New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
PArERNALIsM IN EDUCATION.

A proposition is now before the Legislature
10 establish I'm connection with Union College
at Schenectady a school Of electrical engineer
ing al an initial cost Of Sl5a.00o. 10 be followed
by an annual maintenance appropriation of
$4,000. Why should the State of NewYork
embark in the business of electrical education:
We have nothing against electrical education
or Union College. We highly approve of both.
In many ways Schenectady. possessing as n
does vast electrical manufacturing establish
ments would he an admirable location for such
a school. and if new one is needed for the
progress Of science or the supply Of the demand
OF business for trained electricians no doubt
annie endowment could he secured from the
wealthy and progressive men interested i'm our
industrial advancement who are doing so much
for education. But why should the State Of
New-Gork at n time when public expenditures
are enormously overgrown and economy and
curtailment are the order Of the day, vote the
money Of the whole people for branch Of pro
fessional education which other institutions
already provide AZ private expense:
Several colleges in this State have schools Of
electrical engineering and il would be unjust
10 those institutions which have thus invested
large sums for public benefit in field never
considered withia the states province for the
Legislature 10 use money raised by taxation
Of their supporters 10 establish rival with
State prestige II New-York wants 10 go into
the business Of professional education I'm this
way the electrical schools already established
and doing good work will naturally ask share
Of the public support. Embarked on this policy.
there is no reason why the State should not 20
further and build schools Of other sciences.
Syracuse. for instance. has great chemical in
dusrries in connection with the salt wells. 4
State endowed school Of chemistry in connec-
tion with the university there would certainly
be demanded. The nurseries of the Flower City
are extensive. and Rochester might present
claims for the establishment of a school Of
horticulture. Ii might also wish a law school
10 take advantage Of the Appellate Court and
the State Law Library facilities for that
study. Medicine and landscape painting.
pharmacy and hOrseshOeing could also with
equal justice be taught ny the State in favor.
able localities. Some governments do embark
on such teaching. New-lOrk in some few in
stances has set a had precedent for itself.
Following that bad precedent. however. means
the breaking down of our old system OF higher
education, the Encouragement and even destruc-
tiOn of the institutions which have reflected
credit on us. and the building up of eOnsoli
dated educational machine, doing az State ex-
accomplished. Is that sort Of socialism wise:
Year after year this question comes up in one
form or another as the ambition OF some col
lege outruns its resources and a more less
ingenious plea is made for State aid as an
exception 10 the rule Last year Cornell wanted
a State school of pedagogy, and now Union
wants State school Of electrical engineering
Electricity is not a science which the State for
the general welfare needs 20 teach. as II has
been argued IL needed 20 teach forestry II our
woodlands We're not 10 be destroyed and our
streams dried up. Electrical science is taught
almost everywhere. and there Is no need OF
paternalism for the advancement Of this partic-
ular sort Of knowledge. And where paternalsm
is unnecessary IL is a distinct evil IL teaches
the peOple-especially the wealthy-that they
need not concern themselves TO endow schools
or do other beneficial works but that the I'm
personal State will do il all az the expense OF
the poor as well as the rich taxpayers while
each person selflshly devOtes himself 10 his per
sonal concerns. That Is not the spirit Of citi-
zenship or the practice Of statecraft which has
developed the individual enterprise hitherto
happily characteristic Of our civilization.