New-York tribune., 1879-11-22

/ There now within the cltV builts thiItf-ouo
evening schools in operation. where free instruction
is gwen by authority aud under the supervision OF
the Board of Education These schools vary greatly
in size some If them having scarcely 100 names on
the register while other, have more than 1000. In
the smaller ones only three teachers are employed
while ~ the very laryest there eighteen teach
ers Eighteen of the schools are exclusively for
males twelve are for females. ana one r.
ceives colored pupis only. Altogether 200
teachers are employed IN the work. aud
in the entire evening school system lexclu-
sive OF the Evening High schooD, there Is an en-
rolmont of about II. 900 pupils which may be IN
creased somewhat during the Winter. as the schools
have been open only a little than SIX weeks
The average attendance Will hardly amount to oO
per cent Of the total enrolment, and since the cost
of these schools TO the city will be In the neghbor
hood OF $75, ,O00 t follows that the cty paws some
thing more than $40 Tor the instruction which Is
gwen to each pupil during the term of eighteen
weeks
OF course an organized effort TO "educate the
peopler when conducted on a scale of such magni-
tude and expense must accomplish some good re-
| suits. Every princiDal who has been engaged IN
the work for any length of time Will cite instances
Of boys aud girls with unpromsing surroundings
who have been started on the road to re,pectanlhy
and fair success by the training received N night
school instances. too of iiliterate and women
who have learned to read and write nnder the
patient instruction given in these schools
while their own children attending the
day schools. Few teachers or school officers. how
ever be found who express themselves AZ SAILS
fed with the workings of the system AZ whole
and many are free assert that the city receives no
adequate return for the amount of money and
labor expended. brief examination of the con
stituton Of the schools Will show much 10 eon-
mend, and Indicate well some of the weak
points of the system.
All persons vino have attained the age Of twelve
yearf are eligible for admission provided their ages
or avocations are such a. 20 prevent their attending
dav school, Al least One-hali Of the pnpis are be-
tween twelve aud fifteen years If age. The "avo-
cations" Of this class. and not their years prevent
them from attending day school and when children
who work all dav are driven 10 school ut an hour
when they should be in bed. they are sometimes too
weary to appreciate the opportunities for culture
thus Off-red Ia most cases the schools
are carefully GRADED. the highest class taking
/ far course of commercial arithmetic bookkeeping
geography, reading, spelling. penmansl'p and some
history. while the lowest class receives instruction
/ IN The most elementary branches Pupils Of the
/ highest grade are usually young people who are
/ supporting themselves, and VINO realize their deh-
ceucles and feel tue necessity OF reviewing the
studies they have already pursued ln tie day
schools. A. a body they take earnestly 20 their
work and are willing 70 make the most Of their op-
portuniiies. ana. therefore. "a rnlc, the
most satisfactory results are achieved Icy
tins class. Adult pupils are not generally
| classified according to Their attainmeL's. although
a few can be found IN all the grades They gener-
ally constitute a class by themselves. Undoubtedly
this Is the proper plan. For although their widely
/ different degrees Of intelligence aud advancement
make necessary more lahor on the part of the
teacher with each md vidual assoc iati0n and COM
perltlon with children whose minds are fresheT and
/ of quicker apprehension would be depressing and
mortfying There many classes made up of
! foreigners exclusively. manly German and French.
/ who are learning the English language. and their
progress Is generally gratifying.
The supervision If the night schools by the assist
ant superintendents not altogether what II should
be. Occasional visits Of an hour. when teachers and
pupils are on their best behavior can hardly ford
Trustworthy data for accurate reports 81 the general
/ workings OF the system Casual visitors VIII hnd
mlcn disorder IN schools where tle dscioIlne Is re-
ported a. excellent" Reports which characterlZr
the discipline IN 81 per cent OF an the classes as
excellent and good" and . per cent ONLY as
farD md fferenf ana " bad" can hardly be ac-
/ cnnted rs Trustworthy. Undoubtedly the aisci-
/ pine is better than it was some years ago,
/ wuen the serv ces OF the policeman who Is
! quartcrcd "a each school were frequently
needed TO suppress the exuOerant phyfuness OF the
| Young gent tiemcn who acquiring useful kn0wl-
| edge. But the discipline to-day u tar from beng
! so universally "exceiient" ~ reported Ihe quail
ity of the school, not only regards discipline Dut
~ every other respect, depends almost exclusively
uDOu the I'll Of ts prlncp pal and tne assistant
teachers. hese are not away carefully selected
although when political influence. tavortism anc
other reasons which control the choice are taken
into consideration. 10 rs wonder that the teachers
are a. good they are. Principals of male schools
receive II an evening Principals OF female schools
receive but -. Male assistants are palC
| - 80 an evenlng fema assistants only
| 81 these hardly sufficient TO command
! the highest order OF talent, ANA yet many OF the
teachers, both prlncpals aud assistants axe anoi
the most accOIpl sued Ia the city day schools And
Just here a dlficulfy. teacher who has iab'red
faithfully n school all Cnv rims 20 his work lu
/ the evening a tired body aud III nd. ANA none but
the most robust constitutions are equal tO tnl.
double duty. On he other hand. persons of other
occupations who teach at night toeuA an hcuesf
penny are often no teachers at all 10 any proper
Of the term. having neither aptitude expert
ence nor training.
The large enrolment and attendance az these
schools Is usually accepted a convincing argu-
ment for their necessity. It Is argued. further
that the simple subsection % restra Mt. aud the
mere fact that personal cleanliness and some de-
cencv of behavior are suggested by the clean. light
rooms IN which two hours are speut every evening
bv the growing boys and girls VINO would otherwise
he roaming tie streets. are themselves negative
advantages not to be despsed. Ii is certain that
a considerable percentage of the pupils earD some
thug, as can be demonstrated oy casual
inspection Of their cOpy-b0Oks alone lt rs
that OF tne SCHOOLS
are recognized by practical men as having genuine
value and merchants send 10 them when they wish
TO employ girls, and accept rewards Of merit
gwen TO pupils satisfactory recommendations.
ON the other hand. irOIten happens that halfgrowy
bows are seen Oaiing on the street corners eyerl
evening when their fathers thnk they are al schOoa
and iniudciOus gIrls not unireQueDtly take |
walk" with dIsreputabe companions instead OF de |
voting themselves To arithmetic and geography in |
obedience TO he commands of their mothers. This |
abseni.es IL The crying evil OF the evening school
system, as comparison between the enrolment and |
average Attendance oi any school VIII demon |
StTate. lls evil anu thr kehsIal uen-
ciencies of tue schools have at last aroused |