Year: 1876

DENT WOOD.


The hrst regular meeting Of the Commissioners OF
Common Schools for 1876 was held yesterday Among
those present was Mr.. Stephen l. Walker the new
Commissioner appointed by Mayor wckham, vice Will
liam H Nelson, resigned. Commissioner william Wood
was elected President for the ensuing year; but no
further business public interest was transacted


In taking his official position as President Mr. Wood
briefly reviewed his history Commissioner of Com
mon Schools and then called attention the condition
Of the school system under the control Of the Board
He said THAI OF the entire attendance OF children all
Of the schools two-thirds the primary schools
In December, 1874, the primary school children
bcred 95ss7 in the corresponding month in 1875 they
numbered 9s, ,35l-an increase in one year OF
2454 Deeply interested in the educational system of
the city, he had visited the schools frequently and from
his observations believed that there were bots the
system which should be removed promptly. In the
first place the law permits children young in years
TO enter the primary schools Children four years old
he considered too young. The Legislature never in
tended TO make the primary schools public nurseries
and the age for entrance should be less than
years Further the salaries OF the teachers in those
schools lower than in the grammar schools and the
number Of teachers fewer in proportion to the number
OF pupils The primary schools are located in inferior
buildings in many wards are poorly ventilated not suf





evils the result of class legislation should
eded 0ne-half of the primary school children never
enter the grammar schools, but forced by the
pecuniary circumstances of their parents TO enter the
battle for bread with insufficient education. The
first duty of the Board OF Commissioners should
thoroughly overhaul the entire primary school system.
The buildings should be improved light and ventila
tion, for the taxpayers would find fault with the
cost of improvements made for the benefit of the health
and future prosperity OF their children. Competent
teachers should be retained in those schools by the
payment of salaries equal TO those paid to competent
teachers in the grammar schools the teachers should
| not be promoted TO tho grammar schools
! in order to obtain higher wages. The
studies studies in both primary and grammar daIna
neous studies dropped. In particular the Commission
should 10 il that the children in the primaries
received good education in the English language,
writing and arithmetic. Speaking OF the grammar
schools he said that their management received his
hearty admiration but the studies should be simpined
and reduced Less time should be given TO the poll
parrot style OF teaching grammar, and more time TO
the cultivation OF taste for literature The French
! and German languages, undoubtedly beneficial TO
extent in the study OF English, should be limited 10
the three higher classes, and then, if II found
interfere with the proper study of the English branch,
they should be still further restricted Nothing should
interfere with the study OF the English language in the
public schools


The Normal College was then referred to in words of
warmest praise After aluding TO the chair of French
added during the last year Mr. Wood SAID that will
be only fair to the young ladies In that college TO
tend TO them the same advantages given 10 the young
men in the College OF the City OF New York, by making
the extend TO four years instead OF three
present Another injustice the fact that seventy
Of the teachers In New York had entered the Normal
College but had never graduated manifest wrong to
those who have passed the severe examination required
At that Institution; and the sooner bylaw is passed 10
prevent this the better The diplomas of both colleges
should carry with them the right teach any school
in New York without submitting the graduate TO any
further examination. He asked the Board TO devise
some plan by which music can be thoroughly
taught in the schools for It is not Although the
annual expense for It is S2l 900 Boston is far ahead of
New York in its system. the evening High School
should be immediately relieved OF all outside interfer
in regard to examinations In closing his
marks the President cautioned tha Board not TO lose
sight Of their high and sacred duty the children of
the public schools,


The regular business Of tho Board then resumed.
The citizens OF Harlem petioned for the of the
school house In 125th street. and its books lights, fire.
&C. for evening school for the 400 coorcd people
in that section Referred 20 the Committee on Col
ored Schools


Mr. W. Kennard was appointed principal of ward
school No 63 The Board then adjourned until next
Wednesday.