New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03
A SCUOOLUASTER'S WORK.


DR.. James Cameron Mackepzle's resignation
Of his place as head master of Lawrenceviilc
School. which Is announced elsewhere in this
mornings Tribune Is an incident OF more
than ordinary interest in the educational world
! 1t will come as a surprise TO most who hear oil
It. and will be regarded with general regret by
the friends of the school. because of the loss
that institution will suffer though with some
relief by the friends of the man. who know
how much he Is In need of rest after seventeen
years Of such labor as falls 10 the lot OF few
educators What the trustees Of the school
think Of it is expressed in their resolutions on
the subject which we print elsewhere and
which form a unique tribute to the head mas
fer. That he well deserves II will be unhesi-
tatingly declared by all who remember what
Lawrencevllle was when he took charge of 1t
and who know what it is to-day. That man
still not past middle age should have worked
SO long and achieved so much is a fact that
closely approaches the standard OF marvel.
1t is a grateful fact, too. In that it promises
prolonged usefulness for him in some other
place after season Of rest.
Apart from all personal considerations too,
the incident is of interest. as calling renewed
attention TO a department OF education too
much neglected in this country. We have. II
, IS true some admirable secondary schools,
the peers of any In the world. But their num-
bers are far too few In comparison with the
number of woud-be universities and in COM
parison with the need. Many an institution
which calls itself q college or university, and
whose instructors are styled professors. would
be OF greater value If 1t frankly confessed itself
q secondary school-hgh school, academy or
what not-and let the members of its faculty
be known simply as masters or teachers. 1t IS
no icnobe rank. that of the secondary school.
oxford and Cambridge may be the chief glory
of England's educational system. but Rugby
and Eton and Harrow and Blrecoats and Char
terhouse are scarcely less famous or less hon
ored 1t is not easy to find more illustrious
name on the roll of English educators than that
OF Arnold of Rugby. We need more such
schools and such schoolmasters In this country
10 give better training and education to those
whose schooling will extend no further, and bet
ter preparation TO those who go on to college or
university We have, as we have SAID some
schools Of that type. But for every one there
should be a dozen. 1t is because Dr. Mackenzie
has so successfully made Lawrenceville such
school that his resignation from 1t will COM
mand It's widest interest.
There are. II is true, many preparatory schools.
But the trouble is that they are handicapped
with poverty or are run on money-making
prlncipes and so do not attain the highest
benefcence of which they should be capable.
Their teachers are poorly paid, and thus are
not of the highest ability or else remain for
only short time using the school as a stopgap
In their careers. The need Is for secondary
schools of ample endowment so that they can
secure the best talent for their teaching stalls
and can hold it permanently. 1t ought to be
possible for an educator of the first rank to
find ample compensation and ample scope for
his lfes work and ambition In mastership
! in a secondary school, Such has often been the
case in the great English schools as the name
of Arnold reminds us. Perhaps more often,
! after from dozen to a score of years OF ser
vice. the master is promoted to some high
place in the universities or the Church. mus
Archbishops TAFT and Temple and Dean Brad
ley and Principal Sharp were masters at Rug
by and Archbishop Longley and Bishop Words
worth at Harrow The command Of such edu-
| Gators has been made possible at Lawrence
! VILE by the municent endowment of John c.
| Green and his family, and some, though not
many, other secondary schools enjoy similar adj
| yantages 1t would be a noble thing to have
their number multiplied tenfold There may
seem 10 be more glory for the gver in endow-
! ing q college" than a mere school" but 1t Is
BY no means certain that the latter would not
be Of at least equal benefcence to the COM
munty The secondary school and the school
master are the foundation Of all higher educa-
tion and no pains and no expense can be too
great for making that foundation as perfect as
possible.