New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-11
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE YEARS WORK AT COLUMBIA.

THE YEARS WORK AT COLUMBIA.
PRESIDENT BARNARD's ANNUAL REPORT-sATIsFAC-
TORY CONDITION THE COLLEGE.
President Barnard. of Columbia College. has sub
mtted his annual report to the Board of Trustees:
It is of great length covering all the departments Of
the college, and 1t contains several suggestions AS to
the future policy of the institution.
The total number of students matricnlated in the
Seniors 40; juniors, 81; sophomores, SO; and
freshmen, "a. The strictness of the rules in regard
pressed in some degree the growth of the college in
numbers but compensation for this was found in
ment. In the School of Mines the total attendance
was 294, in the School of Law 400 in the School of
year. Eleyen students were matrlculated in the
School of Political Science, which was opened FOR
the first time last octobeT The scholarship in the
ably with that of recent years. Much stimulus
was wa given to voluntary study during the last year
There is not college in the country, says Presi-
dent Barnard in which the chapter of the history of
be written in fewer words The students conducted
themselves in the college grounds and in the class
life Which they S S Woa 's Of
means of reaching the end of good government in
colleges, he suggests that It might be better attained
should be thrown wholly upon the students them
Selves the weak point in the present system being
ms own interest and not that of the faculty that is
lmEcrfec-
uons OF preparatory instruction: At each examina-
ton OF applicants for admission to the college a wide
INEQUALITY was apparent in the thoronghness of
prcparation-a fact indicative of q defect in the
American system of higher education, by which it
1als to secure unity of method between the more Gle
mentary anu the more advanced parts of the course
from beginning to end education should conform
TO one cont nuOus system. subject everywhere, if
possible, to the same ,superintending intelligence.
As remedy for this defect President Barnard re-
comnends that Columbia College should extend, as
IL uu formerly, Its supervision over the preparatory
gpho ha
thinks, would he n judicons policy. AS an altcrna-
tive plan possibly more effect ua he suggests that
arrangements might be. made with schools in this
city and its vicinity by which they should be visited
ny committees of the college faculty, and should
as the faculty should prescribe. BY this means
students might pass easily from one grade to an,
Under the head of Educational Science" the
writer says that among the great multitude Of edu-
cationa institutions in this country not one seems
TO have made education itself subject of investiga
ton or to have regarded instruction in the theory
and practice of education as part of its business.
In this respect this country far behind Continent
al Europe, and its educational system will never he
what it ought to be until education is made pro-
fesSlon lie goes so far to propose that perIna-
nent chair of education shall be established in Co
lumbia College, Tho practical importance of the
measure he says, lies in the fact that the present
system of education is marled by grave faults which
instead of being led first TO the requirement of
knowledge of things in the physical world about
crammed with Greek and Latin roots, much to his
h n ana nmy The frs, classes of sciences to
spcct to FORM the second to facts and phenomena in
reference to law. Latin and Greek could come
afterward. In connection with this subject pleas
ant picture is drawn of ideal school in the coun-
where boys should be taught the natural sciences
in the fields and words almost without the use of
books.
a long chapter of the report is devoted to the uues
ton OF the higher education of women. The in
curry President Barnard says, comes from every
side whether Columbia viii not do something in this
direction In view of the success that has attended
the University of Michigan, Cornell and Other col
lcges In this country, and Gr,on and NEWMAN
Colleges III England, which have thrown open their
DOORS the objections against extending to Young
women the advantages OF the highest academic cul-
turc have proved fallacious. The time has come
when Columbia College should feel urged to do her
part III carrying forward this noble and bcneiiccnt
work The public mind * prepared for it the mem
bers OF the faculty. without exception, in favor
OF IT. and 1t is easily practicable. In conclusion, on
this question President Barnard says: =" can only
repeat the conviction expressed in my former report
that the question here considered il in this insitu-
ton only a question of time and that, whatever
may happen this year the next, Columbia College
will yet open her doors widely enough to receive all
earnest Il honest seekers after knowlc without
any distinction of class or sex"
The reports from the various associated schools of
the college show them all 10 be in very satisfactory
condition.