按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the interest of some sum of money allotted and put under the
management of trustees for this particular purpose； sometimes by
the sovereign himself； and sometimes by some private donor。
Have those public endowments contributed in general to
promote the end of their institution？ Have they contributed to
encourage the diligence and to improve the abilities of the
teachers？ Have they directed the course of education towards
objects more useful； both to the individual and to the public；
than those to which it would naturally have gone of its own
accord？ It should not seem very difficult to give at least a
probable answer to each of those questions。
In every profession； the exertion of the greater part of
those who exercise it is always in proportion to the necessity
they are under of making that exertion。 This necessity is
greatest with those to whom the emoluments of their profession
are the only source from which they expect their fortune； or even
their ordinary revenue and subsistence。 In order to acquire this
fortune； or even to get this subsistence； they must； in the
course of a year； execute a certain quantity of work of a known
value； and； where the competition is free； the rivalship of
competitors； who are all endeavouring to justle one another out
of employment； obliges every man to endeavour to execute his work
with a certain degree of exactness。 The greatness of the objects
which are to be acquired by success in some particular
professions may； no doubt； sometimes animate the exertion of a
few men of extraordinary spirit and ambition。 Great objects；
however； are evidently not necessary in order to occasion the
greatest exertions。 Rivalship and emulation render excellency；
even in mean professions； an object of ambition； and frequently
occasion the very greatest exertions。 Great objects； on the
contrary； alone and unsupported by the necessity of application；
have seldom been sufficient to occasion any considerable
exertion。 In England； success in the profession of the law leads
to some very great objects of ambition； and yet how few men； born
to easy fortunes； have ever in this country been eminent in that
profession！
The endowments of schools and colleges have necessarily
diminished more or less the necessity of application in the
teachers。 Their subsistence； so far as it arises from their
salaries； is evidently derived from a fund altogether independent
of their success and reputation in their particular professions。
In some universities the salary makes but a part； and
frequently but a small part； of the emoluments of the teacher； of
which the greater part arises from the honoraries or fees of his
pupils。 The necessity of application； though always more or less
diminished； is not in this case entirely taken away。 Reputation
in his profession is still of some importance to him； and he
still has some dependency upon the affection； gratitude； and
favourable report of those who have attended upon his
instructions； and these favourable sentiments he is likely to
gain in no way so well as by deserving them； that is； by the
abilities and diligence with which he discharges every part of
his duty。
In other universities the teacher is prohibited from
receiving any honorary or fee from his pupils； and his salary
constitutes the whole of the revenue which he derives from his
office。 His interest is； in this case； set as directly in
opposition to his duty as it is possible to set it。 It is the
interest of every man to live as much at his ease as he can； and
if his emoluments are to be precisely the same； whether he does
or does not perform some very laborious duty； it is certainly his
interest； at least as interest is vulgarly understood； either to
neglect it altogether； or； if he is subject to some authority
which will not suffer him to do this； to perform it in as
careless and slovenly a manner as that authority will permit。 If
he is naturally active and a lover of labour； it is his interest
to employ that activity in any way from which he can derive some
advantage； rather than in the performance of his duty； from which
he can derive none。
If the authority to which he is subject resides in the body
corporate； the college； or university； of which he himself is a
member； and which the greater part of the other members are； like
himself； persons who either are or ought to be teachers； they are
likely to make a common cause； to be all very indulgent to one
another； and every man to consent that his neighbour may neglect
his duty； provided he himself is allowed to neglect his own。 In
the university of Oxford； the greater part of the public
professors have； for these many years； given up altogether even
the pretence of teaching。
If the authority to which he is subject resides； not so much
in the body corporate of which he is a member； as in some other
extraneous persons… in the bishop of the diocese； for example； in
the governor of the province； or； perhaps； in some minister of
state it is not indeed in this case very likely that he will be
suffered to neglect his duty altogether。 All that such superiors；
however； can force him to do； is to attend upon his pupils a
certain number of hours； that is； to give a certain number of
lectures in the week or in the year。 What those lectures shall be
must still depend upon the diligence of the teacher； and that
diligence is likely to be proportioned to the motives which he
has for exerting it。 An extraneous jurisdiction of this kind；
besides； is liable to be exercised both ignorantly and
capriciously。 In its nature it is arbitrary and discretionary；
and the persons who exercise it； neither attending upon the
lectures of the teacher themselves； nor perhaps understanding the
sciences which it is his business to teach； are seldom capable of
exercising it with judgment。 From the insolence of office； too；
they are frequently indifferent how they exercise it； and are
very apt to censure or deprive him of his office wantonly； and
without any just cause。 The person subject to such jurisdiction
is necessarily degraded by it； and； instead of being one of the
most respectable； is rendered one of the meanest and most
contemptible persons in the society。 It is by powerful protection
only that he can effectually guard himself against the bad usage
to which he is at all times exposed； and this protection he is
most likely to gain； not by ability or diligence in his
profession； but by obsequiousness to the will of his superiors；
and by being ready； at all times； to sacrifice to that will the
rights； the interest； and the honour of the body corporate of
which he is a member。 Whoever has attended for any considerable
time to the administration of a French university must have had
occasion to remark the effects which naturally result from an
arbitrary and extraneous jurisdiction of this kind。
Whatever forces a certain number of students to any