New-York tribune., 1903-02-17
THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

There are welcome indications that the recent
address of the Regents of the University TO
the Governor, the legislature and the people of
the State of New-York advising and requesting
that the exclusive power and duty Of supervis-
ing public education should be committed to
their board, has thus far produced favorable
IMPRESSION The Regents took this course with
sorte reluctance. While they have always felt
that the dual system of school administration
was inadvisable. because it involved some
duplication of effort, some unnecessary expense,
some confusion of authority and, without fault
of theirs, some friction and bitterness of feel
ing. they have at the same time believed that
il might work satisfactor If both sides were
equally actuated by an unselish purpose to
make the best of it. and above all, TO keep the
schools out of politics. They have been con-
scious of an earnest desire 10 do their OWE full
share toward the accomplishment of those OBJ
jects. and have hoped that the Department of
Public instruction might be led to embrace the
same view and policy. But after short inter
val of comparative quiescence they have seen
that department seeking TO revive its old con-
troversies and 10 consolidate political interests
in support of its effort TO usurp functions out
side OF its province They have, therefore,
finally determined that an unavoidable obliga-
ton required them TO make Il frank declara-
ton of what in their judgment the permanent
welfare of the schools demands, and respect
fully 10 put upon the legislature, under the
guidance cf public sentiment, the responsibility
of adopting or rejecting their advice
The Regents are elected for life, and conse-
quently are under 10 necessity or temptation TO
conciliate. on their own account the good viii
Of the legislature or of any politician. They
serve without pay end at some expense 10
themselves and hence no avaricious inclination
can possibly affect their performance of duties
which they gladly discharge for the sake of
serving the State but. except for that obliga-
ton. would in most instances prefer 10 relin-
quish The record of more than century sns-
tains Governor OdeIl's assertion that they have
been absolutely without partisanship and actu-
lated by the highest motives and the purest
sentiment" The Superintendent of Public In
struction is elected by the legislature for only
three years. Conclusive proofs of wisdom, eff
cheney and disinterestedness ought TO be re-
garded constituting a stronger claim 10 re-
election than political acceptability to the ma
jority of legislature; but, human nature be
ing what ii is. the tenure almost inevitably de-
pendS on lower considerations Party afiiiia-
| tions, calculations of e1pediency and the mani
fold influences which have their roots in politics
more or less virulently infect the administration
Of the schools under the present system, and
! poison it in exact proportion TO the extent to
which they are present The incumbent OF an
office so bestowed ought not to be too harshly
Judged when he employs such methods to re-
tain it. The public should reflect that it could
| hardly be otherwise.
But the unfortunate and ominous fact re,
mains that the schools, instead of being kept
out Of politics by the existing arrangement, are
necessarily kept in politics thereby, and that
nearly every successive session witnesses some
attempt to put them in deeper 1t is because
the Regents of the University painfully realize