Suits by and against trustees, 73, 98, 126, 133, 135, Tenants, Town Clerks, ............ 121 187, 187(a) Valuation of taxable property,..... Voters at district meetings,..... Application of school money, &c.. Applications to the State Superintendent, Assessment and collection of district taxes, Appeals to the County Superintendent. to the State Superintendent,. Board of supervisors, their duty, Building, furnishing, &c. of school house,- Clerks of Boards of Supervisors, of towns, of counties, Contracts with teachers,.. Colored children, schools for, Collectors of school districts, their jurisdiction, their mode of proceeding,. Qualifications of voters,. 147 127 ... 137 140 147 137 ... 126 136 Resolution creating a new district, ... Trus:ees to account to their successors, &c, ... 140 When Annual Reports of trustees are to be made, Weekly Roll, 133 .... 127 133, 144, 145 130, 140 131 143 134 143 OFFICIAL. TO TOWN SUP'TS OF COMMON SCHOOLS. 136 140 143 In consequence of the irregular receipt of the District 147 School Journal containing the act of last winter in re152 lation to Common Schools, the requisitions of the law 143 entitling the several school districts to their proportion 125 of the public money for the ensuing year, have in nu142 merous instances been disregarded. Measures having now been adopted. calculated to secure the regular and 148 punctual receipt of this paper in future, and sufficient 126 time having elapsed since the passage and publication 125 of the act referred to, and of the several acts and in126 structions relating to Common Schools, to enable the 126 officers and inhabitants of the several districts to be139 come acquainted with their provisions, the Superinten142 dent, in the exercise of the power conferred on him by 145 the 2d § of the act of 1941, (No. 30, Laws, &c.) and by 146 the latter clause of the 6th of the act of 1839, relative 146 to District Libraries, (No. 185,) hereby directs the Town 145 Superintendents to include in their apportionment of 148 teachers' and library money for the ensuing year, every 153, 165, 156 district within their respective jurisdictions, from which 133 reports shall be received, shewing either a substantial 129, 130 conformity to law, or accompanied by a reasonable and 144, 147 satisfactory excuse, under oath, for non-compliance: to, 144 and in every case where public money is withheld for a failure to show such excuse, to report the facts specifically to this department. The means of enabling the several districts to participate in the apportionment of the public money for the present year, having thus been provided, the Superintendent trusts that no future relaxation of the provisions of the school law will become necessary. Every officer charged with the performance of any duty under that act, has been furnished with a copy of the law and of all the instructions and exposition of the Depart136 ment: and there can hereafter be no valid excuse for 139 a neglect of its provisions. The efficiency and success 134 of the system depend so materially upon its faithful ad 143 ministration, and upon the prompt and punctual per144 formance of the various duties devolved upon those 145 charged with that administration, that a rigid adherence in future, to the requisitions of the law, will in all cases be insisted upon, where no unavoidable necessity 149 exists for a departure from its strict provisions. No excuse will hereafter be received for a failure to comply with the law, based upon ignorance of its provisions, 137 or neglect or carelessness to carry them into effect: 138 and the inhabitants of the several districts, desirous of securing a participation hereafter in the public money, will take care to elect officers upon whose fidelity and punctuality they can depend. Every reasonable facili ty for compliance with the laws and instructions of the Department, will be furnished by the State, County and Town Superintendents, whenever applied to for that purpose: and those districts which have not been alrea dy provided with the Laws, Instructions, Blanks and Journals, should make immediate application therefor Albany, January 1, 1844, S. YOUNG, Supt. 149 151 156 Libraries, district, do. regulations, No. 1,. No. 2,1 146 of keeping minutes, &c. by district clerk,Notice of the first meeting in district to organize, Proceedings in the formation or alteration of school districts,.. 147 127 127 Proceedings in the formation of a joint district, 128 in case of non-resident lands, 135 Purchase, &c. of school house,. 137 Powers and duties of inhabitants when assembled in district meeting,. 