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

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| ronage would only give TO lis opponents. frs.
| handle for turning II out. ard then an excuse for
| following its example. Legislation merely 10 secure
! patronage belongs 10 the baser period In American
politics. and sooner or later brings It's own punish
! ment-generaly sooner Nothing is more certain
| unless human nature Is revolutionized. than that
the people OF New-York would resent the attempt
! 10 get party patronage out OF the public schools
and punish the party that tried IT,
The other reason for unfyLng by levelng down
that has been mentioned is that the control Of the
| educational system must he in the hands OF an
officer directly responsible 70 the people or the
Legislature. and capable Of being reached at every
election by the people OF the entire state 70 guard
against supposed danger that large sections OF the
public schools NAV fall under sectarian contro. II
the danger exists II is 10 he depored; but the way
| TO bring about what is apprehended would be pre-
cisely this plan proposed 70 prevent It, once put
! the schools into politics. depart from the one
| sheet-anchor OF our hope in all educational mat
ters. the absolute freedom from either partisan or
sectarian considerations. and your succumoing 10
the irresstibly carries with II the ultimate sue
cess Of the other
| | speak as 70 wise men and sincere men: judge
We The only motives that would control your
Judgment I am well assured. are the best standard
OF character and efficiency in the schools. ana the
widest opportunity for every son Of the people 10
get free the fullest education his apttudes invite
| and his circumstances permit. Keeping those fun
|
| II the proposal 10 unity under Superintendent OF
! Public Schools rather than under the Board OF
| Regents does not obviously involve at once these
three objections: The schools. and all or theH'
| from the primary 70 the high school and the col
| leee are Immediately brought under direct pohucat
control and made the football Of partisan victories
or defeats Next they endangered, In more
than one large community. ny the increased prooa-
| bIty thus entaied of ultimate sectarlan control
| And finally. in either case. but still more II oo'H
| calamtIes befan, the schools will more ana more
lose standing with people who are able to SEND
| their children elsewhere. Could a worse fortune
| for our noble educational system be devised than
! such a degradation should leave FOR pupils ony
1 those who could not get away? Could more mis-
! chievous condition be prepared for the community
than such a division from childhood into classes
and such an antagonsm of interest and feeling with
reference 10 the most vital concerns OF the state!
DISADVANTAGES OF UNREST.
u NAV fairly be said, think. that reflection In
| this general line within the last few months mas
| much diminished the prospect OF any successtui
unihcation by levelling down. But stu tnere are
| restless reformers who say that II the boarH OF
| Regents Is TO be the body under which me ur'lca
ton Is TO take place, then II too must be reformed
! souavbst This unrest, which Is a National char
| acteristic has led to vast good; but also some
times 70 serious evil. There Is no country IN ths
| world where II is more wholesome 10 recaH the
| old notion about standing sometimes on what has
We lose the habit Of letting well enough alone
| fall IN love with making changes for change sake
| ord for9et the warning sounded by the sage lie
Tocquevile nearly three Quarters OF century asO
against the American craze for lawmaKihs anu loi
| changing our laws. The Board OF Regents SUD
stant,aly as II now exists was constituted IN TINS
statA in 1874 II is insisted by those who want IN
| son,e WAY 10 evade the direct and simple metAod
| ~ unifvng our educational system that the
| whole system is put under the Board some chahse
| or another must nov be MADE IN the co'hpoS"o" VI
| the Board
o,a man thinks II Is overloaded with ornamental
.oAoio members and would be more business
| ike and practical without them But why? what
| DELAY have they ever caused? What possible harm
have they ever done? And while they can cause Ho
| DELAY and have done no harm. Is II entlrey sure
that there never can be time when the presence
| for example OF the Governor Of the state as an
| active member might not be OF use TO the boaru
| W. undertakes TO say that the Board charged 10
tester the educational interests OF the state ought
n he deprived OF the presence not on courtesy VI
! nv invitation, but as A member ana OF risht' ioi
consultation for advice and for action OF the uo'
| crnor OF the State because OF the strange hot'o"
| that when not needed or not present his member
| min vrouId be an obstruction. and would make the
| poard nm ,ieldv? Who undertakes 70 say as much
about the officer who prcsdes in the Senate "heFe
educational measures are considered, or ABOUT the
| Secretary Of State? ,
/
,een lie too great q number. and wants II reduced
| n afteen. and another TO ten. Why? Is there any
| evidence that body which our ancestors 'housh'
! suitable for its duties toward a population OF
million or less is now too numerous for popuia-
tion Of seven or eight millions? Are the educational
| interests 10 be considered so much sli"P'0'' '
| various and less difficult?
Another wants them appointed some other way
perhaps by the Governor. am not mere 70 cues
ton that educational appointments Dy the UoN-
srnor Of New-York whoever he may be at the
| t,ne might be expected TO work well. But II the
legislature is to be asked TO delegate It's power IN
| q matter which obviously ought not to be wholly
in the control OF any political majority at any one
time would It be easier or more natural 10 get II
| delegated 10 the body which is the creation ana
! slow and deliberate selection of the Legislature
| ,,salf or N the Governor Of the moment, who may
| 49, - artagonisrn 70 the Legislature. and who. at
| any rate would have to make his appointments in
| a lump
| Reorganize. then at any rate. say others ana
| get rid Of the old Since when have OLD men
been found disadvantageous IN councH! why a..
| the alleged old men in the way? Does any one
cav ,hov DELAY needed action? On the contrary Is
| not the current complaint about the Board among
/ ,he people who most ready 10 disturb H. hoO
| ono NJ sluggshness but OF pernicious activity
| Ubo are these incapable old men, anyway, VINO
must be got out OF the way TO prevent the onward
! march OF a reformed educational system Inc
| oldest in wears is certainly the youngest In our
Board or in the neghboring city where ne resides.
| rs there anybody who has encountered him IN de-
hate ready to say that Martin l. Townsend Is no
| longer abreast OF the times or efficient for the
| maintenance OF his own views? And after him.
where are those decrepit old men OF whom the
complaint is made? Aside from the Chancellor him
self the oldest in point Of service II not also In
wears is that venerable. broken-down, WORKOUT
| incapable whom the interests OF the public de-
rand 10 have removed from further meddllng in
,ho nublic service the junior Senator Of the United
states from the State OF New-York. Does poor
| Depew then lag superhuOus on the stage? And
who s tho brisk young person whom the reform
ing politicians think suitable 10 I'll his place
! on the Board of Regents?
| May we not wisely abandon the consideration OF
| ,hese va0aries7 Pussy change Is not necessarily