New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-08
7BE STATE SCHOOLS.

The annual reports OF the state Snpern'
tcndent Of Public instruction are deserving. as
we have said before. Of more general atten-
ton than they ever receive. They are not
pretentos documents. but they are full OF IN
formation and of sound common sense. Mr..
Draper. moreover. has the courage to expose
the defects OF the system, so far rs he discovers
them. with perfect candor. The documents
which appear over his name are not indiScrIm-
mate eulogicS of the work which they describe,
as Department reports not seldom are Last
wear he expressed his keen disappointment over
some OF the developments which he recorded
and especially over the fact that the percentage
Of attendance has been smaller than ever be-
fore. In that particular he notes "a conspicuous
improvement, and he remarks that at all points
which the school statistics are competent to
cover there has been gratifying advance.
statistics of course do not tell everything
they do not, in fact, tell the things which are
mos, vital. They cannot reveal the spirit
which has pcrvaded the schools, but where they
fall short the superintendent is able to supple
mcnt them from the results Of his own OBJ
servatiOn and inquiry. And IT Is encouraging
to hear him say that with many shortcomings,
the teaching service and the general compre-
hension of what popular education ought to ac-
complish arc advancing steadily. his does
not mean" he says, " that the school system
has come TO be that systematic and substantial
organization which is essential 20 the proper
training Of our vast school population. 1t only
means that the step, which are essential to that
contamination are being better understood, and
that they are being taken with more confidence
Il IA al .l
to say this much is to be able to say great
DEAL
Mr.. Draper rcncWS his familiar appeal for a
more rigorous compulsory attendance law, anu
remarks with force and Justice that it is absurd
10 prevent children from earning a living by
restricting their employment in factories on the
ground that between certain ages they 0ught
10 he in school and at the same time 10 DO
little or nothing 10 prevent their growing up IN
ignorance. Among the recommendations and
suggestions of the report the most interesting
is the proposal that a special commission be
created by tho Legislature for the purpose oil
a methodical and exact scrutiny of the educa-
tional interests and provisions of the state.
similar Investigations aS Mr.. Draper reminds
rs, have been instituted by the English Parla-
ment with immense advantage 20 the country,
and such a commission, il it were made Of the
right material. might perform Il great work Tor
this Commonwealth. OF educational convcn-
tons in general We never expect much. Like
other professional reunions on great scale they
often give 10 large numbers of persons the
benefit of uavcl recreation and social inter
course at a moderate expenditure for railroad
fares and board. The Congress which super
intendcnt Draper doubtless has in mind would
be IL different ~ possible from these cconOm-
zeal pleasure excursions 1--WE are spending
he observes. "more than eighteen millions OF
dollar, annually for the support of our free
school system. It seems to me that it is well
worth while to spend few thousand dollars
in order TO make sure that we are spending this
great sum to the best advantage"
And 50 it seems to us, provided that 1t is
practicable to bring together body of men
and women representing the educational LnOwl
edge and interests OF the State even aS well,
for example "a it, judicial system was repre-
sented by the Commission which sat during the
summer and autumn and whose members ought
TO have been, as they were not, chosen from
the bench rs well rs the bar The prime diff
Guilty is that nearly every other science, new
and old, has OutStrppcd the science of educa-
ton. Great lawyers, physicians, engineers and
scholars are numerous, but great educators arc
depoably scalcc-a sufficient reason, il may
he said for irving 10 make them more plent-
full True, and if State School Congress
would be step in that direction, by all means
let us have one.