145 DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. VOL. IV. ALBANY, FEB., 1844. No. 11. ANNUAL REPORT shall not have been appointed, unless by order Of the Superintendent of Common Schools to the Le- of the Superintendent of Common Schools." Afgislature of the State of New-York. Albany, January 13th, 1844. The undersigned, as Superintendent of mon Schools, in pursuance of the provisions of law, respectfully submits the following REPORT. ter the ineffectual ballotting and final adjournment of the board, an application for such an order was made to this Department by the Com-clerk of the board, under a resolution to that ef fect adopted by them. But upon full consideration, it was believed that the whole responsibility, ought to rest upon the supervisors, who might at any time before the first of February next, There are in this State fifty-nine counties, com-meet and make the appointment; and that this prising nine cities, containing sixty-two wards Department ought not, without the strongest and and 835 towns: total towns and wards, 897. most satisfactory reasons, to sanction a nullificaEach county in the State, with the exception of tion of the laws of this State. The clerk of the Lewis, has now appointed a county superinten-board of supervisors was accordingly apprised dent, under the act of 1841, as amended by the that unless the appointment should be made in act of 1843; and in the counties of Allegany, season, the distributive share of the School Fund Cattaraugus, Dutchess, Jefferson, Oneida, On- for the present year, would not be apportioned ondaga, Monroe and Washington, each compri- to the county. sing more than one hundred and fifty school districts, two county superintendents have been appointed, and these counties have been divided into two convenient districts, to each of which a superintendent has been assigned, in pursuance of the 4th section of the act of 1843. From each of the counties in which superintendents had been appointed under the act of 1841, reports in accordance with law, and the instructions of the Department, have been received, and are herewith transmitted to the Legislature. Number of School Districts. In the county of Richmond, no superintendent was appointed until the late meeting of the board There were in the State on the first day of of supervisors in that county, consequently no October last, as appears from the returns, 10,875 other statistical report has been received than districts; showing a considerable diminution from that of the county clerk, transmitting copies of the number reported last year. This diminution the annual reports of the commissioners and town has been caused by the union or consolidation of superintendents of common schools; the aggre- small districts, and by the refusal on the part of gate footings of which, as well as those received the town superintendents generally, to increase from the clerk of Lewis county, have been trans-the number of existing districts by the formation ferred to the abstract of the annual reports of of new ones, excepting under peculiar circumthe several town superintendents, accompanying stances; and it is earnestly hoped that the same this report. policy will be steadily pursued in future, in every The supervisors of the county of Lewis, not-practicable case, throughout the State. Small withstanding the positive and mandatory provi- and consequently inefficient districts have, heresions of the acts of 1841 and 1843, have entirely tofore for a long period, been the source of many neglected to comply with these provisions; and formidable evils. Miserable school houses, poor this county is now the only one in the State which and cheap teachers, interrupted and temporary is destitute of a superintendent. No effort with-instruction, and heavy rate-bills, are among the in the knowledge of this Department has been permanent calamities incident to small school made by the supervisors, since the passage of districts. The ordinary pretext for the division the act of 1841, to appoint such an officer, until and subdivision of districts, is the greater proxOctober last; and the whole character of the pro-imity to be afforded to a portion of the inhabiceedings at that time, as communicated to this tants to the school house. To this single fancied Department by the clerk of the board of super-benefit, considerations of much greater imporvisors, the result of the three days' ballotting, tance are often sacrificed. The idea seems to be and the determination not to meet at any future entertained by many, that it is a great hardship period, nor to make any further effort to comply for children to travel a mile, or even half a mile, with the provisions of the statute, would seem to school; and that those individuals are the most to justify the belief, that a preconcerted understanding existing to put the law at defiance. By the 4th section of the act of the 17th of April, 1843, it is provided that "no share of the public money shall hereafter be apportioned to any county in which a county superintendent favored, who find the school house nearest to their homes. It is true that there are a few stormy days in the year, when the nearness of the school house may be deemed a convenience. But all children of ten or twelve years of age, must, in order to maintain health, and secure the due de Private and Select Schools. The number of unincorporated