The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-03-26

The sole reason advanced by tn,
Carnegie investigators why Yer
monthoulddo nothing for higher edu
cation is that the institutions whicl
have received state support for tht
past thirty years are not owned ant
controlled by the state According
to this report Vermont, like many
other states in the East, has never
established a state university, bui
Joined its land grant agricultural co
lege to an existing foundation, as
was done also in New York and New
jersey. State appropriations have
been made to three institutions, to
which specific fields of educational
endeayor have been assigned, and
also IN the form of state scholar
dhips in the three colleges. 1t Is
this practice which is condemned by
the report as unwise public policy.
There is no argument of the queS-
tim. but simply the flat dictum that
Id ts impossible for a state to find
any middle ground between absolute
Ownership and control of a single
institution and cutting itself loose
rom all connection with higher edu
cation. This, of course, is dogma
pure and simple.
We doubt If the Older American
commemorative, which have already
sufficiency of colleges and uni
versities on private foundations. are
shut up to such dilemma, If it is
true, III is certainly a thousand
Lities The Eastern colleges need
nore of the spirit OF the great in
situations of the West, and II
something of the zeal for public
service and the feeling of participa-
in the life Df the common
wealth, which has proved SO fruitful
and stimulating in Western institu-
tions, could come over the older en-
lowed colleges, 1t would render
thtm ia Tore useful. A state
should welcome the opportunity to
relate its colleges to its public
schools and make them an integral
part of its educational system. YER
mont is fortunate that Its colleges
believe themselves public institn-
tions of their state and should do
all II can to strengthen state con-
nection and stimulate the spirit OF
state service.
The theory OF the experts employ
ID by the Carnegie Foundation seem
10 be that there can be no co-opera-
ion between public and private
That Theory Is GER
.ainly belied by a thousand success
'ul examples OF the opposite practice
N every state in the East. In New
York City the municipality erected
100000 library on It's own land
appraised at 10000, 900. and made
,yer It's control to the trustees OF |
hree private foundations,to whom II |
100000 year. and
.ubjected them only to contract TO
maintain a free public library. New
fork neither owns nor controls the 1
ibrary, yet the city supports IL, and 4
s satisfied with the results. Over
lalf the libraries IN the State Of
Sew York which receive annual
tate appropriations, are administer
d under the same conditions. Mus
ums. hospitals, orphanages. homes
or defective. are all managed in |,
thousand instances thru the
cooperation OF public
Odies and private corporations.
Why not colleges and universities? |
We are not aware THAI either Johns
i3pkins or Cornell. or Dartmouth. I
7 the Massachusetts Institute Of
'a.hnUlogy, all Of which have re-
eiyed public grants for private adj
have either failed In
ducational efficiency or disappoini
q their public benefactors The \
iention pf those institutions GER
ainly disproves the statement OF
be Vermont report that contin-
aHce of safe aid gUald dry up |
be springs Of private philanthropy,
nce feR institutions have been
lore prospered from generous gifts
lan these which fair under the con-
Of the Carnegie principle. (
OF course state aid should be- ac- ,
1mpanied hy fun financial ac-
together With adequate In
Deciion BY qualified state officers
no direction uF lne expenditure OF
ne money II may be that Yer
iont has been negligent IN these
sepgets. bur II so the fault should
e corrased aud the state should
ot be advised moi 20 concern Itself |
lth higher education under any ,
II would be particn- !,
srly unfortunate IL the state of
enator Morrill,. whose bin creating !
md grant colleges did more 20 4
imuln;e higher education ga Amer l
a than any other educational act ,
the hifsory Of the nation. should :
come the only state IN the Amer
an union To make no provision !
hatsyer for higher education ,