Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-26
THE EDUCATION OF DOCTORS AT
THE PEOPLES EXPENSE.

From the Charlottesville Chroncie
We publish below an able article from the
Lyuchburg Tirginian on the bill now pend
ing in the Legislature making an appropria-
ton for gratuitous education ofyoung ply
siciaus at the Medical College at Richmond.
We have not space to discuss as we would
like the details of This iniqntous bill. 10
educate young doctors at public expense,
indeed We pity the statesman who will
have to defend himself from the charge OF
supporting this bill before his constituents
We notice bill reported in the Senate,
to grant an annuity TO the medical school
at Richmond, coupled with the condition of
free tuition to as many students as there are
members in the General Assembly.
In the earnest absorption ofthe members,
with the muLifarious work upon their bands,
there is unusual danger, at the present time,
that proposals of this kind may pass with
out the sitting scrutiny they should receive.
We are in no sense hostile to the medical
college; on the contrary we desire 10 see 1t
prosper, aud become great school of medi-
cal science. But we feel sure that this meas
ure does not tend to that result. If the
medical college stands in need OF grant of
pnbic money TO supply some essential need
which cannot be otherwise attained, let such
graft be made, after careful inquiry into
The facts, to see that the purpose is one
which justifes such application of the public
funds But we do object, out and out, to
the proposal to make doctors at the expense
of the State treasury. In other words; we
hold that there is no sound principle on
which the State should be called upon to
give gratuitous professional education in the
SO called learned professions. Normal
schools for training the teachers ofthe public
school system, stand on ground to them
selves They are preparation of the pub
lie servants, for the most efficient discharge
| of their duties to the public, in their office.
Not SO with private professions. A pri-
>a:e profession is simply a mans private
business by which he proposes TO make a
support for himself and his family. The
public has no concern with it, beyond what
it has with any other form of individual in
dusry. 1t is therefore rnsapplication of
public money TO give gratuitous profession
al education.
II free instruction is to be given to yonng
! doctors, why not to young aspirants to the
bar why not to clergymen ?-to civil and
mining engineers? If professional men of
any class are to be furnished, for their spec
ial bu=iness-eguipped for their life work at
State expense, why not have commercial
and business colleges for clerks and so on
without end? The principle is wrong. Pub
lie education can be justified only on the
ground that the citizen by being taught the
elements of education is thereby better fitted
to meet and discharge his duties to society
"a citizen. in those functions which are
common to all citizens. This reason utterly
fails to apply to professions and professional
education. They are special, and iDdivid
ual, by the very terms of the statement
and therefore outside of the reason which
vindicates public school instructions for the
masses.
No one man has any claim on the public
to he furnished with business, or to be
qualified for it, beyond every other man.
Gratuitous professional instruction at the
public expense, is therefore violation Of
common rigbt-and misapplicston Of the
public money.
Besides this, one professional school can
not he placed in this position, without injury
to all the others in the State-all oneht to be
on the same footing.
Many other objections occur to us, which
we have not space to develop. The move.
ment seems to us to be wrong in principle
and 10 policy highly Objectionable, for va
rious reasons. We hope the General AS
semhly will not think of sanctioning it.