New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-27

drawn from Franklins kite and the Ieyden jar II
merely archaic The farmer has right 10 an educa-
ton which shall not only bring him abreast oil the
highest agricultural knowledge OF the time, but
shall ut instead OF uniting him for the farm. The
majority OF any population anywhere Is and always
must be made up Of men who work. They are en-
titled to the instruction that Will best nj them 10
rise in their work and profit by e. rather than 10 an
instruction which chiefly tends TO make them dis
contented with their work without fitting them bet
ter for something else. The true educatonal re-
former is not he who would improve our system by
narrowing it.-by making on the high SCHOOLS,
academies or colleges or by hindering broader
scope for. them or by holding them up 10 public
distrust as aristocratc. Instead Of narrowing he
would widen the system 10 meet the more varied
wants Of the broader people and the broader life the
Twentieth Century is soon 70 usher in:-would put
within reach OF every individual child OF the Repuo-
lie more agencies for helping him TO exactly the
training his circumstances prompt. and as mucn or
IT as his limitations enable him 10 take
CONCERNS ALL THE PEOPLE.
An educational system undertaking such work
concerns all the people and they have the right to
insist such organization for It as shall give
the best promise Of wise, economical and efncient
administration. ! not here tonight to complain
that the existing doube-headed arrangement is not
satisfactory and is not doing a good work. In the
agitation for changes I have had part, nor am /
aware that any member OF the Board Of Regents
has been active in setting II foot But the talk
OF inevitable change is IN the air As long IN
1894 the Committee Education in the Constitu-
tional Convention deplored the lack Of connection
between the common school under the Superintend-
ent Of Education and the high school academy
under the Board Of Regents as an unnecessary and
serious break in the New-York educational arrange
ments: and declared that the uni1caton OF this dual
system would be to the advantage Of all concerned
Various schemes for such uni1cation have since
been proposed In the Legislature and elsewhere
speedy action is said be certain. and the subject
is set down for full discussion by many able and
experienced educators at the session Of This con-
vocation tomorrow afternoon.
II some change must ne had. 1t Is obvious that the
path Of wisdom lies. the committee OF the Con-
sttutional Convention said in the direction OF uni
fcation How should such a unihcation be accom-
plished-by levelling down the whole system and
ntrusting II TO a superintendent OF common schools
or by levellng UP and intrusting 1t 20 a board
which should merely add the selection purely
non-partlsan and educational grounds OF super
intendent OF common schools TO its old and compre
hensve duties in the more advanced departments
of the public educational service OF New-York7
In approaching this subject it scarcely
necessary to point the absolute lack OF inter
ested motives the part OF the Board OF Regents
II Is frequent resort Of feeble minds and petty
instincts 10 seek always personal motive for
a public position otherwise hard 10 assail-to as
cribe II TO eagerness for Office. or for enlarged
power. or for revenge But this is the device gen
orally OF a hard-pressed cause. and It IS powerless
against character and record. In hundred years
not once has any man had the hardihood to charge
20 insnuate that the action Of the Board
Of Regents has been shaped by political or partisan
or other interested considera tons 1t Is the one
body serving tho State absolutely without pay or
the wish for any and giving its services solely as
matter Of public duty in recognition OF public call
u, tba G,ot With
Of reward possibility OF receiving IT, in the
consciousness OF upright and disinterested work
for the whole people the most important field
the State offers. II this work is unapprecated or
no longer desired, l cannot believe that single
out OF the Boards nineteen members would have
the slightest wish 10 continue It, The question IS
purely and solely one OF ability the public
in a familiar and vital field so long as the public
need and want the service. But may venture TO
say for every member OF the Board that he be-
licves Il 10 have done and 10 be doing pure disin-
terested economical. efficient and Increasingly vau
able work In the fields most nearly under the
public eye they would certainly be glad to invite
considerate and intelligent comparison OF that ser
vice with what II even fifteen or twenty
years ago Who. for example. that remembers tire
State Library as II was. and Il as Il is. can
doubt the advance? DO my Of you happen 70 recall
the picture OF the priceless collections Of Dutch
and English colonial papers heaped in packing
boxes scattered nOOrs,
used for kindlinT the fires because nobody thought
the black Dutch" manuscript OF value? Who that
remembers the difficulty IN utilizing what the IL
brary contained fifteen years ago. and knows the
readiness with which every member OF the Legls
lature every public servant and every private
citizen applying IN the public interest, can now
derive from II the best collated statements OF the
condition Of legislation or Of experience under H.
on any OF the thousand human activities It affects
in any OF the forty-six States OF the Union or in
any foreign country. can fell 10 recognize the help
full advance? Or who that believes that the true
use and end OF a book IS TO be worn out in impart
ing a knowledge OF its contents 10 many readers
az possible has not felt proud OF the imperial way
in which the benefits OF the library are showered
upon genuine seekers after knowledge. however
humble or however remote. in any corner Of the
Empire State? OF other phases Of the Boards
work less familiar to the general public. but faml-
lar as household words the tongues Of the
teachers here assembled there is no need 70 speak
The Board has done the work 10 which the Legis-
lature OF the State called II: is not ashamed Of the
vav Il was done and has love Of Office merely
for the sake being In Office. or Of services which
the people for whom they are rendered would pre-
fer 70 have rendered by somebody else. The ques-
ton is to considered absolutely without refer
ence TO persons or preferences. and solely in the
interest Of the work that is now well done and
should be better continued.
THE METHOD FOR UNIFICATIoN
The precise subject TO be 80 considered Is this: II
u,iecation in the educational system OF the State
Is desired what Is the natural method for accom-
plshing Il? And IL this natural method should not
Re pursued. why?
VIII any one deny that the natural guardians of
the educational system Of the State would be the
state body FIRST appointed for that purpose In l7s4
and continuously engaged in it ever since?-a body
already in charge Of the higher educational work
~ the State a body chosen member by member
as vacancies arise by successive legislatures fresh
from, the people: a body that thus combines the
advantages OF permanency and gradual change
that comes from both parties. all sects and all sec
lions Of the State while f. represents no party
sect no section. no duty and no aspiration save
that for the best education Of the greatest number
Of sons and daughters Of New-York The acade-
mics colleges and universities never sprang from
~. conmon-school system On the contrary. the