New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
ACTIVITY AT PRINCETON.
WHAT THE PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS
ARE DOING.
vv,ppycEs OF SOLID PROGRESS IN SCHOLASTIC
woRK-wILL GREEK BE RETAINED FOR
ENTRANCE EXAMS? - ELECTIVES :,
PoPULAR-cRIGINAL RESEARCH

POPULAR-CRIGINAL RESEARCH
AT the last meeting of the Princeton Cup oil 'i"s
rity Dr. NJ. Allen Starr, 70 chairman OF inc GUM
nittee on he college curriculum, reau odioiuis
prepared paper on the methods now uSeu III 80
.ort At his alma mater The report showed that
Princeton has recently made rapid progress vi d
solid kind toward the ideal position when icr sr8uu
ates would like her to occupy. that OF the nrs' UNI
versjty of America In preparing his report Dr. oarr
went TO Princeton and found out by "., WIN
professors and students. how the ne" I"'Un'"' VI
instruction were regarded The members Oh 'ie oiuo
listened to the paper with great saus'acuo"' All
abs ract of it may be Of interest 10 irehoS Vi ' 'ue
and Of higher education generally 49,
II is Interesting TO note how closely the recognition
az the individual needs of the indvduai StuuehI dAs
this new departure at Princeton and the goH results
which are following that recognition NSenlole inc OK
pcriencc Of Harvard under PRESIDENT floo WIFI
similar change. The elective system mas now been
in successful operation for years at Harvard and
princeton is one of the many colleges which nave
followed her example in adopting IT,
The first subject discussed in the report was the
entrance examinations. They were held last year in
different parts Of thScounry, allowing threehfhs OF
tle students who were admitted in that year TO take
the examinations without being obliged TO go to
Princeton for the purpose. formerly necessary.
At some OF these examinations prizes were offered by
the local alumni associations
The special training needed by different classes OF
President Patton. some students come 10 college
with a poor lit" in Greek. although well prepared in
other subjects. This is especially true of freshmen
from the South and West. Instead of being condi-
toned perhaps rejected, such men are now admitted
a. special students attending lectures and recltaOS
in all departments excepting that of Greek, in which
they are allowed to make up their deficiency with
tutors during the first year in college, 50 that at the
beginning of the sophomore year they may JOIN their
classes without conditions. In connection win th'
feature DR.. starr gave a hint Of a possible future
change in the requirements for admission, radical
one indeed. for Princeton, in these words
This arrangement will be perpctuatcd and another
plan which / am not at liberty to dvulge, l.
under con sheraton by means of winch the netG,siy
for making up deficiencies IN GrecA may possibly De
Obviated
A valuable class of students is composed of those
who come TO college desiring to pursue certain lines OF
work. and are unwilling to follow other branches OF
study which they believe Will not cOnduce to their NE
work. For such also special provision is made by the
socaled university courses" These are courses OF
study each of which is devoted the same general
subject and covers the work Of two or more years.
Under the old system these students would have found
no suitable place.
Freshmen are no longer taught almost exclusively
by tutors, formerly. Every professor now IN the
college conducts freshman well as senior courses
The freshmen thus have the benefit Of experienced
teachers while the tutor and assistant professor j.
stimulated to his best work to meet the critical spirit
Of the senior. This change has only become possible
through the extension of the elective system on this
point DR.. starr says:
The tendency is decidedly at present toward the
enlargement of elective studies. Experience has con
WINGED professors tnat the best class OF work when
This testimony has been given independently by seven
different professors to me- Ending ean 1Hgf o Wo
and more enthusiastic, every professor at present al
Princeton desires to teach an elective cla,s only
has had The effect of persuading TIE professors nat
the elective system has eat cacy I He
feels that the studies which he chooses have been
line Of work in view. The number of elective studies
from which he now can make his choice j. 80 great
Professional prof work can be begun on good founda
ton. sophonores II Is true have but four electives
open to them, but Juniors have thirty and seniors
rty-nne.
The elective system has stimulated work among
TIER elective classes are large thus ! waI told
with considerable pride by three Of the professors o!
elective courses Hence il is not al ali imp,~siI,
that in the near future the elective studies in Prince
ton will take wider and wider range.
Laboratory work is generally superscding didactc
lectures in the scientific departments. The students
in the laboratory show much enthusiasm. is sho"n
by the establishment of biological society. which
does, in It's way, work similar u that done By such
societies in Germany by the old library meetings
in philosophy in DR.. McCosh's dav Another in
stance Of enthusiasm In the work j. shown IL the fact
HAT two monographs in morphol1Gy written by
medical journals in Germany. such interest IN tho
worn induces students 10 continue il after crafu
alton. and as consequence the number Of po,tgihu
ate students ha> gradually Increased 10 l06. .
TIE instruction III each Of the departments
Of ethics. psychology and philosophy is now undo!
the Of separate professor. Much cratihcation
was expressed at the acceptance by Professor Wood
row Wilson Of the chair OF political science = sue
coed Professor Alexander Johnston who'e loss is even
vet keenly felt. The department Of history ha> been
sJnane's lectures and do much good work in them.
The year has been marked by considerable ht,laiy
activity among the faculty. Reference was made ln
DR. stars report 10 book, written by Professors
Wlnsns Hunt and West. and 10 an edition OF LlNy,
edited by Professor Westbrook, which Is soon to ap
pear.