New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-26
THE GOVERNOR AND THE SCHOOLS.

NOT A SERIOUS BUBDEN 10 THE TAYpAYER-No
DANGER OF ovER-EDUCATING THE MASSES.
70 the EditOr OF The 1rtonne.
SIR: Profoundness and political preferment
do not Invariably handn-haud, ana that an opinion
is pronounced from Gubernatoria chair does not al
WAYS insure its correctness Hence beg leave TO email
lenge some Of the expressions that GoverBG Robinson
employs in his annual message, In discussing the cur
culum OF study embraced iu publicscoo ystem OF
education. He says:
In my Judgment very great wrong has already grown
ND In coinoc with otherwise excellent system
1t the principle of applying large amounts OF the
n oneys raised by taxation 10 the support OF high
schools and instruction IN all the sciences and gheT
find no excuse f0s raising money by general tAau9n
for such purposes Tine Only good reason wcn can e
urged for taxing one class OF citizens Tor inc ecu
eaton Of the children OF another class L. the heces
sity OF living to the Shdfen ." en ai tssS 10
understand their duties aud exercise their tights
as citizens OF Tree county era " o ne one man
the money necessary educate the children OF another
sn in 5 s1 Srs on law We Wat than this
Instead Of educating the masses OF children SO as W pre-
pare for the pursuits and industries upon when
they must dperd for hS we pest t then Isr ee s@h
tion unt them 10 discharge s duties III ihaner h1st
beneficial to their interests. and toEe away the
strong incentives which mpel those who ale reai ape
and worthy win Tor themselves high positions III learn
lug aud usefulness.
Now let Us see whether the Governor s sound In his
views or whether he is beral and perhaps inclined to
her Of hgh schools including the normal schools, Is SO
e, rs TO prove a serious burden TO the taxpayer and
m the second place, including these schools which repre-
sent the highest branches taught there very little III
the curriculum that would warrant the charge that
there is instruction given "in all the sciences
and higher branches OF study required In tue
learned professions" II this latter charge
true there would longer be any necessity
far such institutions as Columbia College. Cornell
Tn yersity Union College, and Vassar. So far as a
knowledge OF the sciences is concerned the principles OF
ply chemistry essential as matters or ele
mentary education, arithmetic aud grammar whiie
the fact that in few OF the higher schools the rud
ments OF astronomy are taught with geometry cannot
convince that after all the student Is getting anything
more than mere Ordinary education, common school
education As to branches required In the learned pro-
,e,sions the that the state Is required To pay II
any toward the teaching Of the dead languages or the
philosophy of art is Enthusiastically small, and cannot
very well be charged to the public school system.
But surprising that the Governors allegations In the
directions true would there be any
possibility of It's exerng harmful influence upon the cit
,zcnsf In words there danger of over-edu-
eating masSc-i The Governor intmafes that there
Is and hcrenhe lays himself open to the charge either
Of narrow miniedness, or desire TO commend himself
10 the public by appealing 10 the pocketbook by train
Of specous reasoning. Having laid down GER
tain detached propositions. each OF which par.
ulitcs," he leads the reader OF his message
TO infer that instruction In the higher branches, eta med
by him taught uhc Inference Is, generally, makes
students "discontented with their condition Ia life.
unit discharge lis duties In manner most beiet-
cal to their interests, and takes away the strong
which inspire those who are really able ana
worthy win for themselves high positions in learning
and usefulness. Such sentiments from the Cher Mag>
tate greatest State in the Union murtlfyng
Figures given the Governors message. shOW tiIat
willie ,023 7l5 pupils ~ attendance upon the public
schools OF the state, only G0iJ IN Attendance upon
the normal schools. lt wOn6 do to say that normal
schools are accessible To al localities. for the
paraycly Attendance OF ll1l0i children upon
private schools shows that the best advantages are
neither generally appreciated nor accepted aud Decides
have means OF asccrtnininS what propOrti' of
the children IN private schOor take advanced courses.
The motto OF SyscIn should npt ht
tire rudimcnt4 for every body, but. something subli-
thai tor all, and opportunities Of the beat tor TIE best
The best very few. Taey the men and women or
thought ard acti0n!he leaders IN society. That ~ NJ
tie learning il dangerous thing" has been proved
and over again. The leaders OF every mon nave
proved IT, While New-Yurk state has tue enl SltcLcd
policy of Massachusetts, and the noble results o. tnt
poi before IL, there wisdom IN tEc GoNeflior
Shaking locks of fear NJ higher education Tor tue
i.rsO1r system OF education may ne II r'npt luhS
that rs h .sugs may he distributed more evenly, bu
80 long rs 4 cducncs well, the STATE need not appreend
financial or ,,..u uulltca disaster. ~ IL. j.
f+I,ga Ian :