New York has a Unique Educational Plant 19 



The Museum is not alone in its need. The whole educa- 

 tional system of New York City and State has suffered in 

 the same way and from the same causes. The conditions 

 are nation-wide, and a situation has arisen where we are 

 compelled to take a very large and constructive view of 

 the future. The question of the hour in everyone's mind is 

 Americanization, and the wisest people are those who see 

 that Americanization is to be accomplished only through 

 the spiritual, moral, mental and physical training of our 

 youth according to American ideals. Education is a great 

 deal more than the three R's. So far as we are concerned, 

 it is inspiration as well as information; it is instruction in 

 local history, in geography and geology, in travel, in climatic 

 laws, in simple economics, in all that concerns health of 

 mind and body, in all branches of natural history, in all 

 that living nature has to tell our youth. 



Let us consider the Museum not by itself but as a part of 

 the educational system of a city destined to be the greatest 

 and we trust the most enlightened in the world. 



NEW YORK HAS A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL PLANT 



EDUCATION is the chief function of our City govern- 

 ment. On education the largest sums of money are ex- 

 pended, amounting during 1919, directly and 

 Educational indirectly, to $60,263,757.48. Our great educa- 

 o^New York tional plant includes free schools, colleges, 

 libraries, museums, scientifically arranged 

 parks and aquaria, free lectures and free concerts, designed 

 for instruction and inspiration. The combined attendance 

 of the schools and colleges in 1919 was 875,327. The com- 

 bined attendance of the museums, public library, scientific 

 parks and aquaria was 10,654,881. Everyone who comes 

 learns something. Some persons learn a great deal. Their 

 reading, their thoughts, their imaginations take new and 

 better channels. These figures are unprecedented and 

 unique. No city in the world has ever been able to offer 



