Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-07-16
From the American Quarterly Review.

rally held. It often happens, Tn truth, that the degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred at one institution, on such as would be utterly incapable of acquiring it at another: and, at the close of his college career-which differs in length in different institutions-every in.. dividual receives the first degree in the arts; the examinations instituted being matter of form, and, too often, of farce. We cannot be surprized, then, that degree, thus obtained, should be condemned; and that, even in le- gislative assemblies, members should be found to declare themselves totally unworthy of the honors thus conferred upon them. This is not the case in the universities of Europe. In the English university, the Baccalaureate is made the test of severe devotion to particu- lar studies; and, whatever objections may be made to the plan followed in those institutions, of requiring accurate classical and mathe- matical knowledge, to the exclusion of every thing else, the degree is, at all events, an evil dence that the possessor is unusually well in- structed in those matters. Hence, we find in that country the initials B. A. and M. A. proudly appended to the names of the Bache- Tor or Master, and received by all as emblems of literary distinction. How rarely do we see the title thus added in this country> This comes from the causes already alluded to;- the degree is too easily attained; and, when attained, is such an insufficient evidence of learning, that it is discarded; and the parch- men and the seal and ribband, and the pomp and ceremony of the day for the distribution of holors, which excited so much juvenile ex- ultatnn, are, in after life, esteemed no crite- rion of ofiterary distinction. We cannot, then, be surprizcd, that one ofthe topics which en- gagged the Convention, was, whether the ti- tie of B. A. should be restrainedH"
 To the title of Bachelor of Arts, unmean-
 ing as it derivatvely is, we have but little ob- jection, provided certain definite ideas are at
 ached to it. In the University of Virginia, the term graduate seems to be considered more appropriate. We do not think it an improvement upon the ancient appellation:-
 "sound them, it doth become the mouth as we'll
 Weigh them, itis as heavy"
 But few appellatives, in their received accep- taton, would be found to correspond with their dervative meaning. The French have their "Bachelors" and "Masters of Sciences" but these terms are not more significant; whilst "Doctor" too often means any thing rather than doctu8-"Qui dit Docteur ne dit pas un homme docte, mais un homme qui devrait etre docte."
 Every well devised system of education should combine an attention to language ito the sciences relating to magnitude and numbers; and to those that embrace the phenomena of mind and matter.
 Little doubt, we think, can exist in the minds of the intelligent, that the ancient lan- guages should form one element. Much has been said, and much will continue to be said, on both sides of this question, into which we do not propose to enter: admitting however, that the Latin language, for example, is less Decessary now than when it was the exclusive language of the learned, and that the modern languages have emerged from their Patois condition, and risen in relative importance, a { ertain knowledge of that tongue, as well as the Greek, ought still to form part of the etlu- cation of every gentleman. The mind of youth cannot be better engaged, during the early period of their university career, than in be- coming acquainted with the classic models of antiquity, and practised in the habits of de- termination which the study engenders.- Whether it should be prosecuted to the ex- tent inculcated at the English universities, and to the comparative exclusion of all other subjects, is another subject. In this country, at least, the course would be injudicious and unfeasible, and has been canvassed by MT Gallatin with that gentleman's usual felicity of exposition. The illustrious founder of the University of Virginia appears, however, to have had different views on this subject from those we have expressed; and views which appear somewhat inconsistent with freedom of graduation in the separate schools.
 In the earliest copy of the enactments, (1825,) we find it stated, amongst other mat ters relating to the attainment of honors, that "the diploma of each shall express the par ticular school or schools in which the candi- dates shall have been declared eminent, and shall be subscribed by the particular profess sors approving it. But no diploma shall be given to any one who has not passed such an examination in the Latin language as shall have proved him able to read the highest clas- sics in that language with ease, thorough un- derstanding, and just quantity. And if he be also proficient in Gi eek, let that too be stat ed in the diploma; the intention being that the reputation of the university shall not be committed but to those, who, to an eminence in some one or more of the sciences taught in it, add proficiency in those languages which constitute the basis of good education, and are indispensable to fill up the character of a we'll educated man."
 Without dwelling on the unreasonableness of denying diploma to one who has sufficient of mathematics, or chemistry, or of natural or moral philosophy, because he may not be thoroughly acquainted with Latin, we cannot avoid expressing our surprize that it should not have struck that philosophc in dividual, and his respectable colleagues, as being total prohibition to graduation in cer- tain departments. To be able "to read the highest classics in the Latin language with ease, thorough understanding, and just quanti- ty," would, of itself, require as much time as the majority of our youths are capable of devoting to their collegiate instruction. Ac- cordingly, we find, from the printed enact ments, that the faculty judiciously suggested modification of the rule relating to gradua- tion, which was confirmed by the board of visitors. As it now stands, it merely requires that every candidate for graduation, in any of