, sos, ,9s3 ss
Less amount Of state scnool tax appor-
TONED TO the county Of New York;. 500 63l Is
Paid by city account OF the Stae..... 907,362 20
sum ap pportoncd TO the Board OF Educa-
tion by The Board OF Estimate aud APP
portionment IN New YORK city........ ., 1853 900 90
81, 1852 67
Fer City College, raised by special assess
mcnl. l50,OO0 90
Total amount raised by the city OF
New York in 1876 for educational
"a, SIC, 352 67
The collection and distribution OF tho State for
school purposes should be promptly revised. The
tax Is imposed according to the valuation OF property
in ed1h Of oounsy h .0;rn Ne" nSsk county pays
be accurate, $l,5059Si out Of $3,0S2, 1884,
In 1876 The apportonment among the counties is,
however, based upon attendance and the number of
teachers employed, which gives New York county
t596t3l only As now distributed the state
is practically premium Tor parsimony OH the
part OIL certain coulties, wherein 1t is permitted
or the state at large 10 expend moro money local
schools than the Inhabitants themselves willing
contribute New YORK raised In 1875 $4,000, 900 Tor
school purposes IN addition To her share of
The stale Tax. The other counties of the
State taxed themselves $4,000 900 Tor school pur-
poses The apportiopment OF school moneys should
as matter o Justice and expediency, be made to cor
respond more nearly win the burden voluntarily
assumed Ia the respective counties AS the local
school taxes amounted TO about $S 600 900 in the
tire state, and the state tax levied by appor
toned among the counties nearly $3 0O0, 600,
the ratio OF distribution should have been ghlhs
OF raised by local rates, and NcS YorNs share
would have been almost double ainou nj actually
allowed. 10 establish the more equitable me ethod,
IegIshtIon is necessary ana the senators and
members OF Assembly representing Now York
city should be called upon To iurther such amend
mcnts OF the school laws Will secure a re-
turn New York OF a lair share OF The state tax.
The following table will illustrate the ineaua itcs
of the present system. The figures are taken
from The report OF tho Superintendent OF Public
Instruction lOr the year ending September go 1876.
ana Tor New York include tue local tax lor ls75:-
Contribution Apporiion-