Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-10
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1854
The Colleges.

system he would prefer iOF inc pfoPose"
couglomerate OF the Vermont Colleges,
but we infer from the general tone oil
hts Enthusiastically that part OF 1t
which defends so earnestly the partial
.oOrsen-that he would have at least
the essential features of Or. Waylands
svstem repeated in Vermont. In this he
probably agrees with very many, II not
most, of the advocates of the new State |
University. 1t seems therefore to be
not an unpropitious thing that he is Civ !
ing some attention to the history OF that
experiment. II he pursues the subject
until he "knows" some things more and
better, he win probably begin to enter
tain doubts concerning the wisdom OF
the plan. For SO far as fair expert
ment can prove anything, the failure OF
DR.. Waylands educational scheme
proves inoontestibly (l) that it is unwise
TO leave to the student himself the choice
of his text books; (2) that no other
course-especially If 1t be shorter-can
be successfully substituted for the regu-
MAR college curriculum, with due pro-
portion of mathematics and ancient
classics; (S) that where students who are
entered for the regular four years college
course and partial, "select course" or
scientific course" students are placed
side by side in the same college,
the college course students will gain
the ascendancy in numbers and IN
fluence, and the partial or scientific
course, win not be popular and well sus-
tained, and-we dare say 1t notwith-
standing M. BIS whitening scorn OF such
a "bugbear''-w be looked dozen upon.
How will our opponent explain that
s'yeastion towards the old course IN
Brown university, beginning with the
students themselves" Would he proba-
bly, have been able to check it if he had
gone down there and told them that
such artificial and childish distinc-
tions of caste are of precious little value
In preparing men for the stern realities
TO be encountered ain the 5!ro1~c of life!'
and if they had any "PTxED PURPOSE"
they would bolt at the sight of such
contemplate bugbear." We trow not;
especially II he had in the same connec-
don, and for the encouragement OF the
"partialists, compared Ben. Butler with
those undistinguished sophomores who
used to look down upon him as a fresh
man, and Daniel Webster with the I'M
heard-of graduate "who took the first
part" over him; since both Of these
men were regulars" in college, and be-
sides the "name of the graduate who
took the first part over Daniel Webster"
Aas been heard by thousands Tin Vermont
especially and has been very distin-
guished, as well. 1t is however worthy
of remark that there is no need of any
pains to disseminate such ideas among
college students respecting the useless
ness Of the classical and mathematical
drill, since they have always been wide
" prevalent, and are the continual con-
ISOLATION of many lazy fellow who
thinks the way to become Daniel Web
ster or Henry Ward Beecher, is to
shirk the hard studies and to spend his
time In gathering up facts or iu skim
ming over the dilutions Of modern liter
allure.
But it Is very little to the purpose to
point to this and that man who has be-
come distinguished without thor
ough classical culture. What M. B..
says about those "partialists" whom he
knew In college twenty-five years ago
may all be true; but If they have done
so well why have not others followed
in their steps? Why is it that students
pursuing a partial course in our col
leges are so exceedingly few2 We ven
tured to give a reason for it, but M. B.
Is prudently silent on that point. Why
Is it that at Brown University where ev-
cry facility has been given to students of
the scientific course, and by the confer
ring of degree at the end Of it all pos
sible honor Is bestowed upon those who
pursue it, nevertheless there are at the
present time but twenty-secen students out Of
A.p hundred and two who are taking this
eoswSs2
Let 1t be noted that we do not believe
that the reson can be found in the fact
that such a course is not useful and
even better than the college course for
nultitudes of our young men. Many
have not the time nor the means to pur-
sue full four years course, and besides
they need a course that is just adapted
to prepare them for the business
they expect to pursue. We do not
affect to despise scientific or busi-
ness education. We believe it to be
in many cases most desirable thing,
and we know not why 1t should be diff
ncult to persuade boys to choose it.
And yet the fact stands out that they do
not choose 1t as compared with the col
lege course Scientific courses are no