New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-13
OPPOSITE OBJECTIONS.
NnunaI Separation Between THO
Glasses of School Work.

Albany, Jan u speciaD.-Two objections
have been raised against the Governors plan TO
continue the two educational departments of the
state and 10 establish clearly the line OF de-
narration that existed from 1873 TO 1893.
These objections are:
First-That supervision OF the elementary
work by the Department Of Public Instruction
and the academic work by The Regents produces
q gap or a breach in the work that IS exceed
ingly harmful
Secondhand the elementary work and the
academic work are too closely related, ere car
ried on IN the same buildings and sometimes by
the same teachers. Notwithstanding the fact that
the gap-producing supervision has been in force
fer more than half century.
Both OF these Numerically opposite objections
seem 10 ignore entirely the fact that the course
OF study in any union free school district is
established by the local board, and is made a
continuous whole, from the kindergarten to the
end Of the high school. II there Were gap the
local board would be responsible for 1t; but that
there il no gap is shown by the second oojec-
ton.
The fact that the two departments OF school
are conducted In the same building presents no
valid objection to the proposed line of demarca-
zion and the same may be said Of the fact that
fn some cases the same teacher may give in
struction TO both academic and preacadernic
classes. The State Treasurer's Office and the
ONCE OF the Superintendent OF Public Works are
n the same building. but friction results from
that fact. For many years employees OF the State
whose principal duties were in connection with
the Regents Office were frequently employed by
the Department OF Public instruction in teach
srs' institutes, thus working portion OF the
time under the supervision OF the Regents and
portion of the time under that Of the Depart
ment OF Public Instructions condition that
produced no friction and presented no difficult
ties It IS well known that in the larger city
systems. notably in Buffalo and in New-York
CITY. separate supervising officers are employed
for the elementary work and for the high
schools and that the same principle has been
applied with excellent results in Minnesota and
other States II is well known that this division
Of function goes even further, in the employment
of supervisors of special branches, SUCH as
music Drawing manual training and English
and that no friction results and no complications
arise therefrom.
Double supervision and its resulting friction
exist when the work is subjected to the
supervision OF two different departments. having
different ideas as to the STANDARDS TO be at
tanned II all high school courses were subject
10 the Regents as the Governor proposes. the
fact that such courses are conducted IN the same
building even by the same teachers as the
elementary courses would offer no difficulty
whatever.
The Governor followed In his message the prin-
ciple clearly stated by Andrew S. Draper in his
annual report State Superintendent for 1889.
as follows:
deem II proper to say that reflection and
experience convince me that the arrangement
which has so long existed in this State by which
the common school interests administered
and supervised by this department Cthe Depart
msnt of Public Instruction. and the academic
interests by the Board OF Regents Of the Uni
versity is a wise and useful one. Between these
two classes of school work there is a natural
and well defined line of separation.