New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-05
F" TEACHERS UNDERTAKE.
SO SIR W. RAMSAY S4YS.
Declares Educational System Is
Threatened by Lozc Grade Men.

Cnderpaid American Professors. Whether %
Science. Medicine. Law or TheoIogy''-was the
them OF q vigorous philippe launched bv Sir
"IIlaIn Ramsay last night, on the eve OE Ms
return 10 England II many OF his suri-nca
VINO had expected Sir William 70 eonfne hts
farewell address to the scheduled topic OF "some
experiences in Original Research" were sur
prlsed 20 hear him give else besides the results
OF MS general observations OF American eoudi-
tions, they little less than electrified az HIS
comment on the low pay OF professors in TIA
leading colleges universities and governments IN
stitu'ions in this country. The occasion was a
farewell dinner given in his honor al the Union
League Club. Brooklyn. by the physical science
department of the Brooklyn Institute OF ArtE
and Sciences
sir Williams audience included Professor H
" Wiley. OF the Department. OF Agriculture:
frederick W Atkinson president os the Poly
techn'c Institute. Brooklyn; Professors irving
". Fay. Charles F. Chandler. John S. Mckay.
IFeOeFlc D. Pratt. president OF the Pratt Insti-
'u1e' and Dr. William H. Nichols. all Of whom
spoke.
After giving an account OF his rsc-,4 ar
perlnents with radiUm Sir William said thar A.
had frequently come TO his notice that the RAT.
or pay or men employed IN scientific czpse-
ity was by no means equal to that which th.v
would have earned had they been engaged A.,
industrial pursuits On inquiry Il transoir.d
that not merely scientific men. but also tho..
engaged in the teaching OF law. OF medicine and
OF theology were, IN his opinion much und---
paid The effect Of such policy would newt
tally be to deter men capable OF taking ths
best position in their respective professions from
entering The calling OF teachers or OF scientific
interests Unless a man was certain Of earn
ing an income comparable with that earned By
one who has gained considerable success IN his
profession. il was unreasonable to suppose thaT
a young man would elect the PROFESSIONAL rather
than professional career. Il would be only
those who have reason TO doubt their capacity
70 rise IN their professions who viii elect pro-
ressOrtaI career This viii inevitably react uoo1
the training OF the future professional rn.n n.
the country For if trained by third rate teach
ers, II is unlikely that they win take the rank
which they would have taken had their teachers
been men OF first rate ability
ST William said il was not necessary Shas
every professor should earn high euaoIuuautz
but 1t was necessary that those who filed tho
most important places in the leading uni
versities OF the country should be we'll uaiS,
This would act stimulus tn the younger
men, and IN this way the level Of the profession
would be maintained
The speaker said that he had noticed that very
large sums had been given or left 10 teaching IN
situations in this country by numerous rich mens
that these sums have generally been applied TO
the erection OF buildings and sometimes 20 the
founding Of totally new institutions. While
commanding the spirit which leads TO such
benehCent gifts. the speaker suggested that IL
might be well for prospective donors to Increase
the emoluments OF the already existing chairs.
and If they wish 10 perpetuate their names in
connection with such gifts, these chairs could
easily be named after them-for example, the
CtIllLQ CEdlr or medicine. the Brown chair Of
jurisprudence, etc. In this way the name OF
the donor would be associated with that OF the
chair. and the object which the speaker adro-
Gated would have been gained.
The present condition OF affairs he said IN
less rennedied, would undoubtedly lead 20 the
towering OF the whole educational status OF the
country. He pointed to the example furnished
by Germany in this respect. where the leading
chairs IN the uni srsittes command a rate OF
pay comparable With that OF professional men,
and where in the smaller universities the ennoIu-
nents are such as 20 recOrpense the holders OF
chairs for their services and where the stimulus
IS applied OF gaining position IN one OF the
larger universities. where the enOluments are
higher and where the position is more Consider
able In England attempts are being made to
not unlike that which exists In America. and the
speaker counseled the Americans TO follow the
example OF Germany, which has been attended
with such remarkable effects
Sir William said that in his short visit here
he mas been much impressed with the grear
power OF organization displayed BY the leading
manufacturers and con- merCial men. a power
perhaps greater than that in any other country,
he said There was no lack OF ability IN the
young men OF the United States: they were
probably keensr and more inventive than those
OF other countries, but although the opening for
clever Young men in industry and commercial
pursuits was probably greater than that fur
nished in any other country. unless some such
means as those suggested were adopted. there
could be little doubt thar the education of the
younger generation would fail to produce men
capable OF occupying such highly renrunerativs
industrial and commercial positions