New-York tribune., 1869-06-16
CREEK And LATIN.
po,,, ~ Pnrc.r,oN. cor. oY GRAND AND RLssrs,}
oVN " NrW.AnEK Juue s. Il q


entertained by a large number Of the Trustees OF
fInq the chair of Latin and Greek, now vacant, and
even of establishing separate chairs for each at the
Collepe of the City of New-YOrk; involving, with
the necessary tutors, an outlay OF not less thah
$4,000 per annum The subject in all its bearings is
one of too vast importance TO be treated IN the ord-
nary method Of discussion by the Committee, and
therefore beg leave 10 place my views IN writing 70
insure their receiving more matured consideration
than oral observations could secure, .
/ pass over the question ton when considerable
difference of opinion exists as TO the propnety OF
sustaining at all at the enforced expense of the pub
lie an educational Institution to supply the needs
which the College Of the City of New-York isintended
to meet The College exists by law; we are IT'S
guardians and the only question have to consider is
how efficiently and most economically to secure the
attainment OF the enuS GesnSu ny IN tno Leglsatnre ,
These ends we shan no DOUBT All agree 10 De-flrst
That any of the youth OF this city possessed OF special
have paced within their reach an education the best pos
sbe for development o their powers for the bene
Droyjde for the comparatively weto.do the means OF
pursuing useful studies in compensation for 0lnpte
them 10 provide for the instruction OF their less
As is sefevdnt that whatever course OF fad siuaeS osS
viii tend the first of these ends VIII e arsS
10 secure the second and less important, we are sPaeu
the necessity OF twolold nvesgaiom that poitber OF
very few statistics sulhce 70 snS" ~ tbs ColleSe of
these ends has been hitherto attained py 'no NO0e 0
II S nmoteTial What year we select for examination
the numbers which follow will be found TO pear anout
the same relative op 8G6 merely because it is
It, JocUnent al hand which furnishes the numbers
an tne @ that While there we're Ssl students in the
Introductory class only 2 graduated IN that year Ihe
humber OF graduates in 1867 was 80 ana ~ IN july SoS
f tbe M who composed the introductory class IN 1885,
Isl left the College during the year. ana uOoess 1 @
who remained viii have dwindled TO about 20 OF So ny
without doubt some proportion Of the aS1 leave the
College because OF the necessity they are under
OF obtaining. by their labor, the means OF subSsehee
but when It is remem6cIed hat these % th[ee m 5o
and eghtyone are the p'c6ed y9"m ron Hg mang uC
sands attending the public schools ana when the sacrlnces
ana privaOns which and youth imbned win lOYe
Of learning will make and undergo Tor the acqneenV
Of knowledge borne in mind we must Iook 70 some
for tjs result In short hut TO the c0nclu
SION that the main OF this falling on Is 10 De Iouhu
In the feeling which, grows upon the pups anu telr
guardians the comparative useessncss Of the stuules
To which they consigned. , -,
Of ms examine the course Of studies, given from
nores 10 IA of the Report OF the Board Of Trustees for
The year 1866 from pages to 2S OF the Manual OF the
The first observation which must strike the mind Of
every thinker the fact that the primary anaysthe
main classification which has been adopted OF studies
which ought be framed to MT the students 1OT COM
pete living" one Of " words e. he Tools OF kno% WI
report: "There two courses OF studesaelent ana
modern-diferng only in the languages studied -,
freshman classes feeling Of astOnshment must NIL the
mind ar the marked want of wisdom by which 1t die
ta,ed but which the time affords sufficient ex
planaton for the abandonment oi the COe9e py lS SUI
Even If ,sords' ought the real object Of educa
tOn il would be supposed that English words would DO
more useful people whose mother tongue Is EnglS
than the words OF any other languages yet the students
of the Introductory and freshman classes OF the ancient
course instruction rre hours Week hoIgh BON
terms IN Latin Greek, aud lesson per eek during
one term IN the English language The students OF the
modern substitute Tor tn ana Oreek the frehCh
parposely abstain from saying anything as to the
method Of Instruction. which the converse OF that
adopted by nature and as consequence slgaly Isls
This has been forcby put by President Barnard Of
Columbia College that need only refer THE members OF
our Committee 10 his essay on Early Mental training
and the Studies Best Fitted for It."