select and private schools in the State, exclusive of those in the city of New-York, from which no returns on this head have been received, is reported at 954; and the aggregate number of pupils in attendance at such schools, at 34,105. The number so attending in the several private and select schools in the city of New-York, cannot, it is believed, fall short of 30,000. velopment of their physical functions, exercise ber thus under instruction, during the preceding daily, to a much greater extent than is produced year. by one or even two miles' travel. Unrestrained exercise in the open air is indispensable to the health of the young. It is one of the laws which has been strongly impressed by the Creator upon the animal organization; and obedience to this law is enforced by a powerful instinct which impels the young of all animals, while in a state of growth, to daily muscular exertion. The human race is as subject to this law, as any other part of animated nature: and it is a fact established by all experience, that those children are the most healthful in body and vigorous in mind, whose corporeal motions are least constrained, and whose lungs are most in contact with the pure and open air. The most aged and experienced teachers will testify that, as a general rule, those children who live farthest from the school house, are the most punctual in their daily attendance, and make the greatest progress in their studies. Number of Children taught. . Average period of Tuition. Attendance of Pupils. The number of pupils reported as having attended their respective schools during the entire year, was 23,608; the number attending for ten months and upwards, 34, 896; eight months and upwards, 70,178; six months and upwards, 144,422; four months and upwards, 270,996; 2 months and upwards, 478,029; and the number in attendance for a less period than 2 months, 162,325. The aggregate number of children actually in attendance at the period of the visitations of the schools by the several county superintendents during the winter terms, is reported at 213,129; during the summer terms at 189,048. Course and extent of Study. The average length of time during which the schools have been taught in the several districts from which reports have been received, was eight months. In the city and county of New-York, and in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, the schools were kept open during the ||whole year; in the county of Richmond, an average period of eleven months; in the county of Queens, an average period of ten months; in each of the counties of Columbia and Rockland, The aggregate number of children between the and in each of the counties of Dutchess, Monan average period of nine and a half months; ages of five and sixteen years, residing in the roe, Orange, Schenectady, Suffolk, Ulster, and several districts from which reports were receiv-Westchester, for an average period of nine months. ed, exclusive of those in the city of New-York, was, as appears by the returns, 607,995; and the number of children of all ages, who have been in attendance in the several district schools, for a longer or shorter period, during the year ending on the first day of January, 1843, exclusive of those in the city of New-York, is reported at 610,354. There is reason to apprehend that these returns are in some instances defective; but as the enumeration of the number of children between the ages of five and sixteen is made the basis of the annual distribution of the school moneys to the several districts, and the names and number of children between these ages of the several inhabitants are required to be specifically reported, with severe penalties for any intentional variation in point of accuracy, it Of the number thus in attendance at the periis presumable that no serious error has occurred; od of the winter visitations in 6,666 districts, 9,and after making due allowance on the one hand 855 were in the alphabet; 28,056 in spelling; for the number of children under instruction in 197,403 in reading; 99,032 engaged in the study academies and private schools of every grade, of arithmetic; 55,118 in the study of geography; and on the other for the considerable number of 11,139 in that of history; 42,301 in that of those over the age of sixteen and under that of English grammar; 2,343 were in the use of globes twenty or twenty-one, who are permitted to par- and other scientific apparatus; 2,316 in the study ticipate in the benefits of common school instruc- of algebra; 644 in that of geometry, surveying tion, the number reported cannot, it is believed, and the higher mathematics; 4,712 in that of vary essentially from the truth. There are no natural philosophy; 558 in that of the philosomeans of ascertaining with precision the number phy of the mind; 76 in that of physiology; 903 of children between the ages of five and sixteen in that of book-keeping; 6,000 in composition; residing in the city of New-York; no returns on 10,220 in vocal music; 