The Portland daily press., 1871-09-15
Maine


So far as their financial condition is concern
ed they are infinitely better off than they were
five years ago. All of them have received
rich endowments, while the institutions at
Brunswick, Watervile and Orono have all
added to theI facilities by erecting new
buildings. At Waterve there is now in
process OF erection a new building for the ac-
commodation of Prof Hamlin, the eminent
teacher of the natural sciences. The same in
stitution has also attracted to itself much at
tention this year by admitting to its privileg-
es young women as. well as young men. One
young lady has already been ad limited to the
freshman class, AMI next year she will be
joined by Others of her own sex. Among
those who are preparing for admission next
year we understand there is daughter of one
oil our most prominent Portland lawyers.
Within few days a circular has been is
sued by Gen. Chamberlain, the newly install
ed President of ,Bowdoin, which shows that
the expectation that his influence would be
powerfully felt in the direction of academic
reform was well founded Bowdoin takes
from today "a new departuren that is so
radical as TO be positively revolutionary. We
can well imagine that all the alumni will not
read with entire satisfaction the announce
ment made in the circular that a new scien-
titc course has been inaugur ated and that pu
pills will tor the present be admitted to it
who are proficient in the higher studies
taught in our best English schoolsr' This
startling innovation is actually made already,
and yesterday the first examination for admis-
sions TO the school of "Scence and the Arts
was held.
The circular of course gives but vague
outline of the change, or rather the additions
made to Bowdoin's educational facilities.
SuccuctIy stated the revolution amounts to
this: To supply an acknowledged want the
authorities have established two new courses,
one Of TOUR and the other of two years, in
which the dead languages and other discipn-
airy studies are Largely supplanted by such
studies as are directly useful and practical"
The first coulse almost eliminates Greek and
Latin, and aims to give instruction in the
modern languages and the sciences, including
the application of the latter to the liberal ami
mechanic arts, so that graduates from this de-
partment may be abls TO enter directly upon
tier lite work. The course of two years is
for advanced study in the line of either de-
partment OF the college, or in specialites, or
in preparation for learned protession."-
Both courses culminate, the circular adds, in
distinct schools of Letters, Science, Engineer
Ing, Medicine and Law.
Ii We und 'rstand General Chamberlain's
scheme. he has not followed in the steps of
other reformers, but has chosen a path of his
own. Bowdoin has not greatly enlarged the
list OF elective studies or granted unlimited
license In the selection of studies, like Coo
nell. Neither Is it to permit undergraduates
to choose their own course after the first year
as Harvard does. Several distinct courses are
presented, and we conclude that the under
graduate must, upon entering upon either of
them confine himself strictly to that His
power of election is then gone, and he is not
at liberty to make up a course of his own by
selecting such studies from the different
schools as may suit his fancy. Does not this
amount simply TO making Bowdoin univer.
sity with its distinct schools, where with such
facilities as it has, it will give its pupils the
beLeft of the regular academic course, or will
make them lawyers, doctors or engineers?
The workings of the new plan under the able
superintendent OF Gen. Chamberlain will be
watched with much interest throughout the
State.