The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-01

i
Virginia is also considering this matter, an
as it is one of interest to professors and stu
dents, the paper is sent to the press.
| F. N. WATKINS, Secretary.
Farmvilze, Va, April 12, 1878.
REPORT.
The Faculty would report to the Trustee
touching the matter of the length and dat
of the beginning and ending of sessions
That they find similar difficulties in tn,
subject, to those which have up to this time
divided the minds OF our Assembly and Syn
DDS. Your committee would, therefore, no
take the responsibility Of advocating to th'
Board any one plan, to the exclusion of al
others. But we suppose that all can be done
which is desirable, towards maturing the sub
iect for the speedy action of the Board, BY
the following method, which we beg leave te
employ, viz Dgesting distinctly each o.
the feasible plans separately, with indica
tions of its supposed advantages and difficult
ties.
The question really underlying all these
questions concerning sessions and vacations
is this: Shall the scholastic and the paro
chial and practical training Of ministers be
intermiugled, or shall the one be attended to
chiefly after the other is completed? For
all of US are agreed, that both thorough
scholarship and practical tact are essential
to the efficient pastor.
If it be deemed necessary to intermingle
the two trainings, this view naturally die
tates the division of the year into q shorter
session for study, and longer vacation for
parochisl work.
If experience has shown that this inter
mingling is not necessary nor feasible, then
the natural conclusion will be, to devote the
students whole year, willie student, to
duty, with such vacations or recesSes only,
as are useful for the recreation and health
of students and teachers.
We would premise again, that the last AS
sembly adopted certain action, which, while
only advisory, seems to require the compli-
ance of this board and Faculty, on grounds
of ecclesiastical courtesy, and also of consci-
entious obligation, unless we feel ourselves
freed from them by some opposing rule Of
Scripture. See Minutes of 1877, p. 416. The
only points in that legislation, however, bear
ing on our present questions, are these two
1st. That our course of studies shall be 80
arranged as to enable we'll prepared students
to pass over more or less Of it in any one Ses.
sion as, for instance, is done in the A. B
A. M. courses of the two Universities in Vir.
ginia. End. That this Faculty shall outline.
for such students as desire it, course Of
vacation study, with suitable text books, and
shall examine on it, at the beginning of the
ensuing sessions, with piew of passing the
student if sufficiently prepared, to advanced
studies. We recommend that these two
ussges be incorporated with our plan of in
struction.
Three suggestions lie before you for rear
ranging our sessions, besides the fourth par
of continuing the existing plan.
1st. The plan distinctly recommended BY
the able committee of this Board in 1879
and 1876, to divide the year equally be-
tween study and vacation, and to extend the
regular course to four years. But to meet
the need of those who felt compelled to dis
patch their course sooner to require two
professors each vacation, to give three
months course in vacation, going over tht
next six months studies in regular order. A
moments reflection will show the working o.
this system in detail. Its apparent advantage
is its feasibility, suiting both students whc
wished to move slowly, and those who wished
to move fast. Its apparent disadvantage is
that these vacation courses would be hurried
and would be less awakening and attractive
to both teacher and pupils, than the regula
ones, when the whole class would be present
and the course deliberate.
%. The Committee of Synod recommend
ed the following plan, now lying on the tabl
of that body. A course extended through
three sessions Of 81 months each but viii
provision to complete the instruction of tn
senior students in the middle of their las
term, and dismiss them. The apprehende(
objection to this plan is, that the dispersion
of the senior class, in the middle of eacl
term, would SO cripple the interest of th
students and teachers as virtually almost Il
disband the Seminary from that date.
Sd. The combination of the Assembly
first Recommendation, above cited, (D wit
the main feature of plan /, SO as to gain tn
results sought by both these, in modife
mode. Having arranged studies and hour
of recitations, so as to enable each studen
to take more or fewer studies at the time
according to his own ability and preparation
and thus to contract his stay in the Semin
ary, to the conditional minimum of two years
or to extend it to three or more, at his ow
convenience; arrange the seasons of stud
and vacation thus: begin study October Isl
and continue until April 18Th, without re
cess; making g. months study.
Give recess from April 18th to May Isl
Resume study May 1st, and continue to Jun
3Oth. Then give July, August and Septen
Der for vacation.
In order to remove the temptation to SeniO
students to omit the last two months study
and m for nramature licensure. let edc