New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-22
THRUST INTO POLITICS.
FEARS FOR THE RESULT OF THE UNI
FICATION COMMISSIONS SCHEME.
AN EARNEST PLEA TO SAVE THE NEW
YORK STATE SCHOOLS FROM
SIGH FATE
From The School Bulletin extra number).

SUCH FATE
From The School Bulletin extra number
The controlling majority Of the Governors School
Cnincation Commission have sadly betrayed the
confidence which educational people placed in them
Of their Scheme end Of the language either uncom-
pretending or disingenuous in which they have
ings mad foreshadowed. that they have cared little
for and given less heed 10 the views Of practical
experienced educators, but have adopted and put
forth plan which IN resultant II not intended
than the White biz Of last winter a deplorabe
subsection OF our educational system TO possible
ton
School men Will comprehend the situation and
will not for an instant be deceived by the Commits
soners misleading characterization Of their work
That fact alone Immediately dscredits II and sug-
vii usTste CONSCIOUS Gg that S afier having con-
structed a plan which would make every snpordi-
nate appointee Hereunder subject to the ultimate
autocratc control Of single man the accomplish
should be able to control that man, they well
knew they could not do II he was 10 be elected ny
power 10 elect is to be taken away from the Re-
gents and given 10 the Governor with conflrna ion
by the Senate That clearly can have other in
political bond servant. And with small ingenuity
purpose by saying 1T has been deemed wise that
the first Chancellor, upon whom will devolye the
responsibility Of starting. so TO speak the poltica
machinery now created. should he appointed oy the
Governor, by and with the advice and consent o,
which elected with reference 10 this duty.
THE RECORD OF THE REGENTS.
. That mas favor or TehTness especially, when hen
been elecung Observation-Disclosures meh-lrom
time TO time for over a century; that there are
members Of that Board whom in knowledge Of ana
ABILITY TO Judge men, ana IN unselhsh drV0'!oH "
the public welfare. the present admlfaoie Coy tSe
latter hlmsef was not Qot even so Hilch dfS, ny
present members OF the Board Of Regents) elected
ceilor Of the University out upon such shallow
pretence No one willingly will believe tnat NE
has given his o uIcS for and
obvjouslT Ijscbeyons depaTtuYe from the vital un-
DERIVING principle upon which alone a non-partlsan
administration Of our educational system can ne
founded and maintained.
Nor do the Commissioners obscure or divert at
tention from the essential purpose ana etect o1
Of the first Chancellor the Regents shall again have
the power Of election. What. In the ORDINARY
course Of events. would make the same Board OF
Regents more competent, eight years from now 10
elect a suitab bic Chancellor? The Regents Com
marks before the Governors Commission. indicated
the type Of men the Regents would select Tor tnat
high office can y be mat such dlscosuse Re
mined the Commissioners to take away from tle
the front? And does any ntelligent person oeheVee
that IT is seriously intended that the Regents shaH
once seized upon that prerogatye VIII easHy ma
The Governor was reported to have agreed that
Mr. McKeway had named the right Kind Of men
more likely by the Governor than by the Regents?
And II may be remembered that dihculles OF con-
ernors from naming the best men. as also they
have deferred such men from applying for or as &c
cepting nominations TO public positions, entrance
into or retention Of which must depend upon other
considerations than those OF personal merit anu
professional attachments
POLITICAL DOMINATION THE ISSUE
The action Of the majority Of the Governors
Commissioners will have one good effect; they have
viii be-, openly at least question TO whether
we should have unification at all Ihat II Is ue
which Will Immediately array people not for or
against unihcation, but for or against poIlca
That is the concrete controlling issue by which
ali minor questions Will he tested or reesated TO
The night il on. and soon 1t will be almost uniyer
sally perceived that safety and mghest useIu.Sss
require that the supervisory power anu ON b
over our unified state educational system must De
vested In a supervisory board constituted az is the
Board Of Regents so as 10 be beyond OUTSIDE con-
troll for unworthy purposes. 1919. ,-,, srob raroi
fvine and potential organization our vast educa,
tional system 10 fall under centralized pontcal
Son. Ipof,eaI influences from local management OF
public schools but We can ana mus, preNehy laesd
n ms ne who himself must rec
oenize and respond the orders OF the power
behind the throne"
PARTY CONTROL POLITICAL UNWIsDoM
Neither political party can afford to permit the
other to get control Of such political machinery
Nor either party o 4d the bi Repf be Sdum y
trying to do so. Disclaimers OF sucn neauoh w
nG 9u aT2u viii be held responsible for It's and
ne possibie consequences. The planest political
wisdom dictates that the Republicans, being now
TEMPORARILY in power should not only refrain from
doing or permitting TO be done anything that even
iooks IKE irving TO make the school system an
auxiliary 10 the party machinery, but that they
should afirmatively do all they can 70 put the
ecbools 50 far out Of politics that II Will never oe
noesible for the Democrats 70 control them TOT
School men we'll know the evils that political IN
reference with the school system would creatt
Newt 70 the children, who would be injured most
The teachers OF the State would suffer; ana they
sbouid arouse themselves and vigorously adVocaIe
1nfdcation as the Regents Committee proposed
which alone can be relied upon 10 AFFORD adequaLe.
rrotection 10 our schools and give them the most
helpful inspiring guidance . u.or,-y
Even though the Governors presennt nOot ~
the Communications Of lot OF teaenes.s',. .hbe
longer headed political managers VIII heed I. ~,
teacbers generally speak out Neither poIuu-aa
marty in this State Is strong enough TO Ignore In
iwet demands We commend 10 them prompt anu
cco1t,nued action until success IL assured