What steps are taken TO familarize the students
Of the freshman class WIN that great nature OF
which they form parti What, for instance, do
they learn of the structure OF their own bodies
and Of the means OF preserving health one
that is all The fear OF makngthis letter too long
pes merely refer the Committee 10 pages ~ TO ~
edge is Of Most Worth" in his work on Education, in
further illustration OF this subject instead OF making
extracts from il rs l would otherwise like 10 do
Attention. is true, is paid throughout the college
course to mathematical studies yet very little 10 their
practical applications while TO Chemistry the parent Of
modern physics, the manual (which IS our gulde) pre-
sGres S wv Lessons per S %SoH W. ,V ana nr S s
lutely none at all Mining, Mechanical Engineering,
Architecture Theoretical Agriculture Biology and Bot
any are utterly ignored and branch Of Zoology is
mentioned in the curriculum. We next come to
SCIENCE more Important because universal IL, IA
Its application and in its need than than any any other
viz dhe sSeEee or q ooa EcanoW Here IKE
excusiOn except that in the sophomore class for one
people TO live by labor left by the guardians
OF their education in Ignorance OF the laws by which the
administer capital be left To blind chance whether
TO in accordance with those laws OF nature which de-
fermiue its increase, iCnOrantly violate them
Restrained again from quotation by the rear OF weary
ing the Committee permit me 10 t9ier M IGeIn 70 e ec
Tonoraic sci@nce which viii be found in the work of
Eife." EGiSi 'OO"'I'' 'H 1D' 80 ,'N-,'.~ - " -
rua of such record that presented by the Of
studies at the College the City Of York. especially
when nd that this is The state OF things large nam
Der Of the Trustees desirous OF perpeuatng My
views this subject are confirmed IN the following re-
marks found III President Barnalds Essay on " Eary
Mental Training, and The Studies Best Fitted For It,"
wbsteyer nav he the value study Of the classics 10 subject
I've I've point , o. mSE sg ., ssh IL % nj. %sfo, @ ToS or e S
owpy stranger H HI; on Ao'' Than tae Purely es,ssi
Improvement believed % be still by the universities Of Lngaud
scurys system appeared The London Times l3
coSaou things quite neglected and dsFised
eueaton Of the reh as 10 that Of the poor IL l. Wonaefigl
II degrees especially he has been tadusrots and has et 70 his
i s l1 % , 5sa fa se S, 2 5 3 bs aS the itsy
bin bis fathers door he ans be faovs nebiog Of hor'sA
Ifhe walks into the te be does not know he difference
barley re and wheat beNeen rape snd iaPs between
artificial grass II be inio carpenters yard be does
% L1s 10 10 ie o. & 3 a. i see"rts g p-psI a1d pots .rtv
bis only idea Of The once that the gentleman Is so Of k1gish
lro into workshop place omauuaee Is awsy 70 hnd his
<ysl and ihat e1sl @ M & Dfos ' @ sn Iiryt, - b5o % sI
pece literary bis literature is confined to few popular novels
po having adousy omitted bis education TD gtrl
s0 , &C. S III = .g n5,d n oT 70 end h oa brother 70 College
vastly oi those things than lie does The exposure
aNais him wherever he goes and whenever be has the
audacy open bis mouth At sea- he Is tandlubbe IN he
cotutrg a o0cey greehOra; IN gHordmus;
sHpls0n IN pleasure mksODeveywbcre ont Of bis
the clouds df by whatever word
ign0ran am neapqey 70 be described 10 society aud In
m be 6us usef beaten by the lOuh whom s college he
dssIissd frivolous abhOTed a proaigate"
Take the preparation OF youth for their duties
citizens Here again. knowledge OF political aud social
economy indispensable. We have the attention IL
receives and while two lessons week for hour, and
that only to e senior class in It's last term are gwen TO
American citizens the Constitution OF the United
States and International law UhdeUer OlUen
he Of Government throughout Tie entire
Of Upe years!
might go through the whole OF studies with
nd flt. In