New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-19
SCHOOL AUTHORITIES As SLAVES
WESTERN AND EASTERN SCHOOLS CON
IRASTED


IFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TR1BUNE.l
SARATOGA, Sept. 1s.-AmOng those VINO
inger at the Springs to-day f. f. Bates who has
been engaged for lumber Of years in teaching In the
Western states Two years he transferred his home
10 Massachusetts and at present Is occupied IN seeking
health. He gave IDEAS about public SCHOOLS
and the manner in which they conducted ana con
roed s4yiug among other things: left the West, or
rather that part OF the where engaged he
cause wished preserve my manhood and integrity
YOn look surprised this should be Impossible 10
prbc anywhere in the United states but tAe
fact Is that In parts OF Ohio Indiana and Illinois it is
simply Impossible for to hold position OF super
ptendsnt OF schools without being by somebody
The schoOl-book houses and the local politicians run
The boards OF elucanon and unless man is willing TO
become the subserv tool of some book house or
mere Creature OF the politician he cannot secure an
election as superintendent cannot remain Ore ID such
p position The entire school system in OF the ar-e
cities OF Ohio and llama is in the hands OF book house
nj Cincinnati They have managed tor years to get
their friends into the boards OF education. 10 Ill the
schools with teachers who their friends. and to keep
their textbooks in tho schools 70 the exclusion Of all
Others Their friends the surerinenGents and teachers
recommend their books the boards OF education. and
their friends who members OF these boards pass upon
The merits of these reports and retain their BOOKS
a bound to say they have pretty good Textbooks
9ut that IS rot the question. man cannot throw
away his honor by becoming their creature and as surely
any teacher dares stand OFT against them he Will
md himself thrown ont OF position. dscedted to his
ability and presently out III the cold That was not
exac.ly MY experience because I cleared ont before
reached that point. knew what the inevitable would
have been II had stayed and fought against them Ihey
have ruined more teachers in their day than would
lake 10 upnlv every school in the state o! Connecticut
ask.d Mr. Bates about the relative educational tcli'-
Is IN the East and West and he said: must say tha'
nv observation is in favor Of the Wester schools Tie
the states they nave
taken advantage OF all the experiences OF all the other
states in the Union and probing Oy this experience
They build their scnoo houses Oh modern CLANS; the5
arrange heir OF study with reference TO modern
plans; they require Of their teachers standard OF excel
ence md capacity for mp.rnc knoll wedge which are IL
accordance with molerE idea Tie Ordinary country
schools an much advanced The country schools o
New-England. The teachers, rule, are brighter
class OF young women. You set in New-EEsaid Jh'
women school teachers sort OF settled down I'D th'
idea that they going 10 teach Tor heime ana V"e5
become dull under tn PRESTON But young WoHei
wi teach school out West expe thai after Two o. 'Hre'
sessions they Will get married anI as they are looking
onward 10 something besides routine OF school lite
If keeus them brighter, and whatever others may think
| II makes them work effectively IN my Judgment
The country schools generally run from nine TO lei
months in the year. while IN most parts OF New Lns ah1
t,ere are only two sessions the and the summer
schools lasting each about three mOnths They have
no summer Nest but hold TO the idea that h
! Deated term Is no time for mental exertion."
In speaEing Of the difference between the people as h
had observed them 10 the East and IN the West Mr
| Rates said: Young men OF New-Engla who Wen
into the Western States 10 seek their fort les LOOK vi"
! them the very lie blood OF the Last The yOuhge
Generation IN tie West which has sprung up from I'M
| climate and soil strong and vigorous element thai
which there nothing more powerful IN thi' country
PRACTICAL craftsmanship OF the country may be traces
| tuectly TO this element IN civilization"