The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-28
The Mlsapproprlation Of Millions.

Last Wednesday School Commissioner
SCHUYLER CROSBY introduced into tho Board
OF Education resolution providing for the
appointment of a special committee to in
quire and report " in what way the course
OF studies in the public schools OF this city
"may be improved and changed so as to Sc
cure to the children better knowledge OF
the English branches and to fix the rcspon-
sibility for deficiency in these branches"
The committee was also to inquire as to tho
fitness OF tho principals OF the schools to
exercise "a larger discretion in apportion-
ing the time devoted to the teaching Of each
subject In their respective schools"
1t was a sensible and u necessary resolu-
ton; but it was practically buried by being
referred to the Standing Committee. for
that committee. together with Superin-
tendent JASPER and President HUNT OF tho
Board Of Education. is chiefly responsible
for the evils which Col. CROSBY wishes to in
vestigate. Tho accused will therefore sit
In judgment on themselves, TO far as the
Board OF Education is concerned: but they
cannot escape trial before the public.
Last year nearly Sj.0OO.OOO OF the public
money was appropriated for school pur-
poses in this city. 1t was great part OF
the tax levy. whose burden rests on every
inhabitant OF Now York. man. woman. and
child. Before many years tho sum will be
ton millions annually II the present rate OF
expenditure goes on. for IL will increase
with tho growth Of tho population. Every
citizen OF New York. also. is deeply con-
ccrncd as to tho management of tho
schools. whether he has children Of his own
In them or not. for the sort OF education
they furnish affects profoundly the charac-
ter Of each generation. It's influence Is
moral not less than intellectual. thor
ough inquiry as to the methods used in the
schools is therefore demanded In the pub
lie interest; but it is likely to be prevented
In tho interest OF the officials who run the
schools and have the disposition of the
millions annually expended on them.
Tho practical results OF tho education In
these schools are not determinable except
by an investigation such as Col. crosby
proposed. Apparently the school machine
Is we'll oiled III all its parts and operates
beautifully. 1t runs like clockwork. II
the pupils were Illuminate things. to DO
turned out OF a uniform shape, like building
stones. for instance. OF as shovels
and pickaxes. it might DO regard
cd as quito admirable in it's per-
fection. From the time they enter
the lowermost primary class until they
reach tho end OF the system. thoy are kept
under an absolutely mechanical discipline.
They arc moved about like automatons.
They pass from ono study to another In
rapid succession. and II they We're not linn
tied by human nature and human capacity
they might come out of the machine almost
cyclopGdias Of knowledge. for they are
put through tho whole round Of learning II
they so from the beginning to the end
Practically. however. the results are not
30 satisfactory. For instance. out OF 1000
applicants for admission to tho City College
In 1891. as many rs $40 fell below the mini
mum standard In grammar. They did not
know how to use their own language
About 400 OF them were found deficient in
american history and geography. Col.
Crosby found also that In the majority Of
cases boys selected from tho graduating
classes Of grammar schools in differ
ent parts OF the city could not write
. properly expressed business letter or a
letter of application for situation. AS ~
rule. even their handwriting was bad /; and In
some cases the style aud composition. he