The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Ilfl, This letter was rlotiwfl l'Y UW WWW fflffl the Tribime, the latter of which joined in critiei:-sing the City Superintendent of Schools Iwi-:mee yu. very indiscreetly gave his lllflUl'SCZlllIfl'll, in 414, vance, etc., The City Siipeririteriderzfs reply expressed thanks to Mr. Banta for calling his attention U, the matters contained in his letter. Letters approving the Presidents course Came in from fellow trustees, vice-presidents and mem- bers of the Society. One trustee characterized the articles in H arper's M agazine as extra. ordinary i and atrocious, another as utterly superficial and common-place, a third regrets that education in this city should be entrusted te Hrnamby-pamby mediocrity. One vice-presi. dent is pleased at this exposure of such mis- representations and falsiiications of history, and another thinks it a shame and an outrage to parade the effusions of janvier as 'history. ' A former vice-president Writes that he has been at once amused and disgusted at these articles, which are amazingly inaccurate. From the foregoing it appears most unmis- l3akab1Y that 3 Strong, sensitive and jealous Dutch patriotism slumbers just below the Sw-. face of the Holland Society, and needs but- the right impulse to start into vigorous action, 'D ,fe

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I 1 3 so that popular education was the rule. The Netherlands, as soon as they became a republic, insured their spiritual independence by immediately establishing institutions of education. They founded universities in Leyden, Frane- ker, Groningen, Utrecht, and Harderwyckf' Prof. Andrew S. Draper, New York State Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, in a paper published in the Educational Review, April, 1892, conclusively shows that New York, under the Dutch settlers, was the pioneer in public-school instruction and far in advance of Massachu- setts. He makes one significantx statement: With the dominance of the English government came the English educational theories and policy-high schools for the few, no schools for the people. There is no space here to 'treat of facts in detail. With only a temporary interruption, the English government exercised control over -this terri- tory from 1664 down to the Revolution. No one can show' any act or any disposition on the part of that government, during that century, to promote popular education in New York. The Dutch continued in their local schools so far as they could, in the absence of help from, and even against the opposition of, the government. ' I might continue indefinitely and quote scores of other calumnies and misrepresentations with which these articles teem, for the whole forty pages breathe only the spiritof defamation, and show the evident purpose to besmirch the character of the Dutch settlers of New York, but I have said enough, I think, to evidence that I, am justified, at least, on behalf of our citizens of Dutcliffdescent, in indig- nantly protesting against our public-school system. being used to give standing to this slanderer of our city on this quarter-millennial anniversary of its charter. I must assume that you had notread these articles on which I have commented, and that when you do so you will recognize that its author is not a .proper person to teach the history of the city's foundation to the children of the city, and that you will withdraw your official en- dorsement of this calumniator-Q Yours truly, 4 Qsignedj THEODORE M. BANTA. 8

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I VA I ' V 'I N V 1 , v- . 55,65 , 3 rp ' , ,p . 3 , JJ J! fs . 93922 ? sky Q49 iWD1p, 5x Ss' . '. - E Q A . .1 Q: - - , mt tw- - vi H . , f F Q4 Lys ' al' 3 - xiii! Q e from ff V-I: ,V Y'-N rf' A f on ' fbi ' -'i-1j,f,,1,q 2 j1.,4f N '-1, Sis, ., 1 , ,s J? i T451 - V-Z ,av ' 593. J Q THE RELIEF OF LEYDEN COMMEMORATED AT THE PoUoHKEEPs1E DINNER 1, land Society have established an excel- i Q E lent custom in the celebration of that most Worthy and glorious historical event, the relief of beleaguered Leyden on the 3d of October, 1.7 54. They assemble year by year on Dctober 3d, and With Haring en Witbrood and it Hutspotn bring back the memories of that grand. test of patriotic endurance and steadfastnessg and anon With sweetbreads and ices, not to mention sundry sparkling beverages, they charm away the starv- ing past in the sight of the bounteous present. The President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Society are occasionally favored ,With invitations to this opening observance offfthe season, and right hospitable is the Welcome of Dutchess County's members. The new dining-room of the Nelson House at Poughkeepsie is the chosen spot, and its capacity is taxed to the utmost by the enthusiastic Hol- landers, Who keep step With history and tradition, and incidentally strengthen the bonds which bind them and the Society together. October 3d, 1903, Was Saturday, and therefore Monday, the fifth, Was selected for the Fourteenth Annual Dinner. 115 HE Dutchess County members of the Hol- i if