The sun., 1891-12-30
The unconstitutional. absurd. and cranky
electrical execution iaD has got to 90!
The Schools.

On Monday the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment allowed $4.44s, ,355 for free
education in this city next year.
This is very great amount. and 1t makes
up large part Of the tax levy for the year.
In no other city Of the world is an equal
sum expended by the people for free
schools. For the salaries OF teachers alone
the outlay in 1892 will exceed three millions
Of dollars. or more than fifteen dollars a
pupil. The growth OF the schools is shown
by the increase Of $1SO.OO0 in this particular
appropriation as compared with the present
year. The opening of new school buildings
with the consequent necessity OF employing
more teachers explains this additional ex-
pense; and as the years 60 on and the pop
ulation increases it will augment at a
steady and proportionate rate.
The new school buildings already erected
or in course Of erection are not enough to
supply tho existing demand for their ac-
commodations. The new structures. there
fore. and the increased force OF teachers
are for present and not future needs. The
Board OF Education is simply chasing the
demand with its supply. and for many
years past it has been behindhand in the
race, and it will so continue even after
these additional buildings are all ready
for use. Enormous as has been the ex-
pense laid out on them. the sum which
will be required for the future will be even
greater. Between 1850 and 1890 New York
doubled in population. and the continuance
OF that rate OF progress is not improbable.
How much more must be expended simply
for school buildings to keep pace with the
growth Of the town during the next thirty
years can be estimated. Other costs Of ed
ucation may be reduced. but this outlay
cannot be avoided. Whatever else happens,
we must have school room enough for the
primary instruction Of the multiplying
children Of New York. or we must give up
our school system as impracticable.
Great as the present cost of the schools Is.
and rapidly as it must increase. the people
Of New York will bear the burden cheer
fully. They feel it a public duty and
measure OF necessary public prudence to
provide the means of elementary education
for every child. They cannot afford to pro-
woke the dangers involved in popular ilit-
eracy. For tho mere protection Of civiliza-
tioh they must keep up the schools and
multiply their accommodations and the
force of their teachers proportlonatelyt to the
increase OF the number Of children.
Yet so heavy is this burden that they
will not stand any addition to it above the
lowest amount really requisite for accom-
plishing the true and simple purpose OF the
school system. Every merely ornamental
appendage to it must be Topped off. and the
useful and essential only preserved.
In other words. the people will rebel
against paying for any other instruction
than the teaching which is in universal de-
mand. There is no necessity for their pay
ing for anything else. The several colleges
OF the town which are supported by private
endowments are ready to extend the higher
education to every deserving youth with
out cost. Why, then. should the people
tax themselves to give the instruction
already SO freely offered? Yet tho
Board of Apportionment allowed sl4s.OOO
for the free public college for boys in Lex
ington avenue, and $l25.00O for the Normal
College for girls. For small part of this
sum the tuition OF every boy and every girl
who will be graduated at these institutions
could be paid for by the city at Columbia
College and tho University OF the City OF
Now York, two colleges supported by pri-
vate expense. Even without pny they
would be taken II they showed fitness for
the education and their parents We're unable
to bear the expense OF the regular tuition,
for these colleges want students rather
than tuition fees. At best the students
pay only small part OF the cost of their
education.
Every year. from tho appropriation for
the free public colleges for boys and girls
enough money could be saved to put up n
new school building. imperativey needed
by the young children Of the city. and no
one would suffer any loss. unless the corps
OF professors needlessy employed. The re-
llgious criticism OF the schools. whether 1t
comes from Roman Catholics or Protes-
tants. is chiefly provoked by the continu-
ance of the instruction beyond childhood.
and in these unnecessary colleges. II the
education WAS primary only, this opposition
would be silenccd In great part. The pnn-
cipal motive 70. IL would be gone. Hence
the peaceful and prosperous maintenance
OF the school system would be assured and
promoted by the rctrcuchmcnt which rca-,
sonablc economy requires.
AS it Is. n multitude of children arc de-
prived OF privileges to which they are enti-
tied and OF which they are In absolute need,
In order that few hundred young men
and young women may receive the luxury
Of collegiate education. which they could
enjoy elsewhere and without cost to the