The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-28
A Stale University.

TO the Editor OF the Indianapolis JournaI
DR.. e. E. White, in his final report to the
trustees, published in the Journal last Satur-
day, regrets ito see that a late member of
the Purdue faculty has taken leading part
in the movement to unite the higher educa-
tional interests of the State.
Inasmuch as l am the 'late member,
spoken of desire to add few words to
what have already said on the subject DR..
White very justly cites the fact that almost
the entire press of the State condemned the
attempt of the legislature to place rider
on the Purdue appropriation as an evidence
that the people in general were opposed to
it. The same argument will prove that the
citizens of Indiana are in favor of CONSOLE
dation of the educational institutions; for, as
far as have seen, the press of the State is
generally in favor of it.
believe that if the Legislature were in
session to-day the feeling in favor of consoli-
dation would be entertained By large ma
jority of the members. 1t was for this rea-
son that 1 suggested in my former letter that
the Governor ought to call a special session
before any steps were taken toward rebuild
ing the laboratories and museums which
Governor is one Of those, in the language of
DIR. White occupying high official positions
in the State" who refused to speak a bold
word" for Purdue in the time of her need?
] am, however, not disposed to think so i'll of
the high officers of State, whom | believe to
be men ready to do their duty when in pres
ence OF great opportunity.
1t is natural that Monroe county and all
graduates of the State University should be
opposed to its removal from thai town.
have no word of condemnation for that SEN
timent but sentiment is not argument.
Indiana has two State institutions dignified
with the name of university, neither one of
which has any right to it, In your short ed
itorial notice in Saturdays paper you seem
to favor the disjonted system of education
by pointing to the example of Michigan. But
you should not forget that the Ann Arbor
school is partly university, although two
of the schools that should be in it are under
different control. The university system of
Michigan would be more complete if the
farmers ami teachers professional schools
were under the control of the Ann Arbor
board of regents.
If the Indiana University is to continue as
mere fitting school for professional life
then there is no reason why it should not re-
main at Bloomington; but if, as | hope, it is
to become university, then it should be
placed where the various colleges comprising
a university can be organized most thorough
ly at the least expense.
am native of Indiana, and proud of my
birthplace l think have as earnest a de-
sire to see great university in Indiana as
any man born in Ohio or New Hampshire
can have. l should like to see a great insti-
tuition arise in my native State which would
give to every mbitous youth an opportunity
to fit himself thoroughly for any profession
in life. While our educational forces are
scattered as they are now, this hope can
never be realized.
1t is a mistake to suppose that technical
and industrial education will be dwarfed by
bringing it in proximity to classical training.
On the contrary, just the reverse is true.
Classical ii. e., ancient language and mathe-
maticaD training is sure to wane under the
influence of science and technics Harvard
University and Yale, with its vigorous Shelf
field school, are striking examples of this in
our country. In fact, think the tendency
of the age is to go too far away from old
methods of instruction. Technical training
and industrial education have nothing to
fear from the dead languages OF Greece and
Rome.
President Folwels authority, fear, is not
he highest which DR.. White could have