The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-08-11
University of Texas-The COlIege-The
InIVerNitY.

University.
One asks: "What is a college"
Another answers: at is a seminary
of higher learning intended to sue
coed the school, and possessing by
the act of incorporation, the power
of giving degrees" The same au-
thOrity defines n university to be "a
larger college," adding that the state
charters both, and that there is no
real difference mentioned in the
charters, except in the name "cOl-
lege" or university" as the case
may be. But we feel there must be
a wider difference more sharply
defined distinction than this. The
etymolOgies indicate, and the OBJ
jects of the two institutions mark
the separate spheres of each.
The word "collegium" signifies
a collection. or rather our
word selection" A college has
for its purpose, culture as an
end, and relies upon the selection of
few well-tried leading branches of
instruction, such as the classics,
mathematics, logic, mental and NOR
al philosophy, as the prominent
studies embraced by the curriculum.
The manner of instruction, the
discipline lin the sense of govern
ment) is very different in the college
from that in the university. In the
college the students are held to close
class recitations, and hence the
standard of proficiency is for the me-
diocre-lhe bright and industrious
are held back, while the dull
and the laggard ones are
helped up. The professors, or
rather, tutors, meet the students
daily in the class roOms-come in
close contact with each one sepa-
rately-"hears him recite and marks
him"
The president in the college is
emphatically the head-not only Is
he the ruling, controlling spirit of
the faculty, but of the board of Il us
tees or managers. None of the pro-
fessors are expected to approach,
much less rise superior to him, in
literary ability or i'll personal popu-
larity. He is the standard, and
hence the college is what he makes
it, or permits it TO be. In the col
lege family, the president is truly
''it loco pdTeRtiS,"
What is Il university? The RO-
man law-term URiUerSitdS, means "a
corporation" but the academic term
implies a corporation for teaching
and studying all knowledge.
The system began with the uni
versity of Paris i'll the early part of
the twelfth century, and the idea
was, the gathering together i'll one
body and one place, the most emf
nent professors of all the sciences
then known. From this the word
university" had its rise. 1t was
".Studium UniUeISdLe eel Generate"
So much for the histOry-the
origin of university instruction. This
brings us to the question: What is
the object of the university? The
object of the university is culture as
n means, higher culture rs prepa-
ration for the highest of all profess
sions-tne profession of scholar and
thinker. A university is essentially
and emphatically professional and
practical in its spirit, and therefore
while the general culture is cOntin.
ued, it is done in n different spirit
1t is not more culture for cultures
sake, as in the college, but culture as q
preparation for activity in the high.
est fields. 1t is culture as profes,
siOnal training for Investigators
teachers of the human race, leaders
and directors of the thought of the
age.
But within narrower bounds and
in the ordinary acceptation, the
university may be said to involve
these two features: First, it is {
school for general knowledge. Sec
ond, collection of special schools
or departments for preparation il
one, two or three of the learned pro
fessions.
For the organization and the sue
cessful management of such an in
stitution, a board of control is neces,
sary. This body may be styled
UiSitOrS, directors or regents at pleas
ure. These should be appoint &c
by the governor, and should bC
elected on account of their scholaly
attainments-their enlarged and lib
eral views should be progressive
enough TO keep abreast with the
advance in higher education, con
sentative and painstaking enough
however, to investigate thoroughly
before adopting and admitting into
the university new subjects and new
chairs, simply because new. They
should select their own chairman
they should appoint the mem
bers of the faculty, an(
from these either select, or allow
the faculty to select their owl
president or chairman.
Ours being a representative gov
ernment, n government of the PEG
pie, by the people and for thu
people, this seems to be natura
order. The chain of responsibility il
complete, the channel of cOmmuni
cation direct and simple, viz: The
faculty, through their head report tC
the board, and the board, through
their head report to the governor,
and he to the legislature-the peo'
pie themselves.
This is substantially the spirit anC
Interpretation of section 8, universe
ty bill. Such a board, composed o.
such men as described, has been ap'
pointed by the governor. Upon the
selection of the location of the uni
versity, the bill provides for the i'm
mediate organization of the bOaad
and defines its duties closely recit
ing the work to be done.