The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-08

/ shall be- accredited and which schoo,
snail not lie accredited have at tn, lr
disposal neither the time nor the means
To do Justice either TO themselves or to
the schools or to those who wish iufor-
nation about schools Not only IL this
true hut the standards adopted by the
accrcditng boards In the different States
ami In the hffernt sa'tiuns OF the
United states differ 80 widely that the
system IL Of no practical value to those
VINO have reason to compare schools N
different States or sections
The Association OF Colleges and Second
airy schools OF the Southern States has
taken forward step In the appointment
OF its commission Oh accredited schools
thus extending one standard to the Oh
tire south Are we not ready to gO ono
step further and favor the plan uf the
Commissioner of Education, whereby the
bureau OF education IN Washington will
be enabled to do this work on "A national
basis This work may be done either
| by corps OF inspectors or by requiring
sworn statements ms TO results educational
such as are now required ms to results
financial. For the sake Of illustration
such questions as there might he asked .
How many graduates during the past ave
years? How many OF these have entered
college or other higher institutions? Name
! these Institutions. What percentage OF
the classes undertaken by these graduates
| during their first year In college was
successfully completed Give the percent
ago OF students returning each year for
the past I'VE years, SC. The COMMITS
sioner has made application to Congress
for funds with which TO do this work.
Tie private schools have not proved
money making Institutions II the men
now operating these schools were to go
into other lines OF business their average
earnings would be very much Increased.
This II statement made after much con-
siderntlon and without fear OF successful
contradiction. Both the men in the pub
lie schools and the men IN the colleges
have been too prone to look upon the
private school as "a very good business
II is true that some schools are compy-
cialized ard are making money. II is
also true that a few men are becoming
rich ir the management ~ good schools
But the average ability OF those doing
this work is high and the percentage OF
those making what they could make In
other lines In very small. The greatest
obstacle to the growth of efficiency IN
these schools Ia a lack OF money. If thls
Is true Il il pertinent to ask why IL II
true and to ask where tho mOre y is to
be had
First let us consider the great reaso,
for needing more money II tho law ~
supply and demand II operative In this
airy school should receive better COM
pensaton than docs the successful coll
lego professor. n college professor may
prove great success based on his echol-
arshp alone Such II not the case with
IN" school teacher In order for him TO
prove a great success he must have schol-
arship and far moro. He must he n man
OF strong personality. endowed with tact
and sympathy and huOyancy backed M
Ivy strong character and good habits Ia
the college tho professor has to do prl-
narily with the direction or tho Intellect
In tho school the teacher has 10 do pr
marlly with tho development ~ char1c-
ter. the formation Of habits. and In ndi'-
ton the development Of tho intellect. \
large number Of mon and women endowed
bv God with the qualifications ~ great
school teacher have had to give up this
great work because the immediate com
p,nsation was inadequate and tho future
too ypNertnI~ Not only are great school
teachers fsrIl ia ind. their average
length Of service n short. Their work Ia
far more wearing. Even " they could
last twenty-five years they have no Car
negle Foundation to come to the rescue
when the worn out time comes The
great reason for need OF moro money II
therefore to enable tho schools to got
and retain the services OF efficient work
ers.
Tho question very naturally arises as TO
the advisabii,y Of getting more money
hy charging higher rates for tuition. SC
There are two reasons for not doing this
one IN that the school entirely dependent
upon the fees collected from the patrons
il too dependent upon the whlms or It's
constituency and Is therefore IN posi-
tion where It Is difficult to dominate the