New-York tribune., 1903-03-20
PRESIDENT DRAPER's POSITION.
u. Save His Views on Educational Unlhca'
ton Are Unchanged.

To the Editor Of The Tribune Ill. b..4-
60, - Co+ur5av's issue there is an article heau-
Cd ..rraper's Views Change, SAID 10 Ha'7 -
eiven out by the State Board OF Regents ]" W.. 49,
e. r,aip nurpose is to convict me II lnconslste.-
views touching the "unlfylng O. 'Ii
State educational departments
7, what nu-ports to be the Regents =tateHieli' )
t saId that NV recent letter 70 Mr. Skinner SET
forth nv opposition to any form OF uilS-'ioh
tba two educational departments The letter -
published in full, and bears no such Cons'rueHon
The statement sets forth that advised uhlncN-
tion before the educational committee 'I " W
stItuttonaI Convention In 1884 advised me ap-
pointment OF the Superintendent by lne ns4ell-s. ~
but coupled it with protest against any lesseh"s
of his statutory powers
It sets forth part of a letter written At 'ii7
ucitation Of the Regents Office. To the NH''e'sls
convocation in 1899 recommending the apPoiALiIei'-
~ the superfntendent by the Regents. and oml'S
the part Of the same letter IN which say i"7
administration Of the affairs OF the more IH1I
eleven thousand school districts can only Ae EN-
cient through authority which can settle disputes
speedUy fnexpensively and conCIuSlVfN-
,Tha purpose Of the state 10 assure good eT
mentary school within reach OF every nome WI,
frequently be defeated unless one man Is u-S''I
to exercise the power Of the state ProhlV'LE a.
decisiyely Under this plan there has grow.
up a vast system OF elementary schools of ma 'As1
and very uniform excellence. and II Is u Or iV
yered, upheld and improved
1t is no crime to change opinions, but mine upon
subject have not even NObOleu lu NVtl
Retyeen NV suggestion 20 the committee OF l'o
Constitutional Convention. my letter Of iS9 70 ''
university convocation OF which you publish Only
part and my letter OF last week % ME- S,ii'I'''
there Is no element OF Inconsistency
l have favored giving the Regents the "a.
power TO appoint the Superintendent in the nope ..
doing away with all ground for the charge tha'
partisan influences intrude into the school system
as we'll as In the hope that man appointed oy
the Regents would work with them without ms
friction which my experience has led me TO oe'is''
Is unnecessary. -,
have never favored. and have ut all tlnleS U'
tnctly opposed. giving the Regents the power ~
direct the Superinte ndent. for know the necessl'
of freedom and independence to the proper PEI
formance OF executive duties. l would not 'aN
away the distinguishing characteristics when -
TO make the Nev-York public school system tl'
most efficient In the country I would not pTecRSla
tate confusion needlessly by making on1cleLe 80
compleX system OF laws relating to the Depart
OF Public instruction, which have been &C -,
IatInR through 1fty years. and when nave 80
construed. sentence by sSntenSGe. IN TIE
Since leaving the State have rerrallfu 80
shtr,lding nv views upon the good people oL -
state and have spoken only when crcuHls' 49,
have forced me. Ny suggestions may lGt .ha.S
hesn wise but they have been consistent TO thoSe
who know little OF the subject ana VINO o'to -
glance at the surface OF things, they may seem ma
conflict but those who Informed, tncInglls -
Regents once, know better: And would L'r no -
nosai Is about all that be carried out go
Safaty and that that Is practicable, ana EHu1d
to very desirable results A - phAFH
Champaign. III. March 1S. 1903.