New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

The public schools open tomorrow for new
year. fact which has been duly announced IN
advance and which will be attcStcd in the morn
ing by about 14O, 900 heartaches. In some far
distant period of time the rising generation
NAV long for the arrival OF the second Monday
in September, or whatever date the wisdom
of the elders may assign as the proper mo-
n,cnt for renewing the process OF teaching
Young ideas to shoot. But for the present we
can afford to acknowledge without hesta-
ton, and likewise without any deep regret,
that in the ears of healthy. hearty boys and
girls the schoolbcl sounds dirge. 1t rings
farewell to elon-patch and apple-0rchard
| to fish -polc bob and sinker; to ripping brooK
and ocaginous bulkhcad to baseball and pea
nuckle; to a thousand sweets. bought. Dor
rowcd and pmrloined. 1t has meant too often
in the past cherries rooms. dim light. bad
air. ill-Smclling books. manifold distrcsseS OF
body and mind. and helpless laundering IN
sea of facts. Happily, most OF the conditions
have improved and tens of thousands OF chill
Grcn will be welcomed back Tomorrow to com
modious buildings full of sunshine. by teach
crs who comprehend the significance OF tho
word education
An article on another page presents pleas
ant and encouraging record OF the results
which haze been accomplished during the last
two months in and around the schoOlhouSeS OF
the metropolis. Labor controversies have re-
tardcd the work of construction and recon-
strnction to some extent. but great deal has
bcen done. and we'll done. Before the close
of the calendar year the seating capacity OF
the schools will have been increased by about
,.;,h;
MANY more. The new buildings are credit
to an enlightened age and civIlIzcd com
m,nitv. and the worst defects Of many OF the
old ones have been cured. Altogether the
pbySical well being Of the children VIII he
more carefully and wisely guarded this year
than ever before.
The curriculum remains practically nm
changed. in spite of long discussion and many
ATTEMPTS at revision. Happily however. there
is reason to believe that argument and demon
>tiation have not been entirely wasted. On'
Of the fcrment have risen clearer conception
of what public schools ought to be, more
intelligent comprehension on the part OF teach
crs of their responsibility to the community.
deeper interest on the part of parents some
wheels have been lifted out Of old ruts a
pnrcr and more bracing air brcathes through
the system of instruction. More elasticity and
discrimination are revealed in the application
Of methods and regulations. Teachers realize,
rs formerly they did no., that they should
serve in nowness Of spirit, and not i'll the Old
ness of the letter"
And so, in spite of various di>appointments.
and of unenghtcncd adherence to some OLD
and ontworn models, the schoo-year begins
well. The standard is certainly rising. and y"
10 many essentials of the work is already high
The greatest advance has been made in re-
spect to sanitary construction and appliances
and this fact is cause for congritulation, not
regret. That is the natural first term III the
order of progression. and we may reasonably
anticipate that it will be followed in due time
by the fnlhlmcnt of all wise hopes and wishes
for the public schools.