Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-08-23
From the Vermont Chronicle
Terms of Admission 10 the AgriCul-
turaI College.

turaI College.
A writer in your last weeks paper at
tacks the University of Vermont and
State Agricultural College, on the
ground that the terms OF admission to
the scientific and agricultural course are
too lot0, and he calls for agitation of the
subject. The question proposed, though
as unfit as well can be imagined for
agitation" or public discussion in this
impromptu and Irresponsible way, is in
trinsically important, and as 1t is not
difficult to conjecture the reasons which
probably determined the decision as an
nounced.
The term Agricultural College"
which has been generally adopted to de-
signate the schools endowed by the
grant Of Congress, very naturally mis-
lead those who are not familiar with the
whole subject. If any one will examine
the act of Congress, and the Legislative
Act of Incorporation, he will see that
both have in view schools Of practical science.
If the question were asked, what in gen.
eral is aimed at in this grant, and how
may that aim be best realized we think
the answer would be, The aim is to
bring science to the assistance of the
arts, and this end will be best secured
by inducing the largest possible number
to devote themselves to the pursuit of
science with a view to its application.
This is the Interpretation which has been
put upon the act by all the States which
have accepted the grant. Ten or fifteen
years hence we shall probably see, as the
sum Of the benefits aCCruing from this
donation, in all the States of the Union,
scientific schools connected with the col
leges, the object of which will be the
pursuit of the sciences for their own
sake, and the application of the results
reached by such pursuit to the arts and
Industries Of common life, and splendid
accession to the educational and indus
trial facilities enjoyed by the next gen
Grafton this will be.
II is plain that an intelligent and eco
nomical application of the means thus
delegated to these institutions, and
among others to the University of Yer
mont, must have reference to the wants
and circumstances of the State for whose
benefit the Institution holds the funds in
trust. Naturally California will call for
more prominence to be given to studies
relating to mining; Rhode Island to
manufacture; Vermont to agriculture
SO also the instruction given must have
some reference to tina general character
OF the education prevalent in the State,
and TO the facilities offered by public
high schools and academies. If higher
algebra, geometry, and trigonometry
were universally or even generally
taught in our high schools, and could be
pursued to as good advantage there as
in college, it would unquestionably be
gain to require proficiency in these
studies in order to admission to college.
If the general principles of chemistry
and the elements of natural philosophy
were taught in these schools in such a
way that it would not be necessary to
begin at the beginning and go over them
again, they ought also to be included in
the terms Of admission. But it is well
known that this is not the case. We
have in the State perhaps two or three
nigh schools and academies of which
this might be claimed, but of coulse it is
the acer4ge standard of scholarship at
tainable in the lower schools which must
determine the conditions of admission to
the higher. If answer should be made
to this, that the standard required bv
the higher schools should be a stimulus
to the lower, the reply is that such slim
ulss is best applied by insisting on
thoroughness in the subjects prescribed.
rather than unduly adding to theipnum-
Der and extending their range. Taking
into account the actual character of
academic education in this State, we
think the terms of admission are as
high as can be fairly demanded at pres
ent, We say this not in disparagement
OF the academies, but in view of the very
great difficulties and drawbacks under
which most of them have to labor
The terms of admission to the ScieD-
tlnc Course Of the University are in all |
respects the same as to the full College
course, with the exception of the elias |
sizes, the intention being to have Scien- |
llfc students Of the first year and the |
Freshmen in College allowed the same |
classes in mathematics, and in English !
studies. They are the same also as are /
required for entering the Scientific (
schools at Dartmouth and Brown. A /
moments reflection will convince one /
.hat II Is not 50 much the requirements !
.or admission which are necessarily /
somewhat pliable and vague, as the re-
Iuirements for degree, which will de-
.ermine the character of the department.
l. is to be hoped that the standard for
ne latter will be high always, and that.
t will be found practicable by degrees
% raise it still higher by raising the
.erms of admission.
The foil name of the Prussian nre-