The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-08
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

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Meeting of the Trustees Of the Free Coll
iese- Discussion ON the Retaining OF the
Ancient Languages in the Course Of
Pursuant to call the Board OF Trustees OF the Col
lege OF the City OF New York convened in special
session yesterday afternoon In the hall Of the Board
OF Education. MIR. R. L. Larremore president, occu-
pied the chair and besides him there were present
Messrs- Sands, Wood, Sherwood, Smyth. Duryea,
Lewis, Bell and Brennan. The Secretary, Mr.. VIM.
Hltchman, read the minutes Of the last meeting OF
the Board and also the minutes OF the meetings OF
tie Executive Committee held since the previous
meeting OF the Board. Several communications
were received and referred to the Executive Com
mittee. Among them was lengthy and able defence
of the college, transmitted by the Alumni Assocta
ton. This latter communication was read and
referred TO the Executive Committee.
Mr.. SANDS then presented a resolution reclting
the purpose of the Board to comply with the provi
sions OF its creation by the Legislature administer
the duties with q view to economy, and providing
that with that object the professorships OF "Hstory
and Bellies Lettreso and "English Language and
Literature" be united that the professorships of
"Pure' and "Mixed Mathematcs' be also united;
that the chair OF Adjunct Professor Of Philosophy
be abolished and tnat the duties of the position
Intellectual and Political Philosophy" that
the rutorships, except those In mathematics,
be abolished; that the professors be required
to devote five hours daily to the duties of their re-
spective departments that the salaries Of the pro-
fessors be made 5000 each per annum, and that
the salary of Che president, in consequence OF his
increased duties, be made 50, 500 per annum, and
that the trustees reorganize the college on basis
OF $4,000 per annum, instead Of $685. OOO as at pre-
sent On motion OF Mr.. Smyth the resolu ton was
referred to the Executive Committee.
Mr. LEWIS offered q report from the Executive
Committee recommending that the by laws on page
49, section 1 OF the Manual be amended 80 as to pro-
yide:-
keep record Of ali books supplies fanishsd to The col
ege that all reqpsons and bills shall be approved BY the
by the president.
The report was adopted. after which Mr.. SANDS
offered resolution "that che Professorsnip Of Latin
referred to the Executive Committee but afterwards
reconsidered, on motion OF Mr.: WOOD.
consider this special subject Of abolishing or re-
tanning the professOrship In question.
Mr.. LARREM0RE on the door, then proceeded to
read an elaborate and learned argument in favor OF
retaining the study OF Latin and Greek in the
Gin Of colleges In the Old World and their history in
the New World; pointed out the pecuarities of the
the Board Of Trustees in regard to the college. He
answered the objections which had been urged at
previous meeting against the teaching OF the ancient
lions from writings and sayings of President Bar
nard; President Quincy, Bishop Potter President
McOosh In regard to the utility OF the study
Of the ancient languages, and showed that
"a q s A. e
language Cxcep pronunciation which s easily acqairedl;
w
' e: g:
g: ss
both and
ns: q r. Ts
Z on Pope D Ana
Ws sss4 LoSso@
& "" ss:s
SANDS arose and said that It had been agreed upon
OF the question, and he did not think 1t would be
was Not TO be- pressed to fna Vote ana he SopeG
not. as two members were absent, who agreed with
answer as fully as he Would wish the able Argument
Of Mr.. LarremOre and he would like to have time to
much in it that was calculated to msiead' NJ" He
thought the question TO be considered was whether
the Board was to conduct the college as live lnsti-
tuition, fitting men to go out into the paths OF Dus
ness, or as place Tor mere scholars to amuse them
wa a osp
alone should be taught which fit the youth for the
ordinary duties Of everyday lie, and which connect
remarks, and concluded BY expressing the hope
that the matter would be allowed to lay over.
ton would be pressed to VOTE provided the vote
would be IN favor Of filing the vacancy, but II not
s GG 9e he said
beneficial to the students who 60 through the entire
course. In the colleges Of the old country generally
too much time was given to the study OF the classics
but in his native country-Scotand-t scientific
and classical courses were more practically blended
than In most Of the colleges OF England or the
Continent He had had pretty extensive expert
In two universities Of his native land and felt
that he could speak knowingly on the subject and
broker and banker he would, II restricted In his
choice to the classics or sciences as a matter Of
The latter he said always reasons from
and 1t is always found that the greatest scientific
men, when attempting to deal with the probabilities
dren. They don't use ordinary reasoning and, trust
ing to scientific conclusions, get in middle. In
the College Of the City as at present conducted there
s mixture OF both the classical and scientific. He
found on analysis that the hours OF study per week
were:-In the Introductory class. for ancient Ian
guages TO II for other studies, In both terms In the
freshman, to 81 and to 20 respectively In the
first and second terms; and In the sophomore, to
% and to u; in the junior, to Is and to IL; in
the senior, to 10 and l to 81, showing an aggre
gate OF 80 hours for classics per week. to 1893 for
other studies, or about onesixth OF the whole
that the course pursued IN the college
was such as Milton recommended 200 years ago.
He objected to this calling for hard scientific facts
by the Mr.. Gradgrinds OF the present day. They
would have the fruits without the flowers. He read
OF q young man tHudibras) who was scientific
scholar
For he, by gcometrc SCALE
Could take the size Of pots OF ale;
Resolve by sine aud tangent straight,
II bread and butter wanted weight
And wisely tell what hour o. day