189 in chemistry; 8,949 this head being required by law in that city; but in the definition of words; 217 in astronomy; and it is presumed, from the most accurate calcula-1,173 in other branches not specifically enution which can be made from the materials fur-merated. nished by the last census, that the number does not vary far from 75,000, of which 47,428 are returned as having been under instruction during a longer or shorter period of time in the schools of the Public School Society, the several incorporated institutions entitled to participate in the distribution of the public money, and the several|| district schools organized in pursuance of law. The aggregate number of children of all ages, therefore, who have been under instruction in the several district schools of the State during the year reported, may be stated at 657,782; showing an increase of upwards of 59,000 over the num Of the pupils in attendance at the summer visitations in 6,942 districts, 17,616 were in the alphabet; 38,730 in spelling; 148,007 in reading; 51,229 in arithmetic; 50,335 in geography; 7,210 in history; 22,727 in English grammar; 3,283 in the use of globes and other scientific apparatus; 1,276 in algebra; 394 in geometry and the higher mathematics; 2,769 in natural philosophy; 386 in mental philosophy; 92 in physiology; 730 in book-keeping; 4,499 in composition; 17,632 in vocal musie; 43 in chemistry; 9,975 in definition; 191 in astronomy; and 1,814 in other branches not enumerated, Teachers. The number suitably furnished with convenient seats, desks, &c. is reported at 3,282, and the number not so furnished at 5,972. The number furnished with proper facilities for ventilation is stated at 1,518; while the number not provided with these essential requisites of health and comfort is 7,889. The number of male teachers in the winter schools visited by the several county superintendents, was 5,170; that of female teachers 635; of the former 170, and of the latter 175, were under 18 years of age; of the former 1,181, and of the latter 558, between the ages of 18 and 21;|| of the former 2,113, and of the latter 615, be- No subject connected with the interests of eletween the ages of 21 and 25; of the former 963,mentary instruction affords a source of such and of the latter 228, between the ages of twen- mortifying and humiliating reflections as that of ty-five and thirty; of the former 666, and of the condition of a large portion of the school the latter 137, over the age of 30 years.- houses, as presented in the above enumeration. Of the former 2,004, and of the latter 451, had One-third only of the whole number visited, taught in the whole for a less period than one were found in good repair; another third in ordi year, and of the former 3,036, and of the latter nary and comfortable condition only in this re1,120, for a longer period than one year; of the spect-in other words, barely sufficient for the former 798, and of the latter 303, had taught the convenience and accommodation of the teachers same school for one year and upwards; of the and pupils; while the remainder, consisting of former 387, and of the latter 125, had taught the 3,319 were to all intents and purposes unfit for same school for two years and upwards; and of the reception of man or beast. the former 319, and of the latter 70 had taught| the same school for three years. But 544 out of 9,368 houses visited, contained more than one room; 7,313 were destitute of any suitable play-ground; nearly six thousand were unfurnished with convenient seats and desks; nearly eight thousand destitute of the proper facilities for ventilation; and upwards of six thousand without a privy of any sort; while of the remainder but about one thousand were provided with privies containing different apartments for male and female pupils! And it is in these miserable abodes of accumulated dirt and filth, deprived of wholesome air, or exposed without adequate protection to the assaults of the elements, with no facilities for necessary exercise or relaxation, no convenience for prosecuting their studies; crowded together on benches not admitting of a moment's rest in any position, and debarred the possibility of yielding to the ordina In the summer schools thus visited, the number of male teachers was 1,024, and that of female teachers 5,699. Of the former 34, and of the latter 1,066, were under 18 years of age; 147 of former, and 2,168 of the latter, between the ages of 18 and 21; 363 of the former, and 1,688 of the latter, between 21 and 25; 218 of the former, and 551 of the latter, between 25 and 30; and 261 of the former, and 205 of the latter, 30 years of age and upwards. Of the former 180, and of the latter 2,513, had taught in the whole for a less period than 1 year; and of the former 804, and of the latter 3,150, for a longer period than one year. Of the former 252, and of the latter 911, had taught the same school for one year and upwards; of the former 159, and of the latter 359, for two years