New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-28
UNITY IN SCHOOL SYSTEM.
INTERESTING DEBATE OF MANAGERS OF
UNIVERSITY coNvoCATIoN.
RESOLUTION REGARDING ELECTION OF suPERiN-
TENDENr OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO BE
REPORTED TO-DAY FROM
lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrSr. ]

REPoRTEp TO-DAY FROM
COMMITTEE
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1srxr1
Albany June 27.-The managers of the Uni
versity Convocation had an interesting debate
this afternoon on the subject Of the best plan
for unifying the school systems OF the State.
Almost every speaker favored putting the De-
partment of Public Instruction in charge Of the
Regents of the University, to whom already is
intrusted the care Of the high schools of the
State. and TO give 10 the Regents authority to
name a head 10 the school systems thus united.
At the conclusion of the meeting a resolution
was offered that il is the judgment of the Con-
vocation that the Superintendent Of Public In
struction should be elected by the Regents. and.
secondly. that the Legislature be informed Of
the action Of the Convocation with the sugges-
ton that. in carrying out this plan Of unifica-
ton, commission be appointed. representative
OF both educational departments. TO draw up
the proposed legislation.
A substitute resolution was offered providing
for the appointment of committee Of ten by
the Governor 10 report to the Legislature a plan
for the unihcaton of all the educational inter
ests of the State. Both the resolution and its
substitute were after some debate, referred to
q committee Of the Convocation. with direction
BISHOP DoANE's ADDRESS.
The Right Rev. w. c. Doane. Protestant
Episcopal Bishop Of Albany and Vice Chancellor
Of the University presided at the meeting. He
opened the meeting with a brief address. in
which he expressed the hope that the debate
would be conducted in candid but temperate
shirt He did not think there was so much d.
vergence Of views on this subject OF the unifca-
ton OF the school systems of the State as people
asserted Whitelaw Reid, one of the Regents,
had made il plain at the meeting Of the Convoca-
ton last night that no Regent had a right TO
sneak for any except himself. He (the
Bishop would be sorry II any one supposed that
the Regents were not willing cheerfully to sub
nit to anything the Legislature might do toward
uniting the school systems of the State 1t had
been said that the Regents and the Superintend-
ent of Public instruction were the creatures of
the Legislature. He denied that They were Great
ures only Of God. 70 whom the Legislature had
delegated certain powers. He thought 1t would
be absolutely proper for the Convocation TO pass
resolutions expressing its opinion on this subject
Of the unifcation Of the system Of education.
Bishop Doane then read to the Convocation
the following dispatch which he had received
from Governor Roosevelt:
East Las Vegas, n. NJ. June 81 1899
Vice Chancellor Doane, Albany, n. Y.
Deeply regret inability TO be present. | re-
gard the unifcation Of our educational systems
along proper lines as of the highest Importance
for nothing concerns the State more closely than
perfecting its educational methods
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Mr. SKINNER OPENS DEBATE
The debate was begun by Charles R. Skinner
the Superintendent Of Public Instruction, who
said in part:
Everybody familiar with the present educational
situation In this State knows that the conditions
frictfone ana continued friction means a breaking
eow'h OF the machinery We All want uniGatio ION
hn unite in securing such IMPLICATION 1t T b 6s
iii thoughtfui educators is the highest welfare OF
ens shouS Control What is best FOR the State
what is best for education. alone should govern
be described broadly and dispassonatey. The CUES
on is p9t h loss to ia ars Than G me eer
what is for the highest good Of the State should
BE- ne S1fs e65 IS nO paeua
but OF legitimate jurisdiction and proper gov
What is unihcation? Unhcation OF State school
system means that all public schools maintained IN
placed Under one administrative head; Locate that
head where a you T Raf be d harmony
cured and friction averted
Mr.. Skinner then expressed his opposition to
the proposal 10 have the State Superintendent OF
Public instruction elected by the Regents. Such
a plan would mean the absorption OF the De-
partment Of Public Instruction by the Depart
nent of Regents of the University. and ne did
not believe this transfer Of jurisdiction" would
be authorized by the people of the State. He
knew Of no reason why the high schools should
not be transferred TO the care of the superin-
tendent Of Public Instruction. Mr. Skinner con-
Guided his address by asking. What VIII unin-
cation do?" and answered it as follows:
First-It will place under the absolute control of Of
state holds itself responsible. .,,..
seconaI will simplify aamns'Ta aTeTen donbie
sgersi9n % sa afs h that the
hTh SCHOOLS are to be considered as apart from the
public school system Of the state 1t WI D tb
are safest II will relate them 10 all schools IN me
system that by natural steps the Nay VIII S
give to all the schools the sympathy and cooper "a
ion Of the high scn90i SS si5 the State is en-
ForIbt viii settle definitely the boundaries Of
h o f1,s work Of the educational departments
OF the state determine their power ana prec ,sa
and fb1s secure what we so earnestly seek-har-
mcny and efficiency
TAKE SCHOOLS OUT OF POLITICS.
Professor H. p. Warren. Of the Albany Acad-
ernv. then read letter from Andrew s Draper
former Superintendent of Public Instruction in
which he said in part:
am hound TO say that ] have never felt as
strongly as many others have that this dual system
WAS anomalous or hurtfUl TO the educational IN
terests of the State ! think great and GOOD re-
sults have accrued from it. But the fact stanolng
unanimous desire that the two educational depart
rnents shall in some way be brought together IS
fronI his there are two considerations. which 70
my mind have some right FlIst , tnGre sf,enre
from edvca tionai work but also Of having all know
thst A. a. done This is surely coming. Al - d
good move New-York ought 10 help II on. am
not one Of those who abhor poticaI nnughSt orl
only saw there is no place for II In school woIk
The Regents nave been, am confident apsoluteg
free from trouble OF this kind. While CHOSEN IN
,be same wav As the State Superintendent the con-
We SAINT dcayenf Sc soon as chosen They have