New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

Some fashions change with startling rapidity,
while others endure beyond all reason. DOUBT
less il is true that the exodus from city TO coun
try begins earlier every year and the returning
tide flows longer But still it may be SAID In
general that the first week of September IS the
period to which railroad managers look forward
with mingled pleasure and apprehension, ana
which baggage-handlers execrate in antlclpa-
ton and remembrance. Various conditions OF
temperature and health affect the Observance
of this custom, but only slightly. An opposing
tendency exists but it has not yet reached the
mass of those who migrate. Traced back 10 lts
origin, this practice would seem to be CLOSELY
connected with the fact that the public schools
begin early in September, and few days Oh
preparation for that important event are theo-
retical necessity and a practical convenience,
while families which include no children or
which patronize private schools are influenced
by heredity and example to come back with
their neighbors.
Just at this time, therefore, it Is impossible
10 remain unaware of the fact that the schools
are about to open, 1t is forced upon the con-
seriousness Of young and old, married and single.
What sort of an opening are we to expect, and
what will the harvest bep Last year was
marked from the beginning TO the end with
| discomfort over educational conditions In this
city. Just complaints were made that school
room was lacking, and a vast and costly sys-
TEN and institution was condemned for many
shortcomings. The situation we believe, has
improved, so far as the material requirements
are concerned. Additional accommodations have
been provided, and not little has been done
in the line of reconstruction and equipment
Whether the school property has grown enough
to supply last years deficit and come up to this
years demand few weeks will show.
Assuming that the exterior Of the educational
establishment will be reasonably creditable, what
will its inside history be during the months to
come? We have never thought 1t necessary
TO assume that public instruction was deterorat-
| ing in New-York. On the contrary, we have
been glad to believe that it was gradually i'm
proving, that something like rational system
was being painfully evolved out of chaos. But
tho process is slow and the wisest observers are
frequently discouraged by evidence that nobody
in authority has clearly thought the problem
through to a sound and stable conclusion. More
than all else, they are forced to see that the
evil spirit watch loves to dress the essential
|
fnery Of "elegant accomplishments" has not
been exercised II is painful to reflect upon
the time and tissue and mental, If not moral,
strength that are wasted upon studies which
have no place in the popular curriculum. And
it is discouraging to find how small is the
foundation of sound and thorough knowledge
beneath. In how many schools are the funda-
mental conception, the methods and the tests
all wrong What proportion of all our children
as they leave the schools forever are able, fol
instance, to read English aloud with fluency and
understanding, and to write it with simplicity
and clearness and ease2 We venture to say
that one in ten would be sanguine estimate
And yet not only is there no other single ac-
QUESTION to be compared with this in utility
but there is no other test of fitness to teach a
child so simple so direct, and 50 conclusive.
This is a broad statement, but we believe that
it will hold good under all circumstances, TIC
read and write in the way we have indicated
means good eyes, quick ears a clear head, a
trained voice, delicate perceptions, self-pos-
session, and knowledge of many things. We
are not afraid of the test and we earnestly COM
mend it to those who are in large measure re.
sponsible for the future well being Of this COM
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