Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-11-23
\ MISTAKEN POLICY

The Graphic has great deal OF re
sneci for the opinions Of Hiram hnd
lev. hut Il begS to differ with him u
regard to the policy Of dispersion he
advocates touching the Institutions OF
higher learning In New Mexico. WIN
out doubt. New Mexico has made great
strides In an educational way since
New Mexico was separated from the
repuhlic Of Mexico. However poor
and Inadequate the present educational
facilities are they are more than eN'
listed when this great commonwealth
was province Of our revolutionary
pcighhor
An honor Is due to those who mh
the foundation for the public schools
of the state. deficient though they are
and not too well patroniZed 10y those
they are intended to instruct The
growth If the common schools may
leave something 10 he desired. but they
are established and the influx of set
tiers from progressive communities, re-
inforcing the progressive element al
ready In the state, will Tc Ia II that
there l. no turning back.
However. /; is folly To- place the com
mon school and the college on the
same basis l. g.. making the college a
local institution. ~ the public school
must always he. The university must
- centralized institution. drawing
a. II the learned of the world. Its stu
LrltS have not been in the past, ami
win not he In the future, the timid
stay-at.h homes who are afraid To launch
ont into the world-to cross seas II
neccsSary-to sit AT the feet of those
who know.
Mr.. Hadlcy'S sights are set too low.
He evidently has in view u Junior col
lcge rather than n real college or uni
,crSity. II 80. his point is well taken
Every community that now enjoys
onp-horSe institution Of higher cduca-
tion should he supporting out of its
own funds a junior college offering Ia
itS own citizens the advantages the
state institutions are now supposed to
offer. The small cities of the state
viii IN the near future consider this
plan rs il is being worked out In the
states that look well 10 the education
Of their young. Deming has now under
consideration such a plan.
Granting that the one-horSe colleges
Of the state du exert favorable Stimu
ms To- education, will not the junior col
lcgc do rs much and more: And will
not the con pqucnt freeing of higher
learning exert powerful influence to
ward Keeping our young people who de-
Sire real scholarship within the Stater
Mr. Hadlcv knows that those who
desire real college and university train
ing must. and do. go outside of the
state To- get IL. Many of these students
are permanently lost to Us. Mr.. Had
ley knows That not one college is ac-
credited In this state Does Mr.. Had
ley deny thar the present system is
waSteful Of the state funds; Does he
deny that there is an unnecessary du-
plication Of curricula. faculty and
equipment: Does he deny that our
faculties are second-rate? Does re-
deny that our regents are largely UNI
cultured men unintereSted IN higher
education except In political way:
Don't misunderstood the Graphic did
lot say that all the faculties and
the regents are ignorant men, Does
Mr.. IIadley deny that the institutions
lee would perpetuate are largely run
for political graft due 10 local fac.
lions and selfish interests? But. per
hapS, he has mn excuse for these things.
Perhap he j. more polite than the
president Of the University of Texas
who recently stated that Texas had
no educational system. and he proceed
eel To compare the sheet iron gymna-
stun az the Texas institution with
symnasia he had seen In northern uni
verSitieS
Mr. Hadley'S own love Of learning
speaks in his heart against the out.
grown aud diScredited system he Is
forcing his pen to defend He exertS
q considerable Influence on educational
policy in New Mexico yet he has ar
iayed himself on the side of provin.