The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-24
The Millions We spend on Schools.

II certainly is magnificent proof Of the
high regard in which popular education is
held in New York, that city OF about a
million OF inhabitants ungrudgingly OK
ponds between three and four millions of dol
lars year on its free schools. But when
all this vnst amount of money is laid out
after a system which, in its general plan
and the details of its working, is not held
up to frequent public criticism, IL is pretty
safe 10 assume that some of it is used TO
no purpose and that the Ignorance or indif-
ference OF the people as TO their methods
encourages extravaganza in its dispensers.
Az matter 81 fact, u very considerable part
Of the millions yearly allotted for the pur-
poses Of public instruction by the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionmcnt IS either
wasted through folly and carelessness, or
thrown away in supporting a lot OF useless
officials and in the Ovcrpaymcnt OF n host
Of functionarics employed about the schools.
Our school system, after much legislative
linkering, is now administered 10y a Board
OF Education composed Of twenty one Com
mssioners, appointed by the Mayor, five
Trustees for each ward, appointed by the
Board, and three Inspectors for each Of the
eight school districts into which the city is
divided, appointed by the Mayor. The the
DRY is that control Is distributed between
these three coordinate branches, each pos
sessng independent powers and functions,
and all uniting TO give a beautiful effective
ness to the whole. In fact, the actual con-
troll is exercised by the Board Of Education
and its Superintendent.
Take first the twenty-four Inspectors.
L..
range Of work for them to do. II is their
duty to audit the expenses certified to by the
Ward Trustees 10 carefully examine, at
least once in every quarter all the schools
in their respective districts; To see that the
teachers are punctual and diligent in their
work and competent for it, and that good
discipline, order, and cleanliness are main
tanned. and to keep the Trustees informed as
to matters needing their attention. They
are also directed 20 make annually a written
report to the Board Of Education and ~ the
Board Of Trustees in respect TO the CON
dition, efficiency and wants of the district in
respect to schools and school premises"
How many OF these things do the twenty
four Inspectors perform, and what proper
ton OF their number give any attention TO
their detailed work With few exccp-
tons they do nothing at all, and their obc-
dence to the law consists only in n per-
functory discharge Of nominal duties. As
whole they are n pretty useless body Of
men in fact, though they do hold 50 fine a
position in the school system. Their meet
ings are infrequcnt, they rarely take a vote
on any subject, and an occasional report "a
the Board OF Education by some of the
more philosophical Inspectors is one Of the
few indications Of healthy life they afford
The signing Of pay rolls and bills as mere
matter Of form is the extent to which their
careful scrutiny" Of expenditures goes
Surely, the Ward Trustees can hardly be
called an independent branch OF the system
when they are dependent on the Board OF
Education for their appointments. They are
really the creatures Of the central Board
and their actual powers have been gradually
whitfield away until they are now very in
substantial. Whatever they do comes be-
fore the Board Of Education for approval oil
dissent, and this supervision tends To in.
crease expenses, because it necessitatee
double machinery.
We see, therefore, how, by reason Of neg
lect of their duties on the part OF the Inspec
tors and by reason OF the subserviency Oh
stupidity or ineniclency Of the Trustees, tho
School Fund may be wasted. In what spe
cifc ways is it actually squandered That
Is easy to answer.