The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-19
How we spend Money for Schools.

The time for the beginning of the long
summer vacation OF the public schools is
drawing near. What a host of boys and
girls will soon be shouting with Joy ut their
release from the discipline and conline-
mont of the school rooml But while
they are counting the days until the word
shall bc said which sets them free for the
summer. the people who provide the costly
machinery for their education may profit
ably count up the results II Is accomplishing,
and consider whether their money Is laid
out to tho best purpose. The functions Of
the Board of Education are second in inn
portaucc to those OF no other branch OF the
city Government. yet very few of our read
crs know much about what that body is do
ing, or the system on which it works.
The whole number Of schools under the di-
rection and supervision Of the Board Of
Education last year was 3O5, and the average
daily attendance Of pupils for the year was
over 10000, which number has been in
creased during the present year All but
about 10000 Of these pupils belonged TO the
grammar and primary schools, the at
tendance on which showed rate Of in
crease for 1873 Of nearly five per cent, and
during the seven years from 1871 To 1878 IL
was thirty-one per cent. The rapidity Of
the growth Of these elementary schools and
the fact that in them the great majority Of
the children Of the city begin aud end their
education, Indicate that they are the prime
objects Of concern in our school system.
Compared with thom the high schools and
colleges for which the people pay so heavily
are of small Importance. The great mass Of
the parents Of the city can give their chill
drcn only an elementary education, oven
though more advanced instruction may be
obtained at the public expense The primary
and grammar schools must therefore be the
main charge Of the Board of Education, and
by its management Of them We must test
its competency.
There were employed in the several
schools, in 1878, a total Of S,275 teachers, of
whom $50 We're males and 1888 females
drawing salaries ranging from $500 to $4,000
year. The sum allowed by the Board OF
Estimate and Apportonment for the pur-
poses OF public instruction for the year was
| $, 40. GOO, and the whole amount drawn from
| the Comptroller was something over 100000
short of the appropriation.
Now, is this vast sum Of money. represent
| ing an annual charge Of between three and
four dollars year upon every inhabitant Of
the city 50 spent a. to produce the best re-.
suits? Is it all really needed TO maintain
an adequate system of free education? M
| child should be turned away from the schools
! for lack Of room; every child should get IN
them just the education he or she needs, and
We are all willing to pay each our share OF
the cost. Butinstruction for which the PEG
pie are taxed so heavily should be exactly
adapted to its purpose, and should end wher
| the purpose is accomplished. The necessary
| tuition is so costly that no money can b,
| spared for fancy experiments in education
and for the show training OF few pupils.
The main and indeed the only purpose o
the grammar schools Is TO provide instruc
tion in the ordinary English branches; ye
the school trustees, who usually know llttl'
of what the scholars require and who arr
not chosen because of any special fitness 70
their duties, are fond Of imposing on tn
teachers the labor Of training the pupils il
ornamental studies, such as drawing, sing
ing, aud modern languages, without any r.
gard't their aptitude for learning then
Such unnecessary studies require the EN-
plOyment Of large body OF special teacher
at heavy expense, and draw away the at
| tentiOn OF the scholars from the eommO
branches, in which they have barely time
though they occupied IL all with them, /
gain any proficiency. The ambition of tn
school boards for years past has been I
swell the variety of these show studies, an
they have gone on doing it, in spite Of tn
circumstances OF the most experience
principals Of the schools
| 49, 4 I, I'M ~ .
educational body to the training OF the soho
airs in the essential branches Of elementar
instruction, in the things they must 1
necessity know "A large part Of it is waste
in trying to polish up the boys and girls /
fancy branches, or in lifting them for Il 81
perlor education to follow. The schools ar
all Hooded with special instructors, genera
assistants and persons known rs iloater'
whose offices are oftentimes mere sinecurei
while the teachers who actually do the wOr
are impeded in its performance by detaile
, directions from school boards ignorant {
the needs of the children. The percentag
Of instructors, or those nominahy in tina
position, who could DO dispensed WITH
large enough 10 make O saving Of the schot
fund which would surprise many people
and the really ambitious teachers would b
glad 10 get rid OF them. But the patronag
OF the Board f Education is something
clings to with great tenacity. for by reaso
Of it the Board keeps strong hold on powe
} When economy Is forced on 1t, what does
doY Dismiss tho useless drawers OF sab
} RESP OF course not.
II the course OF instruction In our publ
schools was limited 10 the solid branches
an ordinary elementary education, II tn
fancy accomplishments were abandoneC
the crowd Of supcrlluous hangers-on Of I'll
schools were dropped off the pay roll tn
IanltOrs on 400 n year besides fuel an
house rent were fewer In number, the higl
flown colleges for tho training Of fe
pampcrcd pupils in Greek and Latin an
mathematics were shut up, and less none
was wasted on evening schools, which mRk
great show and accomplish insignilicau