West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-06-30

development Is slower, more superb
cial, and less independent, while they
show still greater inferiority 10 point,
OF ability to carry on the more difficult
processes of independent research"
The professors Of chemistry say that
students from the real.schools cannot,
in their branch Of study, be placed up
on the same plane as the students from
the gymnasia. Prof. Hoffman, observes
that the matriculauts from the non
classical schools often show, at the
beginning of their chemical studies in
the University, more rapid progress
in acquiring q knowledge of the ele.
nentary principles Of the science, as
well as a greater dexterity in the early
processes of chemical manipulation; but
that, before their studies have advanc-
ed far, these relations are reversed, aud
the non-classical students are left be.
hind. He adds, that his experience is
by no means news that the same fact
had often been observed by Liebig.
Professor Ramrnelsberg gives similar
testimony in regard TO students in the
School of Technology. He says that
of those who take his lectures on chem
istry during the first semester, the
students trained IN the gymnasia,
though without any previous knowl-
edge of the subject. take far greater
interest in the instruction than that
shown by the students from the non
classical schools. He remarks that
almost invariably there is with the
students from the real-schools certain
indifference (Blasirtheit), begotten of
an early familiarity with the snbject,
that is fatal To the most rapid and sue
cessful progress. At the final examin.
atoms the work of the non.olassical
students Is generally inferior 10 what.
in advance, would be expected, while
the work of the classical students is
almost invariably better. ii i..
From the other branches of scien.
tific study the testimony is some
what less emphatic, though il Is in
variably Of the same general import.
In the teaching of modern philology
the eNperipce of the several pro.
fessors is not essentially different
from that of the instructors of chem
istry. Professor Tobler testifies
that in his seminary for the more
thorough. study of the French Ian
guage and literature. he has not
been able TO detect any very con
siderable difference between the
classes of student The Professor
of English, ON the other hand, says
that the attainment Of the non. elias.
steal student is greatly inferior and
what is of still greater Importance
they almost invariably show want
OF keenness Of apprehension and in.
dependence of judgment that prevents
them from taking any other than a
prescribed method The same profes.
sor (Zupitza), test6es, that as u mem
Der OF the Examining Commission OF
the Government, he has noticed, that
although the students prepared in tn,
real schools begin their studies o
English before they go to the Univer
sity, their knowledge of the languag,
at the completion of their universit,
course is generally much inferior to tn,
knowledge shown by the classical stu
dents. Herr Mullenhof, one of tn,
professors of the German languag,
and literature, uses these expressly,
words According TO my experience
it is hopelessly impossible for student
prepared in q realschool to acquire
what may be called a thoroughly sat
isfactory development. No one evel
acquires it through the study of tn,
modern languages one without the
solid foundation of training IN {
gymnasium" Sheer, the other pro
fessor of the some subject, complains
of the constant embarrassment t.
which he is subjected by his inability
TO introduce TO his hearers comparison
between the German linguistic form
in the ancient languages.
1t is in vsew Of such representation
as these that the Faculty find itsel
unanimous in its belief that the iidmis
sion of students from the real schools
has been injurious TO the interests o.
higher learning. The professor in al
those departments 70 which non-clas
steal students are admitted are con
stantly embarrassed by certain wan
Eof hOmogeneity in their classes. They
must either address themselves to tn,
weaker portion of the class, with 8
CONSCIOUSNESS that they are wearyinl
the better scholars by their excessive
simplicity, or, il they resort to Oh,
other view, they are obliged to carry
forward their work with depressing
Consciousness that they are not under
stood by considerable portion of tLei
hearers. Unless the prevailing ten
dency IS ayerted, the inevitable result
10 the opinion of the Faculty, will b,
that the supreme excellence Of scholar
ship which for half n century hal
made the German universities famous
all over the world. will be q thine OF