New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-09
JUSTICE TO THE FREE COLLEGE.
LETTER FROM A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF FACT An

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CONCLUSION IN RECENT CRITICISMS.
TO the Editor Of The TrtbWne.
SIR: The crusade against the City College,
as voiced ny Mr.. Grady ana others, involves:
First-The desrabillty Of public higher education.
This is fairly open question: on which the highest at-
thores dsagreeSpencer, for instance (and Governor
Robinson) against Huxley for But it docs not appear
that distress OF conscience this point is the motive
power Of the present which understood to be
fosteYed on the side by the unfrendlia of
zealous partsans Of other institutions and on the other
by the hatred whose policy is TO break down onr
general school system by attack at any assailabe point
For those who do oppose the college, honestly on this
higher ground, he only respect: the question
is for careful and elaborate discussion But If the
community itself give this higher education, IT
certainly farm out its proteseS by subsidies TO
private institutions, especially when nese are
under UNCONVENTIONAL religious Influence. This the
system the old Public School Society and the wisdom
Of its percedre by the present common school system
has been unquestioncd 1t should be remembered also
that the college practically Male Normal School,
and respect stands falls with our Female Nor
nal College and the normal system genei ally.
As 10 the repeated assertions that the college
benefits chiefly the rich, L speak from persona!
knowledge Many the richest and prominent of
citizens have sent their to the City College in prefer
ence to other institutions, but overwhelmingly large
proportion OF students would not have received tho
benefits higher education except through this college,
which enabled them attana higher and more wide
ly useful position the community than their fathers
before them held. This line Of argument would apply
more strongly much % the expenditure on that right
y popular Institution the Central Park whose drive
ways are actually only for the rich.
Sec0adl,,-The cost Of the college. Each student il
graduated at at expense OF $4,000. is an old waIcry
frequently repeated. BY the same logic, orr
common school system, exclusive Of tho City College,
costs So. 900 per head since OF the $50 600 children
sharing for year less the S3,20O00O expended only
GOO reach the classes OF the first grade As natterof
fact, there ATTENDANCE AT Inc college,, III lhe
latter baf Of the college year. $50 students OF whom $50
are in the COLLEGIATE and $50 the Introductory classes
giving an average attendance for tho wear or d0ut lOOO;
The expenditure last year was 81 l,JoI ana retf,c-
nen In progress This shows the tOia cost per hcad
per year intending books for each student, WHEN are not
fnclnd d IN The returns OF other colleges, TO be
considerably less than $50, an exceptionally
low sum. The expenditures OF Columbia Col
lege. nv the Regents Report OF 1876. were,
exclusive OF the school ~ mines and other professional
schools for salaries So 734 % tor Ordinary repairs
SlS So for fuel and other iHcidcntas Sl73O2 5ltota
$1,000 50; 149 students are reported, the graduating
class numbering twcnty-One THIS IL, thlnk the total
not me average but II gives the cost per Lcid al Olo
Yor correspOndcnt makes strong p0iut O the crowd
ing out children from the schools by the diversion Of
funds 10 tine college the last Official report Oi the Board
Of Education shows h1t II u not onf not true tid
several hundred children unable 10 get adulittd
into the lower grades" that in TACT there 10000
seais ia the public schools Naitne for pupils The use
full influence OF the college, GROWING on eLoo system
the schools themselves has iHdttd, Dceh c4!cI
argument for the college.
The friends OF the City College, WHO CppO-e Mr. Gre
dy'S bill Tor lis abolition. ask FIRST careful aud alr DIS
cussion secondly that 1t is 20 be abolished II be a00
ishea rs IL was established by direct popnlM yoie'
Nc,e York, March 6, 1873. Glass OF 1868.