The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
NEW YORK'S FREE SCHOOLS.
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE
GREAT EXISTING SYSTEM.
The First free Pubiic School Established by
tho Dutch Tho Pebble school Society
bishop HUGHES and Observation-Disclosures who
Ilelneh Rnilh lin the Rchnnln OF Tn-Ilnx.

New York's Dutch founders first opened FREQ
schools in the early part Of the seventeenth CEN
tury. Tho principal school building was con-
structed OF modest Dutch bricks at that point Of
tho Broad Way where lately Russell Sage had
his office. Its schooimcester was q Dutch
dominic, one who did not object to bis scoro of
pupils bringing kroiicrs for their ntidddpmaalor
luncheon, and they did not object to his
carrying In his pocket n fagon OF schnapps.
Pedagogy then was free and easy, and no fuss
was mado IL the pupils brought pio-or
rather appelkoekjc-for their midday do
location. As soon as church after church
was established in those Dutch times each con-
Rregation maintained n free school, ms did q few
eleemosynary institutions and trade societies.
Under English colonial municipal sway there
never existed in New York any system
of public free schools, and only private ones
fourished. That system did not arrive until
the fifth year of this century when q public
spirited and intensely phila nthropic merchant of
the city Ia sort OF Peter Cooper of his generation)
named Thomas Eddy, after being Impressed with
the number Of unlettered children swarming
in the nine wards of the island. conceived the
plan Of a public school society. He impaired his
idea to Mayor DE Witt Clinton foremost ever In
public projects) and to another merchant-John
Murray Jr.,-whose dwelling and store were to-
gether in lower Pearl street. Mr.. Murray con-
ShS vi bNpAhN aticN'o Wv hH'
house. where. on Feb. 10. 1905. was organized
1.-THE Public School Society" Each member was
assessed SO. and n subscription list was headed
by Mayor De Witt Clinton with 5000, a sum
with purchasing power then equivalent to So 200
to-day. His example was followed by other
citizens, and John Pintard, then City Inspector
busted himself in circulating tho project for
more subscriptions. Some day there should DO
a statue erected to Thomas Eddy. for he was not
oply tho ori1ip N tor nf Nav ynrl.'a nuh1ic achno1a
but was also a suggester and founder of the
Juvenile Delinquent Asylum and Of the Retreat
for the Insane at Bloomingdale.
With about $l5, 900 in hand the new society
started the first public school in n house hired
for tho purpose in the Fourth ward and en-
ployed teachers. Mayor Clinton enlisted his
Common Council in the project Of giving to the
new society. of which he was the first President,
a piece of land at the corner of Chatham street
and Tryon row. Here the first public school
house was built. Old prints OF 1t are yet in exist
ence, showing a wide, brick building Of two
stories, capable of giving seating room to 800
pupils. In December. 1909, the schoolhouse
was dedicated under the auspices of the
Public School Society. De Witt Clinton deliver
ing the address. The society had been in the
mean time Incorporated and among the incor-
porators were Thomas Eddy. Charles Wilkes.
the banker. descendant of the famous London
NltiC lihh abu VIZ. cohl w ihtS, uii UNIV
OF the noted Capt. Wilkes. who in 1869 captured
the Confederate Commissioner John Slidell:
John McVickar, shipping merchant, father Of
the Columbia College professor of the same
name and Of Mrs. William jay; Matthew Clark
son. who remained twenty-oney years President of
the Bank of New York; Gilbert Aspinwall, an
other shipping merchant, and another banker,
Archibald Oracle. These names most honorably
survive in the metropolitan records of to-day.
Tp 1000 alao Tn1 IJonrv PptrcrS rhoun
memory is preserved In the name of an east
side street, presented to the society a house and
lot In Bancker street. the name of which was
changed during the time of our naval war to
Madison street in honor of the President. Here
was Public School No. Q. Meanwhile all the re-
ligious sects and the Mechanics and Traders
Society were also maintaining at their own ex-
pense free public schools. Meanwhile. also. the
Legislature had taken hold of the free public
school system and provided In the supply bill
for a common school fund. With the Legisla-
ture and the Common Council ready to aid
free schools in the city, a movement
for their control by the taxpayers themselves
assumed large proportions. The movement was
favored by both the Wing and Democratic par
ties. and by 1889 1t was becoming popular, so
that all candidates for the Legislature were i'm.
portuned to found free public schools under
civic administration and at public expense. The
Rev. John Hughes, famous as an orator and a
phiIanthropist in the ranks OF the Roman Catho-
lie clergy. had become distinguished in the
priesthood. In his disposition he was a modern
st. Paul. enthusiastic. aggressive, and untiring
In promoting his faith. He had finally be-
come assistant to tho rapidly aging Bishop
Dubois of the New York diocese. He took
part in the popular movement respect
ing State and municipa! aid to educa-
ton and desired that seven OF his p~arochial
schools should be embraced in any plans
decided upon; but he also stipulated that the
Catholic tenets should prevail in those schools,
and that the teachers should DO OF the same
faith. To that end in the autumn of 1888 he
presented in person to the Common Council a
mammoth petition signed by large numbers of
the Catholic laity. The Aldermen gave notice
Of q public hearins;, Meanwhile some of lhe
against the proposition. and a few OF their mum:
seau "P9a'aFiS er sG 0P PES' A a" n!'hf9BR, e id iswy "ns
appeared Hiram Ketchum; who was a
inent in Protestant and philanthropic circles
and was also a distinguished Wing, politician
warm p0RT4h, s 9p Ss%'ssi Of Thf bis Giss" Hsshe s ~sPs
ske atc a b Int se saj1 a 2 =. psrsPn ma tnsr p Mr..
s hstsnn"" the "sI Bisho sp'a pleass snbGo and 80 WHY GnTl Fi IN:
terposed with Perhaps you are willing to go
farther and FIR worse" ,o,o,., ,,o Albany
Legislature, and became an element In the mes
Ntis ANN IL .
question OF reading the Protestant Bible in pub
lie secular schools also entered into the contro-
ycrsy. 1t soon invaded the domains of politics.
Bishop Hughes and his friends were dissatisfied
with the legislative nominations made by Tam
many Hall. and accordingly organized IA
citizens meeting at Carroll Hall, which
nominated Q ticket OF Assemblymen pledged
many Hall called a public, meeting with
a view Of dcnonncing the introduction of
I Eslisio me aa t p1 anl on iRR;o p j, tFfoTHsa ap 20 sS q
Charles p. DAILY; He was then a young man,
w ~ s"nn tn beco uaa1 y inod u Ti"utrb, H. w Asro,m III
and receive an appointment as Judge Of the
Common Pleas, and begin the forty years o: UNI
sullied and popular judicial lfo which havo
made his name famous all over. Io was accom-
panied by James 7. Brady, also a notable orator
both were known to be Catholics. tho mass
meeting saw at once that tho TaInmany
ticket had little TO fear from the Carroll
Hall ticket. Mr.. DAILY had drawn the
resolutions. They simply deprecated the in
fusion of any sectarianism into public educa-
tional policy. whether il was native American.