New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-03
ELECTIVE STUDIES AT BROWN.
FEATURES OF PRESIDENT RoBINsoN's ANNUAL Rf
PoRT-CHAYGEs IN THE CURRICULUM.

FEATURES OF PREslDENl hOblNoON . A"-'Sni' 49,
PORT-CHANGEs IN THE CURRICULUM
,FroM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE ]
PROVIDENCE, Sept. 2.-Thc corporation OF Brown
University held its annual meeting in Manning Hall to-
day. The president presented his annual report. in
the opening of his report President Robinson ailudes
to the fact that there signs OF growing appreca-
ton among students OF the value of college education
and also evidences of strengthening regard Tor all
the proprietes and oblga OF lite The moral tone
from year year" he adds becomes increasingly sat
isfactory" Special instruction viii be furnished those
who may desire to study Spanish and Italian. The
report discusses length the subject of electives in
course of college study. The introduction OF so many
these has called for Encouragement OF the entire
college curriculum. dow radical some OF the changes
recommended will appear from the statement tnst
the study of lure mathematics is left optional with the
student after the freshman year and that OF creek and
Latin after the second year. The student may eject
German if he wishes to IRON the beginning Oh the sopn
omore year. and carry IL the remainder OF the col
ege course Physiology Ia no longer required study
of the junior year, but elective OF the sophomore
The required studies for the degree OF both Bachelor
OF Arts and Bachelor of Philosophy are the same The
studies for the latter degree more numerous than
those for the former and grouped under tour dis
tnct classes each GLASS being so arranged IS 70
as nearly "a possible tho existing attanments and
needs as well the tastes and anticipated cangs Of
specal Glasses of students" President Robinson
admits that the elective system so largely pteyaeht
in institutions OF learning, has some serious disad-
vantages. Love OF or freaks OF fancy may
prompt the choices of the student. dwarfed. one
sided, superficial education VIII follow such choices
H. however there be carefully guarded system OF
optional studies, there may be marked oenehelai
results in the carrying out OF such system. " 10
give" says President Robinson the same degree 70
diverse kinds of cultureto send out into the world
man who has been trained only In the physical sciences
and modern languages with the same diploma That IL
given TO one who has been trained III classical hter-
AZURE as we'll as in, philosophy and scienoe-is not
merely TO do violence TO the traditions OF the past ana
dlsparage the value of learning but Il Is To confuse
the public mind, and to say empnaticaly that an edu'
cation which fits for an industrial calling does Just as
much for a man and in itself is just rs valuable as an
education that acQuants with the past ana iaiazes
with the great principles that have shaped the
of nations and determined the civilizations OF tue
world"
The introduction on large SCALE of electives into
the curricula OF college Studies necessarily must ead
to some changes In the comforting of what hitherto mas
been called the four distinct honorary degrees the
classical philosophical sautatory ,an ana val
cdictory" orations. These degrees have been given
according to rank the class Under the new arrange
ment of studies where many OF them are elecuVe'
the rank of the student might give hum the th
Grafton IT, for two years he had not ookeu INTO
a Latin book Hereafter honors wall be bestowed
which shall be distinctly representative oil tue
work actually accomplished.
vslne the course of what is called classical studies
appears from the decided language OF the president
In oil the changes ,h % d:n re "9e IN the least de-
gree disposed to disparage classical learning, OF 10
afford the slightest preext for negtcting IT. On me
contrary au increased attention 90 II Il confidently
expected. To every student desiring u opportunity
will be afforded for further advance Ia the study OF
classical literature than hitherto has bcenIpossble
with us"
The report Of President Robinson alludes to the
recent requests of Senator Anthony and Prot' ssor
Chace TO the university. IL recommends the pubcs-
ton Of a qunguennia catalogue-and. at later date
comprehensive catalogue containing BRET notices OF
all Students Of the university who from s establish
ment have been connected with the institution.
portrait OF James Brown. the father Of the -Four
Brothers of that name, whose connection was so nt
mate with the university was presented 10 the college
by Mrs Carrie NJ BauOtti, of Paris descendant OF
Mr. Brown Miss Anna A. Stout a sister OF William
Stout OF NewYork announced 60 the corporation that
she Intended 10 present to the university alnabe
herbar1nm, collected by her brother with valuable
botanical books To accompany the sane The follow
Tor; S. L. Caldwell, ID, secretary a. II. Chace
traa