The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-12
PRESIDENT M'CosH's REPLY.



20 President Eliot cited in your editorial of
Sunday last, has made no real discovery, either
Of fact or argument. but has merely given us
very vigorous re-statement of bis own case.
Every step in the development of the elective
system at Harvard has been taken only after the
fullest and maturest consideration by the largest
and most experienced academic body in
this country, and full publicity has
been given TO every phase Of the dis
eussion. Moreover, the effect Of each step
has been carefully watched before the next was
taken, and so skillfully has the whole movement
been managed, in its latest development that no
mistakes have been made, and nothing has had
20 be undone. DIR. McCosh refers to the system
rs the new departure but it was in fact inaugu
rated at Harvard sixty years ago. on the recon-
mendation of committee of the board of over
seers. Judge Story being the chairman. The
system has fuctuated many times, being alter
natcly extended and curtailed, by the college au-
Ehorities. until 1865, when it entered upon
steady development, which has now eliminated
in almost perfect freedom Of choice for the
student.
The main objection urged by President McCosh
10 the elective system is stated by him as fol-
lows 'srhe student infers that he can study
what he pleases / can tell you what he will
possibly or probably choose. Those who are in
the secrets of colleges know how skillful certain
students are in choosing their subjects. They
can choose the branches which will cost them
least study, and pat themselves under the
popular professors who give them the highest
grades with the least labor To this objection
there are two answers: First, and generally,
what a commentary this is upon President
McCosh's faith in the earnestness and manliness
of the college student as he knows him! Un-
doubtedly there are in every large college COM
munity many young men whose object is not
learning but pleasure; who will do no more in
teilectual work than is absolutely necessary
for their retention in the college body
Students OF this character are detriment to
any college, no matter what course is adopted
concerning them Whether studies
Quired or elective will, in itself, make little
difference In the amount of knowledge and men
tai discipline they acquire. young man who
will choose his college work on the plan sug
gested by President McCosh would, in my
opinion, derive equally small benefit from rigid
outline of work under the Doctors own stern
supervision. intellectual riches cannot be
poured into the unwilling mind, as the molten
gold was poured into the throat of Crassus
But, further, it is a capital mistake to assume
that the regulations of great academic institu-
ton should be adapted to the needs real or sup
dents. university is not maintained to
reform the vicious or the INCORRECTLY idle. It's
object is, so / understand it, to foster desire
for true intellectual culture, and to
afford all possible facilities for achievements in
every department of intellectual activity.
The only hope of reaching the students referred
to by President McCosh would seem TO be in APP
pealing to their manness, and thus inducing
them to cutter voluntarily upon the road to self
culture This the elective system does; while,
on the other hand with sincerest Difference to
President McCosh, one is impelled to believe
that the most ill-advsed way to attain this end
lis to greet the freshman with the salutarion sug
gssted by the author of the reply"
President Eliot would say: young
man, here is almost unlimited wealth of courses
for your selection; we rely upon you to make
manly and scholarly choice. and we urge you to
make it with the greatest care, having in mind
tile advice of your parents and instructors, and
duly considering your probable future" Presi
dent McCosh will say: Young man, l know
that for many years you have been trained
In the elements of knowledge demanded by MS
Tor admission; that you have the ability to read
the Greek and Latin authors, and have already
studied the most famous of them; that you are
versed in the standard mathematical subjects,
and have passed our examination in English
grammar and composition know,
too, that you have reached mans
stature, and almost his years and
maturity. You tell US that you desire to choose
your course of development henceforward,
and to get that side of the Princeton culture
which seems to you most profitable for your own
oase But, my dear young sir many stu
dents desire to choosethosa courses which will
cost them least study and give them the highest
marks. AS you may be one or that
clfss we shall compel you to take courses OF our
own choosing and these courses will form the
chief portion of your college work"
The second and special answer to the obiec-
ton of President McCosh may be put as follows:
Whether college students, if given full liberty of
choice, will choose well or i'll, cannot be known by
any process of general reasoning on the nature OF
young men, but only by careful study of statistics
Of the actual choices made during a series of
years Hence, we turn to the only authoritative
document in this matter the annual reports of
President Eliot and the deans of the faculties
in which, for several years, the workings of the
elective system have been infinitely tabuated
President McCosh is distressed because he dis
covers, upon examining the Howard catalogue.
that man may graduate A p at
Harvard after pursuing in his last three years
tine following course: French literature, medic
val and modern history, fine arts, music bota
ny and Spanish. Now, the only possible way to
ascertain the magnitude of the dangers dreaded
by DR. McCosh is to determine, upon investiga
tion, whether any considerable number of
students choose such course. The state
ment of possible evils is in a case like
the present, irrelevant, unless it can be
shown that the evil exists in practice. may
remark parenthetically that time spent on the
above courses is by no means thrown away
while young man who would choose them
alone with all the wealth of scholarship opened
out before him, would probably be incapable of
profting by stronger diet.
What per cent, then, of the Harvard students
choose the specimen courses named by Dr.
McCoshl To answer this question l have
obtained the following per cents, which may be
verified by any one who will compare DR..
McCoshs pamphlet, page II. with the tables in
President Eliot's last annual report page 63 In
obtaining the per cents i have excluded from
consideration the freshmen, and all students
from the various professional schools. and also
special students, that the result may apply ex
actly to the case chosen by DR.. McCosh. The re-
suits are as follows: French Etera-
ture of the seventeenth century, one half
OF one per cent; OF the eighteenth
century, per cent; of the nineteenth century,
10 per cent; European history, IA per cent;
early medieval history. per cent; fine arts 3