Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-30
Students In the Agricultural College.

Mr.. Editor DIR. Buckham, in his reply to my
article reviewing his address upon the Education
OF Farmer Boys complains OF having been grossly
misunderstood. Whatever | objected to in that
| address first quoted. II misunderstood it, the
intelligent reader need not. DIR. Buckham's ad
dress is in print both as a pamphlet and as part
OF Agricultural Superintendent Meads report
| Most Of the copies OF the WATERMAN containing
| my comments upon it have probably already per
ished, so that the two cannot now be compared by
| many readers. To those who may have preserved
| it can however appeal as to whether there is in
| it any Misrepresentation or misunderstanding on
| my part
Natural science Mas been taught in all of our
literary colleges, more or less, since the days of
Silliman and Cleveland. But it has been taught
as branch OF general culture, and very little for
its technical use. As taught it has been OF slight
| industrial application, or value. The student OF
medicine, even, who has graduated from a literary
college, usually begins his first serious study Of
| the sciences related to his art when he enters a
medical school,
when spoke OF "a collegiate education with
| the sciences left out, referred land my read
ers must have so understood mel to that kind OF
science teaching which belongs, not to elegant
culture, but to industrial work. Everybody knows,
suppose that all colleges have more or less
science teaching in their curriculum No student
may get degree from DR.. Buckham's college,
as he says, without having made creditable pro-
ficency in various Sciences but it is proficiency
quite distinct from the proficiency which grad
uate OF the Boston Institute of Technology, for
instance possesses in the same branches 1t is this
latter proficiency alone that has industrial value.
The difference, which Is the difference between
knowing and knowing about thing, is world
wide. One may do for culture but it is the other
only which has value for the mechanic or the
farmer. Civil engineering, which is a branch of
applied mathematics, and, contracting dignity
from this relationship, is regarded as profession
rather than trade, is indeed taught, and | be-
lieve well taught, at Burlington. The possession
OF the income OF the agricultural college fund has
enabled the university to greatly strengthen its
faculty on the side Of science, and this gives it
the ability to graduate civil engineers, and also
to offer its medical students better help But II
offers attractions to students of agriculture Of
mechanical engineering, or OF any other depart
ment Of mechanics. So far as the fund has been
useful in the promotion Of science teaching it has
still enured to the advantage OF the professions,
as distinguished from the industrial trades | have
always contended that this is perversion OF the
trust, and thousands share In that view OF the
matter.
DR. Buckbam quotes my statement that the
university has never had any classes in its indus
trial department" and almost goes into fits over
it. He brings forward his science teachers and
their classes to refute the allegation Are the
students OF these classes entered as students OF
Al. ID.