New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-29
THE EDUCATIONAL SCHEME.

The educational establishment bill on which
leading members OF the Senate and Assembly
are said TO have agreed and which is supposed
to embody the final views of the joint legis-
lative committee and 10 have received the GOV
ernOrs approval. may not pass so easily as
some Of its advocates expect 1t might IN
fact. be risky proceeding to push through IN
a hurry. as there IS talk Of doing, Il measure
Of the first Importance relating to a matter as
TO which there has been a wide divergence OF
official and general opinion for years and until
within a few days We hope that most OF
those who have engaged in the long contro-
versy will be ready To admit that the proposed
scheme has some excellent features. If enact
ed and carried out IN good faith, IL would
eventually accomplish a veritable unlncauon
Of school control, which has always been the
earnest desire Of intelligent and disinterested
citizens of this State But it appears to us that
I'm ifs present form there may 90 objections
which require careful consideration. Possibly
they would prove less formidable than they
now look. Perhaps It might be found that an
attempt TO change the scheme materially would
arouse fatal opposition to any plan for getting
rid of existing evils. in which case 1t would be
iudicious TO weigh the comparative advantages
of keeping on IN the old way or Of adopting
new way also faulty. At oil events, impartial
To do the best thing for the State, ought TO
precede legislative action.
The opinion is held 10y some lawyers Of repute
that Regents OF the University, elected for life
in conformity with the statute, cannot be con-
stitutionally elected from office at the pleasure
of the legislature. II that question should be
formally raised by any of the Regents. or by
anybody else, for that matter, those who Ike to
make trouble under a pretence Of helpfulness
would infallibly repeat the shabby misrepre-
sentation that such Regents are selhshly re-
solved to keep their places at all hazards. The
fact is that few OF the Regents would person
ally object 10 being lawfully relieved of the
unsolicited duties which were imposed upon
them by the legislature and which they have
performed to the best Of their ability at con-
siderable sacrifice. Still, the question OF con-
stitutionaIty ought to be intelligently consid-
cred in advance. instead Of being left to pro-
duce, perhaps. serious embarrassment here
after.
There is another important consideration re-
lating TO the intrinsic merits OF the plan pro-
posed. The ostensible desire OF all who have
Joined in the educational dispute has been TO
take and keep politics out Of the schools. But
a moments reflection suggests the inquiry, per-
tinently raised in our Albany correspondence
Yesterday, whether the election of an entirely
"new board by the present legislature, and the
selection Of an entirely new superintendent by
"the present legislature, and the organization
'of an entirely new system under the present
Legislature. do not seem to put the whole
school system OF the State, secondary educa-
"tion as well as primary, more completely in
1.-THE hands OF the politicians than ever" I'm
doubtedly, fortunate results under such an ar
rangement are attainable, and we hope that
it's sponsors are resolved to secure them. If
man fully qualified in all respects for the new
commissionership Of education should receive
and accept the appointment, there might be
nothing to regret. But II the legislature, either
owing to unforeseen complications or by pre-
vious continuance, should be compelled or per-
suaded TO fall back on unsuitable candidate,
the fixed condition OF things for six years TO
come might easily be as bad as anything
known hitherto. AS for the apportionment OF
the Regents among the judicial districts OF the
State, though its natural tendency would be to
increase rather than diminish the danger OF po-
liticaI interference In their selection still, II
is manlfestIy desirable on some accounts that
the board should fairly represent the various
parts of the commonwealth.
For obvious reasons. The Tribune is reluctant
TO find fault with plan of school administra-
ton which contains a promise Of unihcation
under a competent directing body and Of
permanent relief from the dlstracting con-
troversy which It has earnestly endeavored
TO help compose in the only rational manner.
We gladly acknowledge the good features Of
this latest measure, but we know that II ought
to be dealt with deliberately, and our impress
sion is that il may need to be amended in some
particulars.