New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
CELEBRATE FOUNDING OF LECTURES.
Well Known Speakers Observe Fifteenth
Anniversary Of Free Public Courses.

The fifteenth anniversary of the founding OF
public lectures by the Board of Education vas
celebrated last night with reception and dinner
at the Hotel Aston. Among those present in addi-
ton TO the lecturers and superintendent were
President Henry y. Tiff of the Board OF Educa-
ton. Superintendent Maxwell. President Finley oe
the College of the City OF New-York. DIT. Darling
ton, Commissioner of Health; Edward Lauterbach.
DR.. Henry NJ. Leipzger. Supervisor OF Lectures.
Commissioner William LumHis. chairman OF the
committee on lectures of the Board Of Education;
Commissioners Frank Wilsey, Nicholas J. Barrett
and other members OF the Board OF Education
At the dinner which followed the reception John
Lloyd Thomas acted as POSTMASTER and amo a.
the speakers We're President Tift. DIT. Maxwell,
DR.. LeipzIger. President Finley. Commissioners
Bummis. Wilsey and Barrett. After the toast5
the following chief lecturers spoke briefly upon the
work of the lecturers in their particular subjects
and the interest evidenced by the auditors: A. T.
Van Laer Art; Dr.. Ernest r Won Nardrofi.
''Science"; Dr. Thomas Darlington. Health; Dr..
William I. FelJer, principal Of the Brooklyn Girls
High School, Literature; Professor Guy Carlton
Lee. of Johns Hopkins University. History" and
Mrs. Ellen NJ. Staples. The Women n the Public
Lectures"
Dr. Henry NJ. Ieipzige- said in part:
The fifteenth year Of the public lecture courses
maintained by the city takes place during the
in New-YoTk What a far cry it is from the
opening of a little school in 1875. with less
pauper chiIdrea, to public educational system
which has SEQ schools, attended by $4,000 boys
and girls. and having among its school build
inSS one which Will cost when completed about
&5O00O0. And the most notable part of that advance
has been in the last twenty years, for during that
period the curriculum OF the school has been trans
curriculum of the school has been brOadened IN
accordance with the true princiPlesthat education
should prepare for lie. not for examinations THAT
il should be in harmony with the prevailing and
constantly changing Industrial and social COnCl-
tiOns.
The public school should occupy the most beaUti-
ful building in the town, and the teachers IN tina
public school should be and Of Lla
nDeSt intelligence. the highest culture. and occupy
the highest social position When such conditions
prevail, when popular appreciation indicates that
the highest service that one can perform Is in the
service OF ching than indeed VIII the public
school become what the vision OF the dreamer
would have IL realize
Sixteen years ago. in six schOOIhouses the ex-
pertinent OF sI,.G education adults by means OF
lectures begun. II had been uutrled before
The experiment WAS doubted BY many. The cOudi-
lions under which IL was given not favOrablc.
one hundred and eighty-SiX lectures were given,
with Il total attendance of about 21o1o. Per
SStent endedNOr earnest faith faith In the people
rs we'll As faith in The project, has made IL possible
To realize the result which reCIce as the
facts concerning the season which closed last Sat
urday night. when 4.6t5 lectures were given 70
tOtIl attendance which reached ll55 90. The
pertinent was begun in the old city OF New-York.
now known the Borough of Manhattan When
the city was consolidated this beuehCent provision
Tor the education OF adults extended 20 all the
boTOUEhS, so that now Our messengers Of light and
leading erraldS OF love and truth 70 the
UttcrTrCsJ Bounds of our great metropolis.