The new North-west., 1885-06-12
A COLLEGE CRAZE.
Missoulian, jane 9Th.


The citizens of Dillon, Bozeman aud Hell.
sns are severally agitating the founding of q
college or university in their midst. The
discussion of this question by q community
indicates that 1t needs facilities for educa.
ting Its youth net supplied by the existing
system. 1t is a critical period In the educa-
tional flow. Mistakes made at this time
will have effects far-reaching. One of the
errors Of the west has been the founding of
many colleges. New towns springing up
simultaneously, ambitious for q reputation
of stability, have founded colleges lustrous
in name and expectations, but weak Ia en-
rollment aud endowment. Finding them
selves wanting in these two essentials, their
curriculums become sufficiently diffuse to
comprehend every want, and their standard
reduced to admit and graduate all who
knock for entrance. The results of such
courses have deprived many communities of
otherwise useful members and put upon
others the results of inferior mental disci-
pline. In all the discussions we have noticed
the college or university was deemed
the essential. New countries, only having
tie public school system In working order,
do not demand the college to follow. The
academy. That system Of education which
will leave its impress upon the S. ate Is the
one that builds regularly and systematically
from the public school through the academy
into the college. A grave mistake Is CON-
mitted when the admission to the last Is
made comparatively easy. Make each Of
these stand for something fixed and unmis-
taxable, the results will be like. To found
the college the times demand, 1t must be
supplied with laboratories, Libraries and mu-
seums; Its chairs filled by original thinkers
and investigators whose influence and meth
ods teach as much as their theories.
To secure such essentials II requires an
excheqrer that is able 70 meet these de-
mands, and q class register sufficiently large
to encourage such workers In their research
60. II this Is the correct plan new countries,
lacking both In wealth to endow and stu.
dents to attend, are not the places to found
the university. Where the college follows
the public school the demand is made for
the latter 10 afford preparation for the form.
terests Of the community. The academy,
covering much moro limited field, can give
the training which the majority In pioneer
settlements require, and also fit those who
seek Q broader culture to enter the college.
Each center can srstain such an institution
combining the scholastic advantages with
the Influences Of home life. When the stu.
dent 10 fitted through such course to enter
college IL Is then time he acquires the cul.
tnre Of self-reliance which 10 best; secured
outside Of the household. When We reach
Statehood and dispose Of our university
lands the time will be ripe for the university
founding. The multiplicity Of colleges
does not raise the standard Of our scholar
ship, 1t has the opposite effect. II strength
and vigor are anywhere TO be gained II is In
concentration here. During the interval
where the urgency for something higher is
Recognized, build the academy. BY the time
the urgency for . broader culture Is suffic-
icntly pronounced We will be ready for the
institution which will reflect the culture Of
the mountain State.