New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-16
DANGER OF LOWERING THE STANDARD

| WILLIAM H. WATSON, OF THE REGENTS. OPPOSES
| THE NETWORK LAW SCHOOLS EFFORTS.
| To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The far-reaching consequences OF the revo-
lutionary educational bill that has already passed
both houses of the Legislature and Is only await
| ing the Governors signature to become law-pro-
| posing TO incorporate the New-York Law school,
| with power 10 confer its degrees upon students
| who shall pass examinations OF any standard or
| qualifications which its faculty may choose to fix
! can hardly be overestimated. 1t is harmful in
many ways OF which enumerate a few:
First-It Is special legislation. and therefore In
violation Of the Constitution as ii seeks TO do by
| special act that which is already provided for by
existing general law
Second-It is departure from the University law
Section 80 OF that law provides that mo institu-
ton shall be given power 10 confer degrees in this
| State un,ess il shall have resources OF at least
| 100000. and institution for higher education
shall be incorporated without suitable provisions
for buildings furniture. educational equipment AMI
! proper maintenance"
| The New-York Law School fails TO meet these
salutary conditions for the incorporation Of inst
tutions with degree-conferrng powers The stabl-
ity of other law schools is guaranteed by the fact
that they departments of well-equipped univer-
stiles with suitable buildings. endowments and
provisions for their proper maintenance. What
! good reason exists for granting TO single school
| those powers which given to no other law
! school in the State?
Third-Thi, bill contains no provision for ascer-
| tanning the amount of preliminary education Of
those who propose to matricuate in the New York
| Law School. There is therefore guaranty that
! they possess that adequate fundamental knowl-
edge which is the only basis Of subsequent pro-
| fessional education. The bill contains no safe
| guards TO age. character or satisfactory in
| struction.
Fourth-This movement is plainly an attack upon
ha bpbe cd nal of orr les
and professional schools If this bill is permitted
10 become a law IT will be the entering wedge that
will destroy all those educational standards which
the Board of Regents has been for years engaged
In erecting. 1t will be crushing blow at their
orderly. systematic and authoritative administra-
ton OF that portion Of the educational interests
Of the State which has been confded to their
| Let this precedent be once established. and not
only the professional and technical schools. but in
dividuas also. will claim like favors and immun
ties and the State will soon be deluged with worth
, less diplomas and degrees
Fifth-This is matter which vitality interests
not only the legal but also the medical profession
| Within the last half-dozen years New-York has
| come to enjoy the proud distinction of standing
| in the very vanguard of medical education. While
| it has on the one hand become the Mecca of edu-
Gated medical men from every portion OF our coun-
petent, account of their ignorance to practise
| upon the citizens OF their Commonwealth have be-
| taken themselves to other States whose inhab-
tants are less fortunate in being protected by suit
able statutory enactments. The system of exam-
| nations by which this benefcent change has been
brought about has not only commended itself TO
the good sense OF the peop.e Of this State but has
| gained the hearty and cordial approval of those
members Of the medical profession of all schools
! Of practice, in every portion of country, who
| by their education their character aOd their pro-
| fessional attachments. are the best qualified to
| judge. Our system OF examinations is now con-
| coded by scholars and publicsts 10 be the most
But allow the New-York Law School TO estab-
! lsh its own educational requirements and to con-
fer degrees upon students who shall pass any ex-
amir Tor W ma
spirit OF commercial venture would at once
extend Itself TO the medical profession and SINH
lar bills would be introduced into IegisIatlrc
granting the power to medical institutions TO es-
tablish their own educational standards and TO
dents who should comply with the tests however
meagre. thus established. The high medical stand
ards which give New-York deserved pre-emi-
nence would be broken down. and. each medical
college establishing such grade of qualiica ions
1t might consider most conducive to its own pc
cuniary interests, every medical institution would
others In the paucity and laxity of its educational
requirements
Wrong minded persons would again associate
themselves in corporations for the purpose OF the
Infamous diploma traffic which formerly existed
In this as II now exists In other States and doc
tors would be turned out upon purely CONNER
educational qualifications.
Sixth-Thc whole value Of State control plainly
lowed 10 act independently of the others the eff
cacy Of the entire system will be destroyed
Within the last ten years far greater advances
have been made in eleva,ing the standards Of pre-
than in any OF her sister States The effort of the
| New York Law School to obtain the power of
| granting degrees upon standards far lower than
| those required elsewhere is plainly an attempt to
| secure independent authority for the maintenance
OF low standard Of professional education and as
such cannot but be regarded as destructive blow