The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-09

any other should certainly be included. His.
tory also Is omitted. a subject upon the educa-
tional value OF which | might expatiate at
length. Tor the sake of bfeyity. however
l will merely state that. in system of liberal
education ! consider it inferior in import
ance to literature alone.
What, then, shall we say OF A degree which
onlts such subjects ~ these Can il be truly
called q certificate Of liberal Gu turs? Or. il
not the best we can say for it, this: that il
proves man TO have done hard work in
random collection of subjects most of which
rave nenehted. but some of which different
Win diherent mem have injured bis mind?
CHANGES MADE
Let us now see what are the changes made
IN me course by the Board of Visitors and
men inquire wherein these changes are for
me better. In the first place every candi-
cate LOT the M A. degree in the session Of
loJz and thereafter must first take the de-
gree OF Bachelor OF krts-a degree which e.
mines good general knowledge of eight sub
!ecIs without any. attempt at Specialize
uon. These eight subjects. however.
are not the same for all. but a Wide
range OF choice Is granted to students of
Hlherent tastes, without altering the general
fundamental character Of the degree. They
are ca intermediate Latin. 90 lntermedi-
ate Greek or Logic Co intermediate french
or spanish OF Italian, ID intermediate Ger
man or English 90 General History, %
Junior and intermediate Mathematics or
Junior Mathematics and General Astronomy
x and H. any two of the following: Chem
istry, Physics. Geology, Biology.
This degree. while out of the reach OF
dulard OF chronic loafer, may be easily OBJ
tanned by any student OF good sense and rea-
sonable in iustry ANY such student who il
faiily We'll prepared in the languages and
mathematics can secure the degree in three
years while an exceptionally bright and stu
dious man may obtain it in two as was the
Gaze this year with Nj. C. r. Grandy. of Nor
folk. To strongly encourage application for
tins degree will lie tho future policy Of tie
University, and it is hoped that many more
VIII take It IL the future than have done so in
the past.
THE a. =. DEGREE.
The Bachelor OF Arts who. standing upon
the broad and solid foundation Afforded by
ms degree. desires also the title of Master Of
Arts. will be awarded that title upon the ac-
comphshment of advanced work in SOL
four schools OF the University as for ex.
ample IN the schools Of Latin. Greek Mod
ern Languages. and Moral Philosophy. or. if
lbs tastes should lie III another direction. in
the schools say, OF Mathematics. Natural Pm
los ply. Applied Chemistry, and Mineralogy
and Geology.
The superiority of the new degree over the
old is manifest In the first place. great
texiblity IS substituted for the old rightly.
The preliminary Il. A. degree insures a fair
knowledge OF nearly all those subjects with
which an educated gentleman is expected to
he acquainted but the student is no longer
required 10 do advanced work IN any subject
for which he feels an invincible dlstaste. |
man who detests mathematics need no longer |
struggle with the Calculus. but can devote mis- |
attention to more cOngeniul theme. while |
the hater Of Syntax may revel In the Calculus !
to bis hearts content. Ia the second place, |
the new degree recognizes the value of tho. o I
all important subjects which the old degree
ignored. General History is absOlutely re- uir-
cd, and while the same is not the case with Eng
lsh rs | venture to think it should be- the
student Is at least permitted to choose English
instead of German
HIGH AND A HARD STANDARD.
If any sticker for the old cut-and-dried
course should object that the omission of
senior Greek or ina hematics or something
else lowers the standard OF the University
the reply is that this is in no real sense the
case. 10 begin with, a course in General
history which the average student will find
TO be anything bat chlds llay. las been
added outright TO the requirements. But,
apart from this, it should be noted that a
high standard and hard standard are far
from being the, same thing, So far from
wishing to make his subject difficult of
to his students. the rational
teacher will do everything in his
power TO make it easy and clear. Any dolt
IF pedant can PROFOUND questions too
difficult for any member of his GLASS TO
answer, and can deliver lectures that are
WEAKNESS to the flesh. But such Is not the
aim Of teacher worthy of the name. The
rue teacher will assign textbooks and
leliver lectures with the object, not of impos-
NJ a crushing task upon the student, but OF
supplying him with nutritious intellectual
God that will strengthen his mind without
giving him mental dyspepsia; and, in putting
questions TO the class. his aim will be, not
20 display his erudition or to nonplus
he students. but to stimulate
hem 10 exercise their own mental powers.
As in gymnastics so in education: the
hardest tasks and the most difficult ieats are
lot a. ways the most beneficial. Athletes tell
l. that two-pOund dumb bells are much
better than ten pounds ones and common
ense tells Us that 1t is dangerous for man
o lit the very heaviest weight that his
Utmost strength can bear Men have rup-
ured muscles or bloOd-vessels in lifting
We gifts too great for their strength, and
men have permanently impaired Their
mental force by examining up for examination
ONE subject that they lOathed. As remarked
ef0re, much drudgely Is unavoidable both
/ college and IN he but ali drudgery is IN
.self an evil. So far as possible. the iniver-
lty should aim 10 make study not task but
10Y Towards the accomplishment Of this
i'm the change in the NJ A. degree is "a long
.ep in advance and there can lie little doubt
bat the new degree VIII impart 10 its ,
ecipient both greater uental YigOr and a
,rger amount of useful and well-digested
formation than the old.
r. Fl. DABNEY.
AZ East Twenty-ninth street, New York.