and upwards; and of the form-ry calls of nature without violent inroads upon er 166, and of the latter 145, for three years. The average monthly compensation of the male teachers employed in the winter schools was $14.28 exclusive of board; that of the female teachers $7.00. In the summer schools, the male teachers received, on an average, $15 per month, and the female teachers $6. The apparent reduction of the average compensation of teachers, from the prices heretofore paid, may be accounted for by the increased value of money, and the corresponding diminution in the prices of labor and subsistence of all kinds. Taking these circumstances into consideration, it will be found that there has in reality been no falling off in the rates of compensation heretofore allowed to male teachers, while those of female teachers have perceptibly increased. Condition of School Houses. modesty and shame; that upwards of two hundred thousand children scattered over_various parts of the State, are compelled to spend an average period of eight months during each year of their pupilage! Here the first lessons of human life, the incipient principles of morality, and the rules of social intercourse are to be impressed upon the plastic mind. The boy is here to receive the model of his permanent character, and to imbibe the elements of his future career; and here the instinctive delicacy of the young female, one of the characteristic ornaments of the sex, is to be expanded into maturity by precept and example! Is it strange under such circumstances, that an early and invincible repugnance to the acquisition of knowledge is imbibed by the youthful mind; that the school house is regarded with unconcealed aversion and disgust, and that parents who have any desire to preserve the health and the morals of their children, exclude them from the district school and provide instruction for them elsewhere? The whole number of school houses visited and inspected by the county superintendents during the year was 9,368: of which 7,685 were of framed wood; 446 of brick; 523 of stone, and 707 of logs. Of these, 3,160 were found in good If legislation could reach and remedy the evil, repair; 2,870 in ordinary and comfortable repair, the law-making power would be earnestly inand 3,319 in bad repair, or totally unfit for school voked. But where the ordinary mandates of hupurposes. The number furnished with more manity, and the laws of parental feeling written than one room was 544, leaving 8,795 with one by the finger of Heaven on the human heart, are room only. The number furnished with suita- obliterated or powerless, all statutory provible play-grounds is 1,541; the number not so sions would be idle and vain. In some instances furnished 7,313. The number furnished with a during the past year, comfortable school houses single privý is, 1,810; those with privies con-have been erected to supply the place of miserataining separate apartments for male and female ble and dilapidated tenements which for years pupils 1,012; while the number of those not had been a disgrace to the inhabitants. Perhaps furnished with any privy whatever, is 6,423, the contagion of such worthy examples may spread; and that which seems to have been beyond the influence of the ordinary impulses of humanity, may be accomplished by the power of example or the dread of shame. What ideas of the good sense and intelligence of the past, will be entertained by the instructed men of future times, to whom will be bequeathThe expense of constructing and maintaining will inherit, in fee simple, an enormous debt and ed the legislative patrimony of this State-who convenient buildings, and all other proper appli-a voluminous inventory of unfinished works, ances for the education of the young, is a mere forsaken by God and man, the yawning Golgo trifle when contrasted with the beneficial results tha of wasted human toil-and who, instead of which inevitably follow. Of all the expenditures a general fund, and a replenished treasury, will which are calculated to subserve the wants or receive the negative blessing of an "exhausted gratify the caprices of man, there are none which receiver?" That combination of interests which confer such important and durable blessings as for years could have seduced a whole community those which are applied to the cultivation and into such gross fatuity, will probably be an enigexpansion of the moral and intellectual powers. ma to the future historian. The signal success It is by such cultivation that human happiness is which has been achieved and maintained for graduated, and that from the most debased of the a long period over the human understanding, by savage tribes, nation rises above nation in the the unblushing repetition of false statements, scale of prosperity and civilization. The penu- fraudulent estimates, treacherous promises, and riousness which has been manifested on this sub- hollow and interested pretences, will astonish ject, and the reckless profligacy exhibited