New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-22
THE CASE OF THE ACADEMIES.
& Protest Against Discrimination in Respect
to a School Fund

Rochester, Dec. 2.-The non-sectarian academies
of the State recently appointed committee to
represent their interests before the special commit
tee Of the Senate and Assembly educational
affairs B. H. Roberts, Chesbrough Academy; the
Rev. DR.. George H Ball. Kenka Institute: the Rev.
Dr. T. G. Bisssll Genesee Wesleyan Seminary;
Hosea Clark, Marion Collegiate Institute. and F. l.
hanson, Cook Academy. This committee has pre-
pared for legislative and general consideration the
following petition, setting forth views as to the
rights ana just claims Of the academies:
Last winter the legislature appropriated 100000
for the payment Of the tuition academic studies
Of scholars Of academic grade from districts where
no scHool with academic facilities exist subject 10
the approval Of the Chancellor of the University
and the Superintendent of Public Instruction The
IeslSatuIe OF course designed this money primarily
10 benefit the students. who. rather than the
ruled if the Attorney General held tenable such
construction or the statute that scholars OF the
hents Of high schools. or Regents academies should
each share equally in the appropriation. while the
Superintendent rules that only such as attend the
academic department of high schools shall be bene-
nted on tns plea that academies are private in
sutuuons, and as such should not in any form
snare IN public funds, and, consequently, that
sehoIarS OF the specihed grade attending them
should be deprived OF all benefits offered in the APP
there is appeal from the ruling Of the Superin-
tendent, and as he declines to submit the to
scholars becomes absolute and final a school law
which LODGES such absolute power in one person
should certainly be amended.
TesPsotfulg protest mat this ruling is unjust
TO the academies as unjust TO the scholars.
1t is unfair TO the academies They have been
Of this State often 10 make good the lack of the
department OF public instruction in providing
schools Of a higher grade. The work done in these
academies is OF equally high grade at least with
the work done by other schools To throw dis
credit upon these schools is for the State 10 tear
down what its citizens have at great built up.
1t Is unjust to the scholars, many of whom live
in proximity to academies. without high schools
in the vicinity.
policy and practice of the State. unjust to tax
payers who wish to send their scholars TO
a
high school because Of distance and extra expense
and cruel to scholars thus practically excluded from
academic instruction.
To the ruling that these academies are private
institutions we object Regents academies are in
proper sense private institutions. They are
created under State control The millions of money
friends Of education have invested in them has
ceased be private property under private control
suspends operation the entire property reverts to
disposal Of the Regents OF the University of the
State To receive public money from the State for
eI.e me rs ~ he Taitsd nv npivate contribntion
chased by such funds belong to the State by rever
the laws ana rules enacted by the Regents Of the
University. In proper sense, therefore, are they
private institutions They are absolutely prohib-
fled from imposing any sectarian UNCONVENTIONAL
conditions IN the selection OF trustees. directors or
instructors, for the admission OF students;
though created by private benefactioLs they are
b fG 0 eTe % tne law 0e9 n9 10 the
istered for public advantage.
academies comes from the law more than from the
personnel OF administration. The law is wrong. 1t
offers temptation TO the chief officer rule des-
politically and for partisan purposes Few can
resist such temptation in a crisis. II vastly to
the interest Of education that the grand work done
by the Regents during the last century should not
be INSTRUCTED destroyed This discrimination
against academies should cease. The millions OF
dollars contributes to the cause OF public education
by private individuals should not be conhscated.
The taxpayers should be allowed o their
academic scholars 10 any public institution which
offers good academic Instruction and share in all
appropriations Of funds by the State toward the
payment of their tuition. This discrimina ton
should against academies under State control
nd against scholars that shall attend them
We request your committee to report a remedy
that shall prevent discrimination against academies
under State control. and against scholars and tax
payers who wish to enjoy their benefits.
First-That committee recommend
ments to the law that il shall plainly provide
that nonresident scholars Of academic grade at
tending any academy rated non-sectarian or any
academic department Of high school shall share
equally In the appropriation OF the legislature
ward paying their tuition
seeond-That the SPECIFIC sum allowed for each
and charge Of additional tuition be not prohibited