New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-11
TUr NrW SCHOOL SyETEv.

TIE NEW SCHDOL SlSIEM.
TIE election Of the eleven Regents OF the
University who are 10 compose the new board
and Of Dr Andrew S. Draper as the first Com
sIoner Of Education was completed yesterday
IN Joint session Of the Senate and Assembly
Thus ends for the present at least mischiev-
Gus controversy which we hope will never be
revived. We said a fortnight ago, on the pas
sage OF the bill providing for a revision Of the
system Of public school administration, that it
would doubtless be the desire and purpose Of
the members Of the Board OF Regents who
might be selected under the new arrangement
TO serve the State TO the best Of their ability in
the future as they had done in the past There
is no reason, now that the selections have been
made, to modify that opinion or to fear that
the men about TO become associated for the first
time in the work Of the University will be
actuated by any different motive. OF the men,
bers Of the old board who have not been elect
ed to the new several have been unable 10 take
a continuously active share in its labors and
are presumably not unwilling TO retire. Ii may
be that even Chancellor Doane, who has never
spared time or strength in the performance Of
his duties, viii not regret that he has been re-
neved Of all responsibility for the success Of
a scheme which be has felt constrained TO crit
else severely; but his remaining colleagues viii
greatly miss his companionship and his coun-
sells.
President Draper Of the University Of Ini-
nois viii return TO the field Of activity in which
he earned an enviable reputation with the Rd-
vantage OF wider experience in educational
work with every incentive 10 restore and raise
the standard which he himself set as Superin-
tendent OF Public Instruction under the Ole sys-
TEN and with greater opportunities for use
fuluoSs than he then possessed. lie viii find
the board under whose supervision he is in a
measure placed, though with large independent
powers, anxious 10 cooperate with and sustain
him in every wise exercise Of his authority.
Above all. we hope he VIII invite and receive
its constant help i'm the indispensable task Of
taking and keeping the schools out Of politics
and politics out Of the schools As every one
who has attentively observed the proceedings
Of the Department u Public Instruction IS
aware. there has been. as a rule too much
use Of political methods and influences I'm the
administration OF the public schools. Nobody
knows that fact better than Dr. Draper, and
nobody has expressed frmer conviction Of
the evils arising from that source His early
political training gave him a clear insight into
all such matters, and Il IS greatly TO his credit
that when he became superintendent lie ap-
piled his knowledge and his authority TO the
eradication OF abuses which he might have
aggravated, perhaps 10 his own personal advan-
tage. He resisted DO slight pressure at that
time, and il IS impossible 10 suppose that he
Is more ready now than he was then 10 lend
himself 10 pernicious purposes.
II Is a fault Of the new system Of administra-
ton that IL leaves the public schools still eX-
posed 20 political exploitation. A Commissioners
Of Education who was willing 10 degrade them
to personal or partisan uses would not find II
hard 10 accomplish his object But Il Is a great
satisfaction 10 believe that under Or. Draper no
new law contains dangerous possibilities Il IS
capable OF being so administered as 10 produce
good results. Those on whom II devolves
heavy responsibility. whether they have opposed
or supported ii, must earnestly desire 10 make
81 successful