St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-07-23
Letter from Saratoga.


THE SPLENDID STATE CAPIToL.-EDU-
CATIoNAL CONVENTIONS AT sARATo-
GA.-GEN. GRANT AT MT. MGREGOR ;
HOW THE SUFFERER APPEARED TO
OUR CORRESPONDENT.
Editor of The Caledonian Your cor
respondent determined, on his way
East for the summer vacation, to at
tend some of the educational cOnven-
tions which are held in July. The first
of these was the cOnvOcation of the
aboard of Regents of the University OF
New York" Perhaps not every intel
ligent reader understands just what
this university of the Empire state is.
In theory the institutions for second
airy and higher education of the state
constitute university, under the SUI
pervisiOn of Board of Regents. This
Board is elected by the legislature, ex-
cept four OF five of the principal state
officers, as well as the state superin-
tendent of public instruction, who are
members ex-officiO.
The authority of the Board appears
to be rather indefinite, scarcely more
than advisory and directive for the
most part. Yet it has the control of
the literature fund of the state, about
$4,000 annually. In several ways it
reaches directly the educational insti-
tutiOns of the state. 1t has done IA
good deal to systematiZe and unity the
course of instruction by preparing ex-
animation questions first, for the
transition to the secondary grade, next
for the completion of this grade, and
for admission to college. The first
apply to those who have completed
what is popularity understood as the
| Grammar school course, the second to
the High school course or its equiva-
lent, the third to the college prepare
tory, including the classics. The ex
aminatiOns are conducted at the differ
ent schools and the papers returned to
Albany for inspection and decision as
to merit This Board also has the au
thority to confer degrees. 1t is pre-
sided over by chancellor elected from
its members. 1t was constituted
hundred years ago and its influence
appears to keep pace with the advance
of the state. 1t is made the custodian
of the state library, the geological cab
met and of some other things. Every
year the Regents hold a cOnvocatiOn at
Albany. Faculties of colleges and
principals of schools under it's anthori-
ty constitute the membership of this
cOnvocatiOn. Others interested i'll ed
ucation are welcomed. The meetings
are public. The program is prepared
beforehand by the Regents and their
secretaries and consists of papers and
discussions upon important subjects
connected with education. Many able
papers are presented. The sessions
are held in the senate chamber of the
new capitol.
A few words in passing as to this
building. AS the Empire state exceeds
every other in wealth and population,
so this capitol is correspondence large
and expensive. Its dimensions are
eighteen rods in front by twentyfOur
in depth This makes an area of two
and two thirds acres The cost of it
has already exceeded sixteen millions,
and is likely to reach twenty millions
when it is completed from foundation
to dome. There are charges that
money has been squandered in erect
ing this building, and there are various
criticisms, but it is certainly "A noble |
structure. Its walls are massive and
the interior very richly furnished with
polished stone, carvings in both wood
and stone, each different from every |
other in design, and every part on the
same scale of costly finish. 1t will |
certainly be one of the magnificent
buildings of the country when com
pleted. The first constitution making !
and legislation for this country was
done in the cabin of the MayflOwer. 1t
is to he hoped that what is done ill
new and costly capitols will be equally |
wise and pure.
Saratoga has become a place of con
religious and secular. Horse
racing no longer holds the ground
alone. During the last two weeks at
least four important educational meet
ings have been held here, viz, the
New York State Teachers Association,
the National Teachers Association, the
National Council of Education and the
American Institute of Civics. | will
say nothing of the first and second of
these.
The National Council of Education
is one of the more recently established
associations. 1t is select
body of fifty or sixty members. 1t
representatives of different
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES schools, state SUI
perintendents, scientific schools. Its
work appears to be investigation of the
existing status and the study to i'm
prove methods in every thing pertain
ng to school work. For example one
exhaustive report was upon superin-
of schools. The object was
20 give the history and value of this,
and to suggest acommOn plan of school
reports which if generally followed
would unity and render more clear
such reports throughout the country. ,
Ii is like the effort of men engaged in !
similar occupations seeking to learn
md utilize the best methods adopted
oy each. Happily in the work of edu
,atiOn there is no rivalry of self inter- ,
,st in the way of this. The late Prof.
Charles o. Thompson, well known to ,
many of your readers, was a member ,
If this council, and he was to- have ,
prepared paper upon an important !
subject for this meeting. His death
vas tenderly aud fittingly referred to,
Ind his many rare qualities of charac- :.
er as a man, scholar and a Christian !. .
we're fully recognized.