New-York tribune., 1885-03-02
HARVARD'S PLAN OPPOSED.
VIEWS OF DIR. HALL AND GENERAL WEBB.

Eliot AND FAvoRING THE COMPULSORY PLAN.
The recent discussion at the meeting of the Nine
teenth Century Club between the presidents Vi
Harvard and Princeton in regard to the elective
system of studies in colleges has excited m"ch
comment iu educational circles The extreme
views held by Harvard's representative 90 DO.
meet with much response. On Saturday TRIBUNE
reporter obtained statements from the new III.
John Hall, acting chancellor of the University OF
.h. Citv of NewYork and General A. S. Webb
president of the College of the City OF New-1ork'
both of whom favor the compulsory plan as dls.m-
cu;sbed from the new departure at Harvard. "ne"
osked his opinion of the ideas advanced at the ue
bate, DR.. Hall said: ,..
One n,ust of course feel deep interest in the subject
but no matter how much thought given to the papers
@ cannot saw the one right and the other is wrong
as Won would sag of two answers 10 me same question
In arithmetic There Is need for a decate oaane,ig
nf advantages so far the two presldents agree III
their estimate OF the object aimed at But toey 40 no.
Il take The TRBUNEs report as eorrect-aim az the
.a%e thing IS & seems omsMbat e0 %e nsw meaning in the
word She aims at carrying forward the "a tIainhMs .,
every variety specialist and assumes .na ~
fully and successfully. He knows then, she thlnKs;
what will be congenIal in the process OF study ana
productive in its lifelong results. lie knows tis she
assumes better than can any faculty. or other pody Oh
teachers. ,.. ;.o .ho
So she proposes to turn her endowments into the
production of great literary club and mental develop
ent society," where every student takes little or much
ss he pleases one coming out arch8ologist one as
philologist one as composer. one as critic, one as
historian. one as naturalist. and so on. Now, If the
iptention of founders and the Judgment OF managers
aud of parents though in point OF tact taey
In the nature Of the plan harmonize in tins dlrectoh
one can see objection to the undertaking. me
country will haye the gain of number OF persons more
or ess educated on sefchosen lines and prepared 10
give ont a degree of light and light is good. Inc
Soung Mems Christian Association OF New ork on lts
lines tries TO work in this direction with the pest
teacbers II can get aid the utmost freedom of selection
of classes by its members. But gives no uegiees ~
claims no right to certify of its members that they are
educated men, and does not expect tpt proieeson' W
recognize its " graduates"
ON the other hand Princeton aims al giving educa-
tion in the branches accepted all over the land as
for entrance on study for all the great pro
fessions law medicine the ministry, and we may ado
departments of physical or mechanical ,ao9r sucn as
invite the civil and mining engineer. While the pro
must stand. If however, the Church, to take one
not need metaphysics. Latin Greek, to prepare him
for the study of theology, Biblical CRITICISM anu 50 on
provided he is good mathematician or Physicst, anu
The other professions should analogous course
then the Harvard plan would be less out of harmony
with the life of the country But what the youth would
never choose is often the thing he most needs ior
Now the two institutions BY these pro
grammesam at different results The Harvard plan, an
In measure initiates the German University, but has
it the complement OF the German University III ln@
preparatory gymnasium The Princeton takes Ameri-
can life as 1t is and while doubt steadily aiming to
raise the standard of attainment and widen the area
Of study tries enrich that lite with intellect method
shows men need to be directed, after they have
reached eighteen or nineteen. .
1t may be asked can the highest ideal OF scholarship
be reached on this-namsy, the Princeton plan We
reply assuming that the freshmen" IN the two col
leges enter with about the intellectual furniture,
the Princeton plan carries them at least as TAR as the
other for the general purposes Of life. The Harvard
student laborng four on one line may De nope
f specialist but how will he stand if proposing to 60
through college of surgery or a theological seminary
Latin In and Greek in the other VIII DC surely
desirable.
though contemplated in Princeton, and possibly in
Harvard, tor drawing men upward to the highest at
scholarship. We the founding OF places 10 be
gained by merit retained by attested progress
them honors fellowship, what youwll-the resident
occupants of which shall the college by teaching
ON the ground behind them; and 10 the leisure they
thus learning ON the ground before them
Only thing more is to be sad in this I'M incomplete S
make wise choice ior life at eighteen; but mental
maturity does not come so soon In the rest 9I tne
country Nor is there any evidence that the alleged
g. monasticn plan which Harvard depreeates has
turned out men less manly. independent ana elevated
In aim than have come from her ancient n'iS: ~ sr
bcnefcent omnipoent goddess pledged to make all VINO
live in her domain pure and good But the iaGts 40
not bear out this poetical view. Liberty Is % iorcc
bnt only the absence of despOtism and bondage ana
The opportunity for positive influences to work
sends IN tn' great degree on those influences and
ordinary prudence suggests that they De p9TsuSely
good and authori;atiyely commended. To own
allegiance to Is prefcgatiye OF Deity Inc law
of he home the law Of the school, the law OF the Alma
thoughtful practical respect these in their
places h the best Naoa apS e aw e
Nations God. Liberty is good where the SPIRIT oi
the Lord s' and in Christian land these are Ieeos
nized ways Of seeking that Spirit which no college
can wisely ignore.
GENERAL wEBB's STATEMENT.
General Webb gave the following as his opinion
of the wisdom of letting boys choose their own
studies:
NV reasons for feeling perfectly confident that must
nrpy
from among large number of subjects, which may be
Sbsiaed in INV own college during the last sixteenyea
The graduates and men Instructed there are we known
10 be placed a distinct class They lead with ease IN
the law school and IN the msaGS ,s Of y asy
Every attempt TO give TO seniors or 10 juniors eecon
which has produced the results OF which Justly
proud Everything OF this nature appears 10 us 70 DC
the young who may msled by its attactiveness
The young men of today, aud especially the yonhg
asted for tests Of this kind They seldom Il ever:
being taught how to gloss education received
MS unwilling spirit and carried on during season
fanctory manner the duty Of educators to ,Peak
out, S. laGTy and render do@a. %ofhes
and bring colleges into contempt psng tr1@ gtgr ea y
% edeR es ads from %
with college courses on the part OF men wno nave
Srsdustss or students OF special calling These, for
getting whence they derived all their strength are actu
constantly endcavornE to force their special studies
have experienced this kind or
attack upon the at West Point and the course at
Shis college repeatedly during the last twent y-hye
years. A.. 4, ..N -.
erheen is an infinitely complex and solitary organiza
tion Next correct education has for its aim the cor
rect development OF each students gs 90 not grant
the rst statement and the second not true DO you,
"a physical educaon take for your aim TO strengthen
NE parts that are weak or do you seek 10 develop
more the parts already strong Is the public ready Tor
4 steatopygean education They like II IN Africa Is
man complete II he be a superior mathematician ana
MAT be the limit OF his knowledge
eighteen fitted 10 Judge or tDelr strong