New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-22
CORNELL AND THE STATE.

PRESIDENT sCHURMAN DEFENDS THE UNI
vERsITYs CLAIM TO A GRANT FOR
A SCHOOL OF PEDAGOGY.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: An editorial entitled "New-York Col
leges and the State" which appeared in your
Issue Of the 18th inst opens as follows:
Much opposition is manifested in the various
colleges Of New-York TO Senator Whites bill ap-
propriating large sum Of money for the estab-
lishment by the State Of a school Of pedagogy at
Cornell University. It is declared to amount to
unjust discrimination against other equally de-
serving and less wealthy institutions, which
the State what Cornell asks the State to 90 for
It The supporters Of other colleges say that
Cornell has no more claim on the public treas
UTy than they.
And after further elaboration Of these and
Kindred matters, the article proceeds:
Cornell has already received large gifts from
the State for work needed by the State, which
private enterprise was not likely to undertake.
The establishment Of School Of Forestry
wise and proper. The Veterinary School has not
seemed so well justified for the number of stu
cents is reported 70 De insignificant IN Compare
son with the public money spent. These appro-
priations should not be precedent. Cornell has
no claim on the State which other colleges do
not possess. 1t is true she gives many free
scholarships, but in that she is merely carrying
out the contract by which she received vast
landed domain, which IS of the principal
sources Of her wealth.
IN the passages extracted, and indeed. in the
article throughout. the establishment Of State
pedagogical college at Cornell is treated as
special favor to that institution and unwar-
Tanted discrimination against similar institu-
tons in the State. regret that The Tribune
whose voice very justly carries such great
weight in all educational matters, should, of
course, unwittingly, have so gravely misrepre-
sented the position Of Cornell University. And
I co1fif hot all oN
justice and devotion TO truth and fact will in
duce you 10 give some prominence to this correc-
lion Of the error into which you have been I'M
fortunately misled
When it is argued that Cornell can make no
claim the State for the establishment of a
pedagogical school which other colleges cannot
urge with equal force, it is overlooked that the
proposed pedagogical school at Cornell is
plan for the solution of problem that exists
al Cornell and nowhere elsa problem which
was created by the State, and which the State
therefore, is under obligation, in some equitable
fashion, to settle adjust.
Let me state the facts IN which the idea of
this pedagogical school had its origin. When the
university was founded, a generation ago. it
agreed to take student annually from
each Of the 12S Assembly Districts of the
State without charge for tuition. After
ward, Of its volition, but at the sug-
gestion Of the State authorities, the university
agreed 10 keep each Of these students four
years, thus raising the number of free State
scholarships from 12S to 4X12S, or 512. The
faucatlon OF students here costs the university
On an average about $500 each. Our expenditure
on this education Of free State scholars. there
1ele, aggregated annually over $4,000. For
This service the university received the Federal
sand grant to New-YoTk. The total value Of this
vast landed domain Ito quote the language of
.our editoriaD amounts to something over $780,
pto-the figures having been judicially deter
mined by the NeW-York Court of Appeals and
me United States Supreme Court
Great as is the disparity between that Federal
slant and the universities expenditures on be-
half OF State scholars, we have rejoiced that the
KITS OF private benefactors and the increment Of
capital created by able and farsghted Board
o. Trustees have enabled TO furnish those
elolars with good education and that along
many different lines. And one doubt
mat the university has fulfilled all its Obliga
lions, loyalty and efficiently.
But the Constitution OF the State in
Efeases the number Of Assembly districts from
~ TO 80. The Superintendent OF Public In
struction, who on the basis Of a competitive eX-
animation, assigns all free scholarships at Cor
nell must adjust his office TO the new Consttu-
Ton. On the other hand no additional burden
should be put on Cornell University account
Of the increase which the new Constitution
makes in the number Of our Assemblymen and
Senator's.
were held between the Superintendent Of Public
Instruction and the Board Of Trustees Of Cor
nell University II appeared that the State
Jiseded normal or pedagogical school for the
training OF its higher teachers and superjn-
1endents, and that Cornell was willing TO admin
lister such an institution behalf OF the State
as Il now administers without deriving a cent
- profit the State Colleges OF Forestry and
Veterinary Medicine. And in view Of the great
educational utility Of such higher training
school for teachers and Of the honor and at least
Indirect advantage IL would bring to uni
Versity with which the State might connect it, it
was Unanimously agreed by the Board OF Trus-
tees that If the State would plant such an In
Ettution I'm Ithaca and intrust its Administrative
10 Cornell University, the university would vol
unfairly increase the number Of free State
scholarships from 512 10 800 4/12S TO 4r<150).
To this the Superintendent OF Public instruction
gave his cordial consent and approval and he
subsequently, recommended the scheme in his
annual report.
The pan OF a State pedagogical college is the
%isest Han-the plan most useful 10 the State
which the conferrees could think OF for the sOlu
ton Of the problem created by the State at Cor
EIGlI l. -n..r z. HEAr.Aal L.