The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-29
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
Our Ohio Report.
SECOND DAY-EvENING SESSION

The subject which had sussed in the
afternoon, viz The met collegiate in
struction--wa, yet before the association.
Rev. Or. ANDERSEN, of Miami University, would
add his testimony to what had been said by certain
gentlemen in the afternoon. In his section Of tho
country, the want had been felt Of some system OF
instruction which should not exclude those who
were unable to pursue an extended course. In
Miami University they had instituted an English
department. They had not, however, thrown off
any part of the college course. They were rather
raising the standard of college education. Moro
Latin and more Greek were now studied than
before. They felt they could make no change or
substitute for them. He knew Of nothing that would
cake the place of these languages. The system
now pursued is unity, from the district school, up
through the academy to the college and the uni
vyersity, and could not be altered without dis
arranging the whole.
DIR. DUTFIELD, of Detroit, regretted that in the
discussion the two systems had been placed in an
stagonstic positions. He believed the feeling Of
antagonism existed in one direction only If it is
the opinion that the new system is reformation,
he was not surprised at it, The old system had
been often represented as old and rotten-especiay
in this country, where had new and peculiar IA
cilities. Though he did not agree with the senti-
ments ct the. gentleman who had addressed the
association, (Pres Mahan,) he thanked him for
them. He thought, however, there were some Sc
r0us fallacies contained in them AS he understood
education it is the ORA wing out the powers Of man.
What is the best system for the highest mental and
moral developement! 1t was no other than the
method which best excises those powers to action.
If he understood the course of this debate, the
great opposition to the old system is against the
Latin and Greek. There seems to be a Jealousy
y Of them. In his own State, a movement had
been made which designed to drive them
from the field lie would deprecate such re-
suit. No man could properly understand and
Latin and Greek know | shall be told
here, Oh, tho Saxon-the Saxon is good enouy h
Why should we be excluded from the sources ofthe
knowledge OF the ancient world! Look Mt the effect
their study had upon the minds of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. Look at their influence on Ba-
con, for instance. Would he have been what he was
If he had been ignorant of Latin! No man can pro-
perly appreciate Bacon without knowledge OF
Latin ard Greek, and this would be reason enough
for studying them. He apprehende it was of i'm
= measurable value to preserve our own language
from incesssnt innovation Let US discriminate be
tween the class of in situations already have, and
not destroy those intended for the instruction OF
youth, by ada pting them to older and less plant
minds. We have translatons, 1T is true, but they
will not answer the place of the original authors.
Let them abound, but let not the originals be
banished,
Mr.. DrLLrNoHAsr, of Philadelphia, spoke ag aims.
the Few ystem.
Mr.. PERRY, of Providence, spoke strongly in it,
favor.
Mr.. WHARTON, of Philadelphia, followed. He
thought the question resolved itself into this: Our
young men can appropriate but four years to col
legiate course. What studies can be pursued in
that time to best accomplish the ends of such
course The old system had been approved to be
good one, by long experience This new system has
yet to stand the test Of experiment. 1t may APP
prove itself, and become the great American
system.
Professor READ, of Indiana, said that similar
system had been tried in the London University,
and that institution had yet to produce single emi-
nent man. Ii had been tried III the Virginia Uni-
versity, with littl success. Young men did not re-
main there long time. In Harvard, 1T is the plan
to give the stude choice ofstudes in the lat
ter part OF their For the classics he had no
fearor their success in this country. lie saw before
him two gentlemen whose classical eruditon would
do honor to any German or any Engl shman:
The CHAIRMAN introduced 10 the association
DIR. MANLY, of the University of Aiaba ma. lie
stated that the university was founded in $50, on
the cid plan. The partial course system vas after
wards adopted, and more than half the students
entered upon it, 1t was pursued for six years, and
then the college broke down. 1t WAS afterwards
re-orgapized; and, since 1887, 1T has been the aim
10 make the college distir gushed for scholarship,
rather than numbers. some fifty or sixty have Gu
tered annually; but not more than one-fourth OF
that number graduate. The number graduating
has always been in inverse ratio to the standard
of scholarship. SO few had graduated, that an
inquiry was entered upon by the trustees to what
was the cost of educating each student; and they
bad appointed committee to report whether there
was not some system which should give the advan-
tsges of The college to larger number. There
we're difficulties which oppressed them in attempt
ing a change. The speaker desired information.
He would inquire il the object OF college course
designed TO fit person for professional ite !!
lie desired to know ii the two classes Of students
can be instructed in the same institution. without
deterioration to the regular students! lie would
inquire if the standard of instruction would not be
insensby adapted to those of the lower gradess
,hsrh ltv wae m he
the open university plan. Would not they be COM
PEELED TO have very great number OF olhcers 10
leach What each student might choosei Another
difficulty was, to know when man was through,
The time 6f adjournment having arrived, the
Chair announced that the floor was Or. Manly's, In
the morning
A rcsolution passed the house, that the discussion
on this iutjoct terminate to- morrow, a. III o'clock,
TO make room for other business.
The Association then adjourned.
THIRD DAY-MoRNiNG SESSION.
Arc. 2i.-1hc minutes of the previous day were
read and tho ten minute rule adopted.
Dr. MANLY, Of Alabama College, resumed the
door lie woul ieciptulate their difficulties, and
ne desired the Information OF the body lie inquired
whether the business Of a collegiate education was
10 prepare foe q particular pursuit-whether tho
Bent OF a Students mind should be consulted lie
stated me of the did ,ultcs of classification under
the open university plan. How far would the
mingng Of the different classes Of students de,ero-
rate the general sch olarshipl Another difficulty
the popular demand requires us to admit body
Of Heterogeneous and uncOnformed material, what
can the officers 10 with theml The open university
system has tendency to produce idleness, Mt least
at the SOUTH where the speaker had had opportunity
IF observation. Students will undertake as little
rs possible, and do that little more imperfectly.
Again. tie d,I Iona Il Of value as the ultn alum of
the coursc ard passport IN the world, but by the
partial course students have not such an incentive
The speaker would ask whether an under .aking had
ever been made to obtain members merely Ia
antwer the popular dc nand. Ii such experiment
lad failed il would be of no TO attempt 1t az iin
MIR. THAYER, Of Boston. xtspcke. Tie SAID be
was obliged TO present his thoughts in AngloSaxon
lie felt. however, the want Of a knowledge of the
Latin in teaching grammar and ctJmology. lie
believed, however. that its value had been over
-atod Other studies were greatly imp ,rtant
History for instance, when properly taught was ar
excellent discipline. These iacts have becom,
known the country, and the peopl, have demanded
such n change as had been adopted in Brown Uni
versity.
Prof GREEN believed that Brown University