New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-14
HJGH SCHOOLS ~ NEWYORK.

There is little disagreement among people OF
| intelIipence and culture as To the importance Of
the high school as a part Of the general system
Of public education. 1t is generally felt. how
ever that it is less essential than the primary
school and the grammar school. ana there DC
those who maintain that when the State or the
community has supplied schools OF these grades
il has done its duty and has no occasion to go
| further The trend Of public sentiment Is III
the opposite direction. and the place OF the hgh
school has been widely recognized iha' II can
scarcely he longer considered an open question.
Nevertheless the principal city of the niteh
STATES is vet without single high school. Every
other progressive city and many towns ana VII
lagos have what New-York lacks and Boston
and Chicago are each supplied with ten or more
schools of this description. II is trne that we
have in this city the city College and the Nor
nal College. which some people suppose take inc
place of high schools But this is the case to Only
a limited extent. and there is still room Tor
number of high schools of the best sort
The lack which now exists our Board of Edu-
cation has at length undertaken To supply III"
a definite plan has beer agreed on when IN
wolves the establishment of three high SCHOOLS
at the beginning of the next school year. mas
much as il is proposed to establish these schools
in buildings now used for grammar schools. the
IMPRESSION has gone abroad that the already
ovcrcrowdcd condition of many Of the schools
of the city is to he aggravated still further.
Those who think this Is the ease will he glad To
learn that there is no such intention or eXpec'a-
ton on the part Of the members of the Board OF
Education. who are united in believing that the
establishment of high schools in \ew-iork Ought
not 10 be any longer postponed. They point out
that the high schools will To extent relieve IN"
pressure on the grammar schools. and that IN
turn will enable the primary schools 10 ac-
commodate more children. Further. pains VIII
no taken in setting apart buildings for high
school purposes to select those in quarters OF
the city from which Il share of the population has
moved away 50 that primary or grammar
schools they are by no means filled by the chill
dren of the neghborhood. Nor is il the purpose
of the Board of Education Ia divert 10 III" pro-
posed high schools any of the money provided
for additional buildings in those parts OF the
civ where the pressure is great thar many
children are unable 10 find room in the lower
grades. There is an abundance of money for III"
construction of new buildings. but nevertheless
il takes much time 10 erect them.
The Board would he open to criticism II II con
tcmplatcd the provision of high schools ~ me
expcnsc Of schools that are 80 much needed. We
are glad that II has no such idea lis progressive
members believe that 1t j. possible 10 meet the
demands in both directions. and all they want at
present is the opportunity 10 show that ih"y Ar"
right They ought 10 bear IN nina that th'
thing Of first importance is 10 supply schools
enough for the accommodation Of all children oi
school age who ought Ia have a pl1c" In IN"
lower grades After that Is done. or the proper
steps 10 accomplish il are taken We do not be-
lcve any valid objection viii be- raised 10 The
establishment of high schools which Will quickly
demonstrate their usefulness.