Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-19
The Commenceme Season.

The following article from the Boston
Trnrcllcr is so sound and sensible that we
copy it entire, and endorse it, as true
and timely word, exceedingly well said:
The college commencement season is
upon us, and with it come as matter of
course the customary adverse criticisms of
college training, the assertions that 1t Is
impractical, and the demand for sweeping
changes in the ordinary college curricu-
lum. Because some men have succeeded
in the battle of life, and have won hOnors
in the world of letters, in political and
professional life, in spite of lack of col
legiate training, there are those who sheer
at it and affect to dispise it. We are to
expect, of course, the usual gibes concern
ing the much-abused valedictorians, and
the prophecies that the men who stand at
the other end of the class are rather those
who are to be heard from in subsequent
wears We shall be told that the chief
things the young men take with them as
they leave college halls are their diplomas,
"bg heads" most exaggerated idea of
their own importance, and Oyerweenng
and baseless hopes concerning the future.
1t will be intimated also that our colleges
D
ball and foot ball are among the leading
studies pursued, and the stale old at
tempts at Jokes concerning the pastimes are
to do service again and make their annual
rounds. But the colleges will live, the
places of the graduates will be filled when
after the summer vacation, college doors
are opened again, and the work of
training men for advantageously be
ginning the battle of life will go on.
A good deal of the criticism of'the work
done in the American college is OF the sour
grape variety. Now and then the college
spoils good farmer, or mechanic, or bust
ness man to made third-rate doctor, or
! lawyer, or minister, but these cases are
much rarer than are alleged, and i'll fact
nobody knows whether the third-rate doe
tor, lawyer, or minister would ever have
made more than Il third rate farmer or
mechanic We venture the opinion that
the college never spoiled very much good
material, and that at present 1t is spelling
less than ever The real value of what is
termed the higher education will hardly
be seriously questioned, and the colleges
have never done better work in this caust
) of higher education than they are doing
to-day, and no set of young men have beer
turned ont of them better equipped fol
beginning their struggle with the world
, than the hundreds who take their diplo
mas at this present Commencement sea
son. The college graduate of twenty years
ago fully appreciate this If no one els'
, does. The entrance requirements in thu
American colleges have been raised, tn,
. course of instruction has been broadened
thee lass room work has been systematizeC
and studies have been more thoroughly di
gested and mastered than Il score of years
ago The libraries are better stocked
laboratories and observatories have beel
? built complete in their appointments
: geological and botanical collections have
been made to illustrate studies once bar
rem of interest, and almost countless
agencies have been devised for diversity
) ing instruction and allowing the student