The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-10
CHANCELLOR CURTIS's INAUGURAL.
The Origin and Scheme OF the University OF
the State OF New York.

The Origin and Scheme OF the University of
the Slate OF New York.
ALBANY. July 9.-The twenty eighth annual
| Convocation OF the University OF the State OF
New York was opened at II o'clock to-day in
the Senate Chamber by Chancellor George
| William Curtis.
The report of the Executive Committee was
read by President J. NJ. Taylor OF Vassar Col
lego. Chairman.
The morning session was devoted to paper
on The Teaching OF History In Academies
and Colleges" read by Prof Lucy NJ. Salmon
Of Vassar College. which was briefly discussed
| BY DR.. l. ]. Cheney School Inspector, and
other members OF the Convocat!on.
About seventy -fve members Of the Convoca-
ton are present.
! The afternoon session continued from to
| Ga. and was devoted almost entirely to brief
oral reports Of colleges from delegates APP
pointed By each college IN the State. President
Low Of Columbia spoke OF the condition OF the
institution OF which he is the head. and told OF
it's gradual DEVELOPMENT from college to q
university. The reports from all the colleges
show them to be In O condition of unprece-
dented prosperity.
One OF tho largest gatherings ever In the
Senate Chamber welcomed Chancellor Curtis
| tonight. who delivered his inaugural address
before the convocation. The floor was occu-
Med by the convocation and the galleries wero
packed with spectators, many OF whom wore
ladies. Chancellor Curtis in his address gave
the following history of the University OF the
State OF New YORK.:
When the last gun OF the Revolution was
fred the tough old Governor OF New York,
George Clinton. who had fred great many Of
them. saw that the whole system OF education
t., oh. liar
public school system. the private schools Ian
Guiehed, and the only college. bighted by
name OF evil augury to the sons Of Liberty, had
been closed during the war. The Governor i'm
mediatelv urged the Legislature to consider
practically the revival and announcement of
schools The Legislature promptly resnond.
F, Regents Of the University were Incorporated
as the governing body, OF Kings College,
Columbia. and Of such other colleges "a the
Regents might choose to establish. Some de.
imperfe ct There were ere sixtyfour Regents. He
sides those elected as REPRESENTATIVES OF regi-
gus denomnations. widely scattered owe, the
only duty Of the cum Orous body was
seS Of uz Deyded small ndt oG G's an
poyment and payment Of professors from
an income OF not more than twelve hundred
pounds and Erescri6inG systSm 81 dlsSiplime
building. making the porters lodge comfort
able, buying bell to summon the students.
for the domestic welfare Of iho little college;
o ct Eaf 81 anu
Three year- later, in 1857, the Legislature
authorized revision OF the law, Alexander
Hamilton WAS TINT year an sscmblymun, and
Ezra L'Ifommed'en was Senator. "a &c
on".e', and they wore both members of the
believed to have been the controlling iorce.
Tho ret WhGn hsH n1 Srsatea the WI
fOrDmDbt
craft. and it is interesting to study 1t
us an illustration OF his creative public
sphere Of education the political organization
same year applied to the upto,m. OF the States
Hamiltons report while dealing with aca-
Cont sdneaon declared INT primary schools
OF piya'e citizens, but that, primary instrG,'-
ton should he given IN public schools by pub
sity Of New York he evidently meant to incuLe
the whole system OF educnt,on n The. Ttate
and TO give it tho vitality and viG"r which re-
central supervisory sqpreSmncy: ,,.,.
hecame law. II aT;6orized The Regents 10 visit
and inspect all cole geS. academies. and schools
which are or may be established IN this state,
to make yearly report to the Legislature 1t
empowered them to confer The highest degrees
prom0te acaGemes to eoesae rank The
act released the Regents from responsibility
for the repairs and cleanliness, as well ms tho
finances nd discipline columbia College, CIV
Ing to 1t certain independence of the uniyer-
sity BY revivine the, original charter of 1914.
but retaining in the Regents the power OF yisi.
tation and inspection. Although empowering
seems to have designed It TO be substantially
a comprehensive State department of educa-
ton. Informed OF the situation and necessi-
ties of that interest BY visitation. inspection,
Influence by its report the action OF the eGis-
lature. 1t was 10 be the agency and the solo
agency by which the relations OF the state TO
education were 10 be conducted.
This was the original and fundamental
scheme OF the University of, the stale Of. sew
York. and except in one point this is included
In It's present scope and power. 1t f. now the
intermediary OF the state. not With al! tho
institutions and interests OF education. but
with these only Of the higher and secondary
education. Tho vast system OF the pubic
schools has never heen placed under its con
troll. Soon after ny election AS Regent
II seemed 10 ma that a return WAS desir nile 10
ibe original design OF Hamilton; and, that tho
relations OF tho stat 10 education should he
iutrnetet to single authority But after
long observation aud re!ie, ton ha"o come 10
doubt whether hamilton himself would now
advise Il change.