The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-07-29
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Tuesday Morning, July %. 1873.
University Versus College,.


traced to the radical change in it's organ
ization, to which we have alluded in a
previous article. It was done at time
when education was utterly prostrate in
the State, and under conditions the most
unfsvorable for its taking good effect
This change following close upon the
conolusionsof a ruinous and devastating
war, there was no suitable material out
of which the proposed new structure
could be built. Many youths had fallen
in battle and from disease, who would
otherwise have been educated OF the
College; many more were either untitled
to pursue course of study, or had been
deprived OF the means necessary to sus.
tain them in it, or could not any longer
spare the time, because Of the pressure
of toll necessary to aid In the support of
the family. We must bear in mind. like
wise, the small advantages which boys at
home had, during. the war. to become
fitted for the University course, involv-
ing severe previous mental training, the
formation of habits OF close application,
and proficiency in studies little short
OF what a college course itself ought to
give. Unat aa was the material without
to respond to the new demand, there
were no changes within to correspond to
The Understanding title assumed. The
departments remained the same. the cur.
ricnlum Of studies was not enlarged, no
additions we're made to the professor
ships, and there was no infusion OF new
life or new clements of brain. learning,
experience or tact into the system. There
was simply change Of name, with re-
Taxation Of discipline, with dissolution
Of the ties Of responsibility on the one
hand, and OF those Of obligation on the
other, which hitherto had bound profes.
sors and students together, and with q
system OF examinations for degrees and
honors wholly inapplicable to the exist
ing circumstances, or to any posi-
bilities which could come out of
them in q score OF years. To
crown the absurdity OF this scheme,
to give the coup de grace to all prepara-
ton for profitable college life, examina-
ton for admission to.it was dispensed
with. Young men without preparation
were equally welcome with those with it,
to enter the University. And so the
classes were formed of heterogeneous
and crude materials, differing in their
preparation and training. and in the
amount of their reading, varying, in
fact, in every particular. and conforming
to each other mainly. if not exclusively,
in the one respect, that they chose the
same branch of study and took the same
ticket. And, Of course, this choice,
from the nature of the case, could not
be, in many cases, enlightened and suita.
ble. Those who made it, owing either
TO immature age or unripe Judgment.
even when old enough, were not compe.
tent to determine SO grave matter, in.
volving, first. tho question OF regime,
most appropriate to train the faculties to
thought, and to store and stock the mind
and, secondly, that of pursuit in life
AhCoo hcIo ScIlOuS uIuW UuCkS 10 SUCCESS.
But the reflex action resulting from the
change, was most to be regretted. II
produced an impression in the homes
whence the students car1e. and in tae
schools where they wero bred, that was
fatal to the success Of the latter. The
College. under Presidents BarnwelI, Hen
~, Preston and Thoinwell, by severit,
Of examinations and by stringency O
conditions operating in those quarters
bad produced especially most excellen
effect on the schools. They had beer
brought up to point OF high efficiency
and the education impaired at severa
which we could name, even if not sup
plemented by college terms OF study
would have been considered respectable
and were sure foundation upon whicl
young men Of ambition and of ability d
apply themselves could successfully bull,
in private. The injury inflicted upo1
sound education in the State from thi
cause, vas both deplorable and irreparo