The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-29
OUR LITERARY BUDGET.
The College lust Take Second Placs IN Our
Educational System.
CLASSES OF EDUCATED PERSONS.
Elementary Branches Arc tho Business OF the
schoois-The Higher Studies of the Col
iege-specinltles or the University.

lcge-Speclnitles OF the tDlVersnys
Now that we have the germs, more or less
developed, of eight o. ten universities, the
college must prepare to take second place in
our educational system. To ape the univer-
sity and Try to spread over the whole field Of
higher education. or to be jealous OF the uni
yersity and set mp rs its rival. Is equally
absurd and suicidal. It's proper policy IS to
accept with modesty and self respect its new
position. and by losing tho old lilo OF self
sufficient independence, to find tho new life
of membership in the highly differentiated edu-
cational organism of which the kindergsrtens
are the feet and the university Is the head.
There are three classes of educated per-
sons. First those whose knowledge or
reading writing. arithmetic. grammar,
geography, modern history descriptive
science and their native language and
literature, enables them 70 do ordinary
business, to enter good society and
TO enjoy periodical and popular literature.
Second, those whose knowledge or ancient
and modern languages and literatures, higher
mathematics, departmental science. political
and economic history, psychology, ethics ana
sociology enables them to grasp the prici-
pies OF medicine or law or politics or the
ology TO guido social progress and form pub
lie opinion 70 enjoy the cOmpanlOnshlp OF
wise and good men of all lands and ages; and
to appreciate the results III some department
of scientific investigation or historical re-
search. Third. those whose special train
ing qualities them 10 discover and in
terpret new truth within some chosen
field OF knowledge. To make scholars of tho
first-class is the business of the school; 70
make scholars of the second-class. and 70 dis
cover and encourage those cahablo of enter
Ing the third-class. IS tho business OF the col
lege. 10 train the chosen few who constitute
the thlrd-class into full possession OF produc-
tive powers. Is the business OF tie university.
In determining the conditions of admission.
the college has in view two ends which III the
present state Of sec .ndary education are Of
ten inconsistent. First, to secure thorough
training: and, second, to make close and natural
connection with the course OF study pursued
by tho average student III our academies
and high schools. la order 20 secure the
requisite training the majority OF Eastern
colleges insist on specified amounts of Latin,
Greek and mathematics as the substance OF
their requirement This requirement, how
ever. does not coincide with the course OF the
average student IN the high school Unless
by the time q boy is thirteen his parents have
picked ont q college career for him, he studies
in the high school history science. French or
Latin altogether. Then by the time he is
seventeen he finds himself hOpelessly cut off
from a college course. Why. then, does not
the college recognize these studies Is suostl-
tutes for the traditional requirements
For two reasons-One bad and one good.
The bad reason IS that Iltin, Greek
and mathematics, having beenfOr generations
the traditional requirements. hayo become
the objects OF superstitiOus yeneratlOn. Inc
good reason IS that the average high school
is not yet equipped, either in teachers or APP
paratus, % make the study OF history, science
and modern languages the means OF that
thorough training which they are able 10 give
by means Of Greek and Latin. As soon as
tho high schools are able 10 teach expert
mental science French and German as well
as they now teach Greek and Latin. 1t Will be
the policy of the college 70 require for adlnls-
sion mathematics and English as nj present;
ability to read easy prose at sight IN Latin.
and either Greek, French or German. and
evidence of thorough course IN ca
detrimental science. We shall then have
q considerable number OF students Mt
ting for college IL the high schools,
who will DO for the most part ~ the same
classes with the students who are not intend
ing to enter college instead OF the small num-
Der who pursue q separate course, and thus
receive an undue amount OF the time OF the
teacher, and an unjust proportion OF the
public school fund. This modification
in requirement will necessltate some
corresponding notifications in the
course of study. 1t will be necessary to
offer an elementary course in Greek as well
as in German and French for those who wish
10 begin this study after admission to college.
There should be a course IN the history,
literature. mythology and Archaeology Of
Greece required OF every student who has Mt
studied the Greek language as u part OF his
PREPARATORY or college course. The multiple
cation oi highly specialized electives IS not
the province oil tho college. The expense is
TOO great and the profit 10 students at this
stage too small. Professor William Dewitt
HYDE, in the Educational EoyIew Tor NoYem-
Der.