on every intelligent man, woman and child of future others, is strongly characteristic of the past. In days. Nor would their wonder be diminished future times, when the light of science shall be by a disclosure of existing efforts in the same more widely diffused, and when the education of direction, moving in a subdued under current, the young shall claim and receive the considera- with the evident design of artfully obviating tion it deserves, a retrospection of the records of every impediment to the onward course of the the past will exhibit preceding generations in no Juggernaut of debt. enviable point of view. Those who come after us, and who shall In 1805, thirty-nine years ago, the basis of the make themselves acquainted with the facts and School Fund was laid; and now, after the lapse records of the present and the past, will inquire of almost forty years, the aggregation of every with surprise and indignation, how it was posdollar which has been consecrated to the availa-sible that such things could have been. Lookble capital of this fund, gives the amount of only ing at the avails of nearly half a century, in the $1,975,093.15. With a population of two and a slow and parsimonious accumulation of the half millions, the entire avails of the appropria-school fund, and at the wanton profligacy of a tions of forty years, destined to the holy purpose few years of the same period, in the entire of youthful progress and human improvement waste of countless millions of the public wealth, for all time to come, is less than seventy-five and the aggregation of an enormous debt; and cents to each individual in the State. Nor has contemplating the wretched accommodations and this extraordinary parsimony been caused by any reckless indifference for youthful instruction, legislative restraints or constitutional inability. which to a great extent contemporaneously preThe will of a bare majority might at any time vailed throughout the State, they will find it dif have augmented this fund. But the will of le-ficult, if not impossible, to reconcile such extragislation has been frequently signalized in a di- ordinary facts with the ordinary laws of human rection exactly opposite. In a much shorter nature. "Did the men of those days," they period than it has required to collect the School will ask, "omit to furnish proper accommodaFund, more than ten times as much has been ut- tions for the advancement of their children in terly wasted in the reckless career of miscalled the rudiments of indispensable knowledge, "internal improvement." Without estimating while at the same time, they quietly looked on, the vast sums which have been applied, and from year to year, and witnessed with stolid inmust yet for a long period continue to be applied difference, the ruinous and reckless career of leto the payment of principal and interest, the gislation? Did they neglect to provide for their amount invested as capital alone in this profli- sons and daughters, in their helpless and tender gate crusade, is $34,400,729.26; and the State age, comfortable buildings, competent instruchas been "improved" into a standing debt, now tors, necessary books, useful apparatus, and all producing an exhausting tax upon its land and those other aids which are requisite to the right labor, of about twenty-eight millions of dollars; development of the youthful mind, and, at the and which debt, before it is finally extinguished, same time, allow their rulers to lavish not only will probably draw from the tax-payers, in prin- all the disposable resources of the State, but to cipal and interest, forty or fifty millions of dollars. crucify its credit and put it to open shame, in a The interest of one-half of the money which mad career of wild and hopeless profusion? Did has been thus hopelessly sacrificed, would, of it- they grudge to their own flesh and blood, a miself, be sufficient to educate every child in the serable pittance for the necessaries of mental State for all time to come. In a single instance life, whilst they allowed their rulers to scatter legislation has thrown a much larger amount millions to feed the hungry rapacity of rotten than the whole School Fund into the luxurious corporations, and to subserve the pecuniary and lap of a rotten and meretricious corporation. political aspirations of unprincipled demagogues? This bonus of three millions bestowed upon cor-Did they, with miserly gripe, withhold the inruption by felonious legislation, was peddled out to brokers on little strips of paper, upon which the fiat of law had assumed to stamp the credit of the people of the State; the redemption of which cre lit is yet to be effected by the sweating process of annual taxation. considerable funds necessary to instruct the young, and thus to promote virtue and intelligence, and to accelerate the progress and elevi. ate the character of the human race, whilst they permitted themselves to be grievously taxed for the purpose of digging the graves of productive |