Evening star., 1869-03-11
EMIT DR.. BLIMBER.

One OF tne nedlthlest signs OF the q mes Is the
disposition on both sides of the Atlantic for
reform in educational princIDles. Reference
has already been made in these columns to the
movement In England in favor of adopting a
syoem of elective studies In University edu-
cation, and especially of substituting the study
the modern languages for the Greek and
Latin in which so much time Is wasted in gain
ing a smatterIng, rarely OF service in after life
q this direction we notice that recently two
British authorities of some weight-Mr Dixie
in his book ..Greater Britain" and the Vsst
inseT Rerie0.-endorse with much esphasis
the system Of University educauon adopted in
the State OF Michigan, one principle of which
Is the system of elective studies, and the other
the absence of all competition.
Probably the most democratic school in the
whole word is the Sta,e University OF MichI-
gan, situate at Ann Arbor, near Detroit. II is
cheap, large, practical; twelve hundred stu
dents, paying only the ten dollars entrance tee
and five dollars year during residence,
and living where they can in the little
town, attend the University to be prepared
to enter with knowledge and resolution
upon the affairs of their future life
of the course of study ''It is harder TO say
what II does include than what il does not
The twenty heads range over philosophy, phi
loIogy, art and science; there is a branch of
criticism, one of arts, ofdesigE. one Of fine arts
Astronomy. Ethics and Oriental languages are
all embraced in the general scheme. A few
only are educated by having their minds un-
folded that they mag become many sided men;
but all work with spirit and earus stness. The
war with crime, this war with sin, the war
with death-Law, Theology, MedicIne,-these
are the three foremost of mans enployments.
TO these, accordingly, the University affords
her chiefes. care, and to one OF these the stu
dent, his entrance examination passed, often
gives bis entire time.
These thIngs are democratic; but il is not in
them thai the essential democracy Of the Uni
versiiy is 10 be seen. There are at Michigan
no honor lists, no 'sclasses" in the usual sense,
no orders of merit no competition.
Ii might be supposed that these two depart
ures from the system of older Universities were
irregularities, introduced TO meet the tempo.
rary EN- barr az ments incidental to educational
establi- hments II young States. So far is this
from being the case, that the clearest-s ighted
men OF the older colleges of America are trying
o assinilate their teaching system To that OF
AIchigan-at least IN the one point OF the ab-
sence OF competition. They assert that toll
performed under the excitement of a herce
struggle between man and man is unhealthy
work, different IN nature and results from the
loving labor of men whose h. arts are IN what
they dc; toll. IN short, not very easily distin-
guIshabIe from slave-Iabor.
The students first graduate in science or in
an Arts degree, and then pursue their elected
study, In a course which leads to no uni
versity distinction. and yet the Michigan pro-
tessors say that a. a far higher average of work
and real knO wledge is ObiaIned under this sys-
TEN OF independent work than Is dreamt OF in
colleges wherscomPetitIon reigns."
In the view of Mr.. bike, and the West
minister EerieT unlimited battle between man
and man for place is sufficiently the bane OF
the world mol TO be made the curse of ITS
schools. Competition breeds every evil which
il Is the aim OF education, the duty of an uni
versity. 10 suppress: pale faces, caused by ex.
eessiye toll, feverish excitement that prevents
true work. a hatred OF the subject on which
the toll Is spent, jealousy of best friends, svs
tematic depreciation Of other mems talents
rejection Of all reading that will not spay'
extremely unhealthy cultivation OF the men,
evils, ana many more, are charged upon the
competitive system.
This Is pretty sharp Indictment but who
can say that ii is not a .true hill :" And its
truth has deeper significance in this country,
where our children are of a frazier physique
than English youth; more nervous, and liable
10 greater injury from excessive brain-Iabor,
and the excitement Of competitive study. And
the evils from this feverish competition are per-
haps even greater amongst the lower grades OF
schools than In the universities.