The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-28
SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLS.
USIETCA7ION DISCUSSED At THE CON-
location OF REGENTS.

Deputy. ID. r.. AInsworth. Favored Bring
ing All the schools OF the state Under
tho Supervision of the Board of Regents.
ALBANY. June 27.-For three hours this nf-
ternoon the $50 representatives NJ the STATE
educational system. who are gathered here
from every part Of the state In ntcuhr". oron
tho annual con ,n"ntion Of W" t..
tened to n discus.lou ~ the I,r,..
unity the supervision OF educuiioni r... cot"
now vested In the Regent and the Sta. .,ut,r.
intendent OF Public instruction Except on
the pa IT state Superintendent Of Public In.
structioh Charles II. Skinner and his deputy.
Dnnforth F. tinsworth. II wasthe opinion OF all
those who took part In the discussion that the
proposed unincation could best he accom-.
plishrd through the appointment'by the Re.
gents Of the Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton thus bringing all the schools In the State
under the care OF the Regents The opinion
OF tho convocation was well expressed by Re.
gent st Clair McKelway. who. at the concu-
sion Of the discussion offered the following
resolutions
R>soiv,d That it is the Judgment OF thi. convoca.
tion that the Superintendent Of Public instruction
should be elected by the Regents of the University
R''o,c'd. That this general statement he made
known 10 the next L. gislature with the sugge son
that in carrying II into effect the details of legisa
ton dealing with the existing departments might
well he recommended by a committee to be APP.
pointed by the Governor and to include representa-
tives from each Ut the two departments and from
the educational staff of the state.
Much surprise was manifeste ed that Supern-
tsndent skinner and his deputy. Mr.. Aims
worth. stood all alone in favor OF their conten-
ton that uniilcation could best be secured 10y
vesting tho supervision OF the 2.4OO high
schools in the State Department OF Public In
struction instead OF the Regents. who now
exercise IA jurisdiction over the high schools
Skinner said
we deceive ourselves If we imp CINE there Is
no friction i'll our educational system There
Is friction. and-continued friction means Il
breaking down OF the machinery. We all want
unincation. Utilization of u State school
system means. that .all public schools. main
tanned in whole or in part by public taxation.
should be placed under one administrative
head Locate that head where you will. but
make one head. In this way only can respon-
sibity be fixed. harmony secured and frc-
ton avoided. Cnifcation Of State system can
extend only to the pont where the State con-
eludss its legitimate work. State control is
the natural boundary. IL we 20 above or be-
yond that we shall always encounter Difficult
ties
catonal officer OF the State 1. known and II mat
tsrs AS little how he is chosen but the great ad-
the principle Of anihcation Of the state eduea:
tionsI , system Thc Regents Reg ssoneegtion Of
Of sR has tes Ss se saeir By
the Regents, Giving them this authority and
sa aas 1ss viii Ct Rs
hniflcation. Such plan would mean absorp-
msnt !Hs 70 h
Regents. 1t would mean intrustinR the pub
srSn aas but wh
public school system. This transfer OF juris-
dictton will never be authorized by the people
OF the state.
the Depart ment Of Put bile Instruction. Except
the apportonmsnt of money and inspection.
out the fostering 9are.ot the Regents, Can 1t
exist without the Department OF Public In
What will unincation do? II. will place un,
sehoois.io whose support the State holds It.
self RESPONSIBLE 1t will simplify administra.
prevent double SUPERVISION. inspection and
app ooid It will forever settle the
tenn Of the:State. 1t will bring the high schools
It viii relate them to ali ether schools in the
system. so that by natural steps the way, will
t" Civ. 10 ali the
cooperation OF the high sci ool teachers. whose
aid the lower schools need an which AID the
ini'ely at least the boundaries, OF the legiti:
the state. determine their powers and preclude
encroarhment by either on the province OF the
other, and thus secure what We 50 earnest
ly seek. harmony and efficiency"
ten .at Of Public in.,rnet99 Andrew 5
OF Illinois was read in which he favored the
appointment OF the Superintendent o: Public
prrsident William j. Milne of the State Nor.
nal College id Albany favored utilization IN
ta;c the place Of the SUPERINTENDENT Of
snt dfgnFtm"ns ThHs all tn. il, schools
the Regents the schools woud be entirely
removed from politics and al! friction in the
present dual supervision Of the schools. he
sad WORKED S great hardship mron; id ne
pass the Regents cxuminatIon a, well as that
Ssts d r%3G
believed in unincation. possibly through the
Regents. though he thought a commission Of
Governor, to ilves ticato the subject, and draft
Gromprehrnsive lay To- so;Yc the question !,
snWne tribute to 5If W Work the es sa
accomplishing and favored unifcation through
Dean James E. Russell Of the Teachers Col
lege. Columbia University. thought before the
to- should be appointed by the, Regents and
the SUPERINTENDENT of Puzzle Instruction to
Sn pa 6s t9T n3a
through the lseg,rn -. cr ,,.,
IrOt. Charles DE tIarmO oil cornell lnlvcr-
sity. &. " Bardecn OF Syracuse. PRINCIPAL
James Whine Of th9 roughkeepSie High school.
Principal W. d. Johnson OF the Co operstown
High School and Principal o. II. Burrtt OF tho
FRANKLIN Academy at Malone favored uninca-
ton through the Regents.
Deputy Superintendent OF Public Instruction
Danforth J.. Alnsworth closed the discussion
With sanstie cr,",Sm, Of the Rf r and their
OF Public Instruction. He retute1 the intma-
tons 81 SONG q the Regents that the SuperIn-
down politician outside OF the breasworks s.
whose sole desire was to continue to feed at tho
public crib. nor would he agree that
the employees Of the Department OF Pub
lie Instruction were POLITICIANS anxious
I" keer their positions. He referred
to n chapter In the last annual re-
port of the Regents which said there
were too many normal schools. which are un :
der the supervision OF the State Department OF
Public instruction. that teachers were gradu-
Hted without proper instruction, that tn" re-
ports 81 the common school district trusteos