New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-07
addresses State Teachers ASsocia-
ton at ithaca.


sentiment has disposed me present my first for
ma! public address as Commissioner OF Education
TO this association.
DR.. Draper traced the rise of the universities
and the public schools. The former, he said,
were aristocratlc and the latter democratic,
There has. therefore, been inevitable sepa-
rateness between the higher and elementary
educational work
sEPARATENEsS MUST DISAPPEAR.
Commissioner Draper continued;
Except for the influence Of the very modern and
bE eggg decisive democratic advance the accepted
Itself It has maintained the substance and the
Il has been seIf-contalned. has resisted outside
thouSht Its work has been almost wholly phil
osophlcal ana intolerantly dogmattc II IT has
STOOD Tor research II has not stood for teaching
~ II was the home OF science, It did little to apply
people II did not look TO the masses for its sup
where its support came from The accepted ee-
mentary school Is product OF the democratic ad-
hihted from meddling with matters not impera-
tive 70 good citizenship ana about which men and
won women VIII always differ. It Is supported and
managed oE al the people, and irs business is 10
rIllI. eDeTy cId OF us uelShnorhoou ana give an
practicable help TO every intellectual ana moral in
a.. 70 Try sat-Ie OF 1ne case IL must qnGhly
NE w. e eooIIlon5, defl!ng ana oGLooh OF me peo-
This separate9s te ms ms H ui6eT and d. the
elementary schools was ineitabie btii il must dis
appear fingers longer in the parts of our coun-
- Nv "'l Itlsultlols were lrst established ana
Wnere new Thought has to overcome fixed usage be
Iore Il can have its way. Educational separate
ther creed viii suffer-they are suffering now It
is the unwrttten .aw OF our land America does not
-ne thar he VINO Fe-s 9tl5,rs y,ost 5ei-,s 5osejF
the most, and that institutions which would make
me most OF their lives and so endure must give to
product and principle of American life
DIR. Draper next discussed separateness in
New-York. He said:
The 10 years from the English conquest OF New
Netherlands 20 the close Of the Revolution were
ia
IDEAS OF he English royal governors and the
schools and the common schools, with the result
~ 90 ~ III. "a ne ,t[1s 81 al
against the educational theories and hopes which
The commissioner referred 70 the rise OF the
Board Of Regents and the making OF a liberal
appropriation 10 establish system OF common
schools, and told OF the acute opposition TO the
control OF the peoples schools by the Regents.
Finally. independent administration decreed
and the state Department or Public Instruction
was established.
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ACT
After declaring that he had nothing TO DO with
starting or shaping tho Cniacaton act, Or.
Draper said;
I; my thoughts and feelings upon the subject ara
not disposed 10 DO away with the I!fe tenure Of the
10 7h ocs-1s 49, ne H , Aly re.4tions
superintendent we're among the pleasaatest Of my
.or me, and cherished and reclDrocated II. was
20 -st 20 wish 70 take rom any prominent citizen
mad bestowed upon him. or 10 he willing rein
service which such a citizen ana unseleshIy under
JaHen TO give On the other hand. I jealous
which had distinguished mat once everyh-ro and
/ did not want to annoy other people any more
man wanted other people TO annoy me 7 was not
FOR separateness in the work: bur looked upon tho
practicable and honsd Tor tho loser articulation of
organizations / was for dUletness and peace.
believed that there would be less separateneSs ana
barrier 20 concord. and stern necessity for war
u seems well that the record shall show what
r-!ize the conditions Which bgd rtnanad and shar1
ei'ed sentiment and made decisive Legislative action
II is cause for satisfaction that tho Unihcation
II II might 0e abused, there is nothing in II which
may not De used by rational executors 70 promote
lte very hlEaest educat-oqal advantage OF the
grave responsib5y which 'i must make its execu-
TORS move ciTeLl!Iy and THAT wisely executed II
CTS, u this opportunity was to be found If AZ nf
IN cordial and sympathetic relations between the
reoreanlzed Board Of Regents ana the new Com
missioner 81 education; and it did not need very
greet greet experience to show one thar such relations
4e9l sac tnroug4 n e!eLn-cut ana phllos9phicaI
ing the jrt@rest" az etafe V- P p' aIp p0 y
between to DO whatever. in educational way.
the law did not forbid and tho circumstances urged
as 10 the limits OF personal experience and Of Off
c!al discretion.
II was therefore proposed that the hoard should
exercise with al freedom OF Judgment. full legi6-
latvc authority not only over the advanced schools
over the elementary schools as we'll: should
initiate or pass upon any changes i'm state edIlca
OF educational activities OF the State that the
Commissioner should have fullest freedom in the
organization and administration OF the department.
and the execution OF all laws. not only the
elementary schools. but over the advanced schools
as well: that the board should continue 70 exercise
the corporate powers OF the University the state
Of New York, but only within ana part OF a
cial functions OF the Commissioner. upon appeals
taken him. should be conclusive. always. 1t
sisting and resenting ali influences IN the educa-
tionaI system which did not make for the uplifting
OF education; that we should draw upon all Of the
wisdom and experience there was In the crowd for
the wise and conservative guidance OF the educa-
tional work OF the State; that separatenesH should
disappear; that we should cut across old lines,
and bring every factor in the educational system
10 the aid every other factor; that in the
doing Of all this we should not wear each others
lives but save and uphold another to the end
that relat tons might be agreeable. administration
be made smooth and energies used accomplish
definite and desirable results.
II IL fell to the Commissioner to all this.
that was only because may be har-
mQnlous and more forward than eleven men even
when the eleven men are all thinking and feeling
the way. No sooner was it proposed than
in his place and warmly commended and
committed himself 70 IT: perfectly logical and
II. rather than the enactment Of a statute. the
real unification Of the NeW-Yor5 educational sys-
TEN had been effected.
DR. Draper then told OF the details OF or
ganizng the department since he had taken
office.
TIE FRITHJOF STARTS NORTH.
Trornsoe, Norway July s.-The Champ expedition
sailed from to-day the steamer Frithjof for
I'M {eT Off he aai