The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-01
SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION

THosE who notice changes in the educational
systems of our country must have observed
the reaction which has taken place in regard
to scientific training. When the Cry was first
raised against the classical curriculum. many
colleges modified their regular instruction,
throwing out Greek and Latin, to make room
for modern languages, and shortening the
time devoted to several other studies in order
to introduce purely technical subjects. The
evil of this plan was at once evident. Stu
dents in such colleges. who sought clas-
sical or other literary instruction. were
obliged to go elsewhere, and, but for the
obstinate conservatism of certain institutions,
would now have been left with only ''Hob-
sons choice" The determination, however,
with which the sold fogies" adhered to their
convictions in favor of liberal course for
the general degree of B. A., and the zeal
they displayed in disseminating the prin-
ciples on which they based these convictions.
produced the reaction to which we allude.
In no sense formal compromise, this adjust
ment of opinion has been rather a natural
result OF reform "a perception, bF
the radical side, of how extreme their posi-
ton was, and, by the slower-moving body, of
good even in radicalism. The issue has been
the entire separation of the two courses. ex-
cept SO far as students of either department
attend the special lectures of the other The
scientific student graduates, but only after
strict examination, as Bachelor of Science.
not ''of Arts, and is in every respect-grade,
qualifications for admission and graduation,
subjects of examination, etc.--as distinct a
member of the college or university as are
the law or theological graduates.
The advantages of this system are obvious
The young man whose life is to be apart
from science does not care to study civil en-
gineering; one whose age or slender means
prevent his prefacing his scientific with
purely literary studies, does not wish an ex-
tended acquaintance with Latin or Greek;
while, in many cases, students do not wish
to graduate first as Bachelors of Arts, and
then seek technical preparation for the
scientific professions. as students of law,
medicine, or theology do. Where the acade-
mical and scientific courses are distinct, all
three classes of students are afforded ample
opportunities, and yet no violence is done to
either science or letters. The world gains
educated men III mecnanlcal pursuits, DuJ
loses none in the other walks of life.
By the early endowment of scientific
schools, Yale, Harvard, and a number of
other colleges have done much to prove both
the value of these adjuncts to the regular
curriculum and untenability of the more radi-
cal position against the old culture. Second
ing, they have improved upon the merely
technical colleges, like the Polytechnic of our
own city, and the Rensselaer, Institute at
Troy; for they afford chances of general lite
rary study to non-graduates of the academical
department, which the latter institu.
tions cannot offer. Philadelphia has as
yet done but little for scientific educa.
ton, though here, if anywhere, schools
of this character were to be expected. The
trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
have for two years promised such a depart
ment, if our many wealthy and liberal
mechanics and manufacturers would supply
the necessary means for its support. Theil
determination to fulfil their pledge appears
in the strenuous efforts they are making in
the face of their poverty, to extend this por
ton of their work. Still greater changes are
to be inaugurated, we learn, at the opening
of the new term on September IL. 1t is plea
SAINT to think that n city proverbially libera
must ultimately do its full duty in this as in
every good cause,
y The REASON WHY-'EWhy,' naively ask