The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-15
Advertisements for The WEEKLY SUS,
issued 'o-morroU morning, must be handed IN
Mts crening before O'Clock.
Tho Public Schools.

Again the public schools havo opened
alter tho summer vacation, with an iusuf
fccncy OF accommodations for the children
WHO would attcnd them. Their seating ca
pa4ty has been increased by several thou
sand sitt!nSs, but at least ten thousand
more Hro required to meet tho demand.
This has been tho story for many years
past, though tho number OF school buildings
has gono on Increasing and many additions
havo been mado to those already erected.
Tho Board OF Education never keeps
pee with tho demand. steadily growing,
Irom year to year. II tho attenL-
anco In few down-town districts has
been reduced by tho movement OF pupu-
lntiOn to the nor,hwGrd the crowd NJ the
doors of other schools Is Nil the greater
Mu!utldcs Of children cannot find seats
without going far frow their homes, and
many others ara shi. out from school nlto-
esther bcca,isc OF the physical impossibilLy
OF squeezing them IL. They arc tie smallest
o. tho youngsters the litiio boys and girls
WHO want to learn their 4 d C's. and yet
thcrn Is no room ior them. In the colleges
and he upper grades of the grammar schools
there is room enough. In the primary
schools every seat IS occupied. and a crowd
OF children are outside camuring to get in.
or course, II our school system were prop.
cily conducted such IN Injustice could
never occur. Tho great purpose OF the
schools is defeated when it docs occur.
They were established in order tint every
Child might DO saved from IN illiteraey dan.
ceious to Il republic. Everybody is taxed
for their support on that theory. IT, there
fore, ten per cont. or five per cent Of
tho children of New York vino seek t,
get this instruction arc dcbarred from
admission to the schools, the people
aro Lcfraudcd md tho school system is
fatally defective We boast that free cduca-
ton is open to every child, and yet We drive
away thousands Of youngsters from the
school doors. refusing to some the privilege
which We grant to others. though all are
entitled to it. More than four millions Of
dollars arc expended on the school system
annually, and yet it fails to accomplish its
purpose.
Where does the money go? The major
part OF it goes for the support of colleges for
few boys and girls and for grammar
schools to fit them for the advanced course
Room is lacking for the others because 50
much room at so great anexpense has to he
provided for these. They cannot DO crowded
moro room. SO that the small minor
ity proportionately to their numbers takes
up much larger share OF the space and
tho money than the majority for whom
especially the schools are maintained
There is room enough for the boys and girls
who want to study Latin and Greek, alge-
bra and geometry. but thousands Of the
children who want tolearn to read and write
arc shut out because the accommodations
are not enough. The essential Is neglected
in order that the luxurious may be provided.
First OF all. tho pupils who want primary
instruction must be looked after, even II
every school Is turned into u primary school
and nothing more. Get them In. give them
enough teachers to permit OF the subdi-
vision OF classes essential to proper instruc-
ton, and then. il room is left and the sup
ply OF money holds out. the grammar school
grades can be furnished for rs many as can
be accommodated. II either are shut out,
let tho excluded be from tho grammar
schools. not from the primary departments.
The city expends money enough to give an
elementary education to every child in town
xpbn Dfo