New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-07
MORE school, REFORMS.
REV SYSTEM ron PROMOTING rUrIEs



Eaperintenticns gasper yesterday called the al
feD15on Of the Board OF Education 70 the coming
cclcbfation IN the city Of the centennial q tsie
inauguration Of the first president OF the unlted
states He suggested that some representation OF
ia public sch ,o,s ia the celebration would be
dc<fas3e The matter was referred to the Com
,,iaser IA Teachers for consideration and report.
Tie Committee Of Eight hhving under con-
sI<fsrsfiou reforms in the public schools submitted
fsyo reports One OF these was ia relation to the
menaorial Of the Public School Society presented
"a die Beard d rev weeks ago. The conclusions
q ths memorial it stated, were noe strictiy ac-
czrate. and che report continues:
u Is ts,s that the accommodations for the sehooi
charcn o. the elt5 Ok NewYotk are insufficient This
tsa been conceded BY everybody acquainted WITH tho
school system number q years and no one fegrc1s
q more than who actively engaged IA the schools
taf tho city cannot ana does nof provide ample accom-
,zdstions, bat we would state that during the last
several years the City Government through vac saa ei
IL Iagiastufe. shown eomrendabie uesiie 9 W
ortson such an Of funds 70 the use Of ne hoaa
n Idurtion Ms % enable the Board 20 build wthn the
M Two esfs ntinbsr Of large and eorinooious Duila
nes "A eysry respect model school buildings, ana we
save row mans IN operation which in the immediate
fofure viii better meet the demands which the grown
AZ be cIty paftculay In tho upper portions make upon
IA Iesd d B6heatso for increased accoihmedatcns
NEw BufLDfNes TIE aEMEDY.
.ra can b 40 remedy for this except ih the bnIldihf
a nav aeabl busldines The building OF new schools Is
now In active progress and Il Is believed that within Two
years accessible and heaful Recommendations VIII be pro
videa Tor al school children throughout the Guy -
true nat IN many Of the ga schools Aefo are rev play
e,osaads ara in some there but the committee
would state that IN the new school bnsldinp ample pro-
Vision is heaIthful recreston and the matter OF
ply grounds has received caref ccnsioefeon emu sssn
c frpn tts Board The suggessons on the part OF ie
that the school buildings might be
,ns1o ntb IL scarcely tenabe on accouns OF
climatic reasons and further 70 make Fairgrounds o. ne
ROOTS wod Involve changes in the buildings Gaming ior On
ouiay Of money which would hardly be warranted The
E5a Of Eaucztivn might meet this evil Of uvercowdea
classcs and schools bitterly complained Of BY methods
en5esiye radical 70 hardly meet the approval OF
ma citizens OF New-Ycrk we might refuse 20 receive
hafs aftss mo proper limit OF average seating capacity
ana ar space haa been reached no DO ths would DO
obliged 10 sdmssioaso our sooo 70 over $4,000
children,
ms memorial IA IN error In taxing TIC total enrolment Of
scholars as Dass teachers assigned instead OF the
average number OF pupils being eighty seven 70 teacher
In the sixth grade real nBnfes should be hf seven
We do not claim that figures show proper proportion
Of pupils teachers because The committee and possibly
v asdper Of tho Board o. sducatton VIII freely admit
mat tho classes both paty and grammar depart
pcass arc much 100 arge but this condition OF affairs
has been brought about by reasons which are for ne
present apparently irremedisble,
Tho violation Of law ana Of heatul conditions having
been brought 20 the sttenticn Of the school officials by
resolution Of rstser TITS Board IN June last this
has then been IN large measure remedieo 50 as
ut this Time 10 appears from the statement OF our city SUI
perptehdent there are hISeen school rooms now IN
this city where the excess OF average Attendance over
sealing capacity maintains ana IN no one OF them Is the
exc,ss than three In any ono room This condition
81 Affairs hops soon completely 30 remedy oy reducing
tho astedanee In those cassfoos 50 that there
shan DO no vocation Of the bylaws Of this Boatd or OF
u, common rules "a health It is true that tho cubic
fer Of air spses and the necessary number Of feet Of oo
area rs allowed each thia In our schools Is much too
90
q Health ana Is eonsededy less than maintains In any
otter city In the Union.
