Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-02-20
/ New Phase Of college Management.


Anew months ago THE INpEpEND-
ENT published an article on "The
Self Government OF College Students"
The article briefly outlined several
attempts, as those of Amherst and of
Bowdoin, to substitute government
of the students. embodied in Senate
or Jury for the ordinary method Of
control. The democratic system in
the colleges has, on the whole, worked
well. But a. the beginning of the
present college year of Iowa Colleg ge
system was introduced which is most
democi attic of all democratic systems
of college administration. The system
is nothing less than the abolition of all
formal professions and endeavors Oh
the part OF both students and officers
relative to collegiate government. The
government is no longer self COVER
nmeut of the students: it is a self-gov-
eminent of the individual student
This attempt is, perhaps, the most
significant and important made for
many years in respect to the internal
administration of the colleges. The
movement is. in certain ways, tar more
liberal than any method upon which
lie college distinguished tor new de.
partures, Harvard, has ventured. In
a recent address to the students the trus-
tees indicate the general motives which
led to this change. INSTRUCTORS are
provided" they say, THAT their whole
strength may be spent in instruction and
friendly conference with the students.
1t is wrong to all students. to the
trustees and faculty, when few divert
the time and care ofinstructors TO mat
ters of discipline. tits expected thar
every student of Iowa College will
govern himself in conformity with the
intent of It's founders and guardians,
and so secure the greatest good to
himself and all concerned, and the
highest honors to the college"
The trustees enact no formal code.
They are content with making a few
suggestions" and specifications" in
the hope and expectation" that they
alone will be found sufficient for the
satisfactory government of the college"
These suggestions" and "speciica-
tlons" point out the exact nature Of
the new regime. The faculty should
be advisers as well as instructors, the
Interpreters of the rules of propriety,
and have the immediate care and gov
ernmsnt of the students. admitting and
dis,nlssing, as, in their judgment, the
interests of the college as whole re-
quire.' Furthermore: the faculty
should be regarded as the friends and
counselors of the students, having su
preme regard to their welfare as STU
dents. The advice or admonition Of
the faculty should be sufficient law
10 all Students The specifications ap-
preaching details of conduct, touch up
on attendance at the religious exercis-
es, the necessity of attention to the
prescribed studies and recit1 tions, OBJ
servance of study hours, and general
deportment. 1t is, however, to be re
membered that both these general
principles and specifications are stated
only as suggestions
Years will be required fully to test
the worth OF this most democratic de
mocracy. But so far as brief trial al
lows an inference, it is evident that its
working is, in many respects, satistac-
tory. The college paper says: "The
change in the mode of government
cannot but have a healthful influence
on the life and activity of the college.
Already the effect of the change is per-
meating the students as a class, and
rousing new life and energy. The sue
cess ofthe schema will in Iowa College,
or in any institution, be determined in
good part by the personal influence OF
the president and professors, and by
the earnest upright and mature charac.
ter the students. If the personal
influence of the officers be great with
out being arbitrary. ard if the senti-
ments of the students be manly and
not hoyish, the scheme. can be tried
with much assurance ofits success. Ir
the college as in the state, that govern.
ment IS the best which governs the
least; but for this sort of government
to succeed, it must be administered by
those most worthy of being adminlstra
tors, and administered upon those who
have the least need of government
Rec. c. +, TAWing