New-York tribune., 1879-09-02
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
OPENING For THE SEASON.


| sIGSArION.
| The streets were alive with children carrying
books and satchcls before school hours yesterday
morning, and the radiant faces of the little ones
| showed plainly enough that they happy to
get back to their books and school compromising IN
| September as they were to get away from them IN
June. Grown people passing on the street could
| not fail to notice the troops of school Children
Many policemen were made happy by the recur-
renee of of their happiest duties that of keep
ing an eye ont for the safety of school
children while they are traversing and
crossing the crowded streets. The tall
fatherly looking policeman Of the Broadway Squad
| who may be seen any day at Twelfth-st and Broad
way again greeted his little friends who daily cross
TO ard from the girls school IN East Twelfth-st.'
which was crowded yesterday Yesterday, more
than ever, the school girl ruled the street.
Perhaps the most interesting sight was obtanable
| at the Normal School where President William
| Wood, Of the Board of Education, present to
enjoy the scene. Between fifteen and sixteen hun
dred girs were on hand to begin the arduous dutes
of another year. Fifteen hundred all the school
| can conveniently accommodate. President Wood
| said Yesterday that the Board was reluctant 10
build on to the present. structure To accommodate the
| growing demand for admission aud rather than do
| 90 would probably resort to prcscrlptIye plan.
| They tried suoh plan however. some time ago
| when they raised the standard of admission from
u.
study, for ON the very next year there was an in-
| crease of young women no clamored at the doors
| for adm ssion. The next plan to keep down the
crowd Of pupils, II Is bned, will be medical exam
| natOn as 10 the physical health and strength of
| the applicant. President Wood said that such
examination is required in England and that
where it is desirable To limit the number who
given to a special training designed for pub
lie uses, such rs teaching, the physical health and
strength OF the candidate are proper matters of
consideration in determining qualification. II
seemed very remarkable that this large school
should have been organized FOR work so quickly.
The pupils will be az their routine duties to-day.
President Hunter, of the Normal College. returned
from his vacation several DAYS ago ana arranged the
details of the work III advance. As soon
the young ladies assembled they were d-
vided into cigh; senior classes that graduated
next June, nine junior classes having two years
work before them, and thirteen Introductory classes
who are the new recruits. President Wood esii-
mated that, at least. "a thousand children were in
tine training school connected with the Normal
school. 'aIents were probably as glad to see and
feel that school had reali, begun as the children
The pleasure will be longer lived with them
Fathers and mothers rs rule show much respect
for school rules and duties, and have their children
ready for the opening day. But he maximum figure
of attendance viii not De reached perhaps under iour
weeks Last year the average attendance was aoout
100000. not Including the 10000 and upwards
who attend the corporate schools Ii Is beloved
that when the iull returns have been made To The
superintendent, an Increase Will be found OF per
cent over the attendance of last year. There are
800 public schOOi-houses in New-lofA, only Ii of
which are norm oi The Harlem hiveI. 1hls vast
system, including he nautical school and corporate
schools will have ths year 10 feed upon an appro-
uriatI0n of S.} 100000. Provision has been made
Tor an anticipated increase of attendance.
OF the 3,27J teachers very few faces missed
by the pupils. Two lady principals have taken
marriage vows aud offer this as their excuse Tor
remaining permanently away from school They
belonged 90 Primary School No. II and Grammar
school No IS. There has been one death. that of
Gillespie Miller. principal of Grammar School
No. 81.
Jus; now the foremost topic of conversation at the
Board OF Education Building concerns Henry Kid
die Superintendent of Public Schools Ills book,
entitled "Splrlfual Communications" published
last Spring. called out such protests against hS
tentiOn as School superintendent, that Ar. kddle
sent in his resignation 10 take effect September /.
Whether or not the people wanted him 10 go out of
office, it has been apparent in the last few weeks
that movement Of considerable strength was on
foot to keep hIn in has place. IL Is claimed that Mr.
kIdde Is willing TO stay and gentleman who ire
quenty cons1lts with him said yesterday that II NJ
kidle were KEEP III his place, and allowed 10 work
away peacefully, There would probag,y 1e
no more spiritual communications" lie
wasn't authorized to say as much, he sad,
but nevertheless believed that such would
be the case. Two or three of the principal men IN
the Board office, below the rank of commissioner,
believe that Mr Riddle has strength enough III the
Board t. remain. Ex-MayOr WIckbam IS SAID % be
the most active in supporting Mr. kidile and II IS
their plan to prevent the election OF successor.
which will allow Air. Riddle tn hold over til the
natural expiration OF ms two years term IN De-
cembeT, lsSO Inc saiaiy when he draws "a
School superintendent Is $1,000, which Mr.. hid
deI's friends admit is rather more Than spirits
ambitious oI wiring for living hOTtas, can Afford
10 pay tor III a,enuenss. Hosea pcrklu, sad yes
rry at thc oiise of the board inat petitions were
circulating all of the public Schools, and would
teachers VINO, WOuid lheieoy express 10
the Board their desire that Mr. kiddlc
should remain IN Office. Mr.. Perkins also
said that The Catholic members OF the
Board, Thaddens Moriarity. Eugene Kelly aud Ed
ward {. Doaneliy. favored Mr.. kIddle, and 1t was
confidently believed that the superintendent had a
| majority. Those who dIsproyed of his book aud
yot favor his retention are sand 10 do so 0u account
of his tried abilities as an executive officer and the
alleged difficulty of finding suitable successor.
President Wood favored the retirement OF Mr.
kiddle Immediately after the surprising publication
last Sp;ine and holds the same views now. lie said
yo5i orday iIai any lnan VINO womb publish sucD a
book however cOmpetent he might be rs an Of;er.
was unnt for the position of School superintendent.
Tins officer in his duties Of examining and lioen-
sing teachers aud ot reporting on school govern
munt and discipline textbooks, etc, was oil lar more
Importance to tho school system than to the Com
missloners themselves There nad been cases where
yOung ladies. who had not been able pass at the
Normal SchoC where Latin Is required. had come to
the office of the Board and. on examination, re-
ceIved licenses 10 teach some who had received
licenses IA that way had been appointed TO positions
in the schools. While some who held licenses by vlr
tue Of Their having been gTadusted AT the Normal
SCHOOL had been rejected OF the three candidates
for the position of superintendent, Jared BaDcock
Ir,ncipal OF the Evening High School First ASSIST
ani-Superintendent Harrison and Mr.. Smart, re-
Gently of Ohio Ir. Wood said he most favored the
election of Mr.. BabcOck
Before o'clock yesterday throngs OF children
were to upon the streets of Brooklyn wcnd-
ing their way 10 school, they had not done be-
lore in two months. New pupils We're attended IN
many instances by their parents, and the sessions OF
the day largely taken up IN registering names
and assigning pupils and classes according 10 ad-
yaDccnent. The numbers in attendance showed
lhat al; the Accommodate at the present dsr0sal
of the Board of Eaucation VIII be iuly used. Al
the Central Grammar school In Court-st;, BrooAlyn,
40 pupils attended, and greeted by tue prIn-
cipal aud of the trustees, John / CuiyeT. VI
the 81 scholars, who graduated IN June from the
various Grammar schools IN the citS, 27O then OK
pressed the intention Of pursuing thcr studies here,
and large proportion OF them are expected 10 begun
study this week.