TOO HAs1Y CRITICISM
The msrosiasts freely esiteise the administration Of
tho schools through the boa$as OF trustees Of each Ward
aud state tat this system OF administration Is open 70 the
general objection that divided responsibility tends % an
nnfosunste management. careful study Of the laws
creating the Hoard Of Education danning its vsfious
fuacses ana the ws creating te trustees OF the various
warts ana denng their duties would have demonstrated
tlcafiy ass there Is confusion existing among the
lases relative to schools Fs
4here are evils existing those sss have been frankly
sdrattea reoiss bei6g applied % elisninate
them from our system But the committee can not believe
thas the hnsi Recommendation OF the memofiass, that
wc should Join with them N petition 10 The Legislature
for tho appointments OK commission empowered 70
nyesHgze The operation Of the school laws and reeomend
improvements In thu school ssten would be hitting or
becoming way to overcome the faulty methods which
mayih otept into the public Schools.
This report was accepted and ordered printed.
The other report OF the committee was In fela-
ton to the marking OF children FOR promotion for
which o system OF estimates is substituted. The
feaehers viii keep memoranda of their own relat-
ing to their pupils, but these tire TO be kept
strictly for their own use. The report says:
These estimates may be based on the work Of Che papIis
remembered BY the teaehers but she committee appre-
ciefb that In many eases ewing 10 the sips Of elasses
and otar eausss would DO dacut to obtain accnratS
records Cd this basis alone Provision Is therefore made
st such estimates msy be based on private memoranda
made each day by the taoher but In case to be ads In
5 tie presence Of the pupil
making estimates the degrees Of eris 70 be
mdisasd BY the aaiectives perfect" mpeFfecfH ana
flurev AS regards sAe examinations Of the ciidten
Tor promotion from class 20 class the coee proposes
- DO away vita tho eszmnaon except in certain
gfoetcns fom class 70 csss sha Be made fards Sos
she upon sA principals and class teachers knowledge OF
ths proficiency the pupils ard in determining which
russ shall DO promoted the principal may be guided by
tae RECORDED estimates.
TO SOLVE THE DiyrIcuLrY.
Esn the pslncifmi Is In donst as TO the proficiency Of
pgpH 10 case pasent OF guardian Is dissatisfied VITA
pnpl,s incorporation sueh pspps proficiency shall be de-
fefine1 by examination ia the prescribed studlcs
Whenever pupil IL examined for promotion the praepa
a preserve recprd Of such examination such record TO
c5nss Of the questions given the pupils work and the
result determined
Before each regular promotion the principal Of ssss
school shall record IN book 70 be prepared By the cts
ssperinienaens ths seeditlon q every class in the
s1ished branch OF study. s,sss 4 t,sra xst,4 =
This report viii come up Tor consideration at the
next meeting Of the board.
The resignation Of John Davenport, the auditor
81 the Board, was presented, and President Sim
mons, leaving The chair, spoke OF Mr.. Davenports
forty years connection with The schools. His re-
tireTnent was due to his increasing years. The
BosrI adopted resolutions expressing its appreeia-
tjan OF his services. George r Baloh was elected
10 succeed DIR. 0ayenport At salary OF 81, 900.
Mr.. l3alch, an ezpert accountant, was formerly in
the csdce OF the Commissioners Of Accounts.
memorial was received In regard to the over
crowded condition OF Gramn3r School No. GO, in
West Fiffy-fbuRthst., and protest from property
owners against taking site at Eighty
aEf Seeond~ave for new school, when there were
ether and better sites in the neighbcrhocd