The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

time to time, and think I could suggest
more than one Improvement"
Such notifications and improvements
have just been made by the board of
visitors at their recent meeting and
would ask permission to bring them TO
the notice of the public through the col
umns Of The Times.
IN future, as at present, every candi-
date for the degree Of master of arts
must take the degree of bachelor of arts,
ana also perform successfully the ad-
! vanced work in four Schools" selected
| by himself and approved by the faculty.
But as the requirements for the prelim-
mary bachelor Of arts degree have been
modified the higher degree is indirectly
modified also. Let us then compare the
present with the future requiremnts for
the Il. A. degree.
Until the recent meeting Of the board.
the requirements We're as follows: Every
candidate had to graduate in eight "B.
A. courses % Latin, CD general his
tory, CD Greek or logic, Cd pure mathe-
MATES or astronomy, (5) German, or En-
glish literature or rhetoric, or modern
English, 0 French or Spanish, or Ital-
ian, CD and O. any two Of these
four: Physics, chemistry, geology, BIZ
olQsy.
Among the criticisms TO which this
scheme is liable may be mentioned these:
Why should general history be absolutely
required when English literature is not?
why should the German language be a
substitute for English literature? Is It
logical to group logic and Greek to-
Gether and allow one to be a substitute
for the other? Why should any one sub !
Ject whatever. or any two subjects. be |
absolutely required, while all the others |
have alternates? Why should any sub
Jet so important in our day as political
be entirely excluded from the
A. degree? Reflection upon these and
similar questions has induced the board
II visitors to modify the requirements
n this wise.
Eight "B. \. courses" will still be re-
luired. but the basis Of selection has
'eon somewhat changed. All OF the above
ubjects, with some additions. will be
assed in six groups, and every candi-
late must choose at least one course
rom each group, being at liberty TO Sc
act his remaining two courses from any
( the groups at will. These groups are:
1. Latin, Greek
2. French. German, Spanish, italian.
3. General history. English literature
nd rhetoric, modern English
4. MATHEMATICS, astronomy, mechanics.
5. Chemistry physics, geology, biology.
g. Logic, political economy and the 1
'ience of society {
This grouping is, It seems to me- II not Il
logical, yet as nearly so as :
e nature Of the various subjects will p
rmit. Certainly ii is more rational TO e
CUP Greek with Latin than with logic. o
Thus we sec that a student, while COM ID
He'd to study at least one subject in =
oh Of the above groups. is at liberty s.
choose the two remaining subjects y
)m any group or groups. and may thus u
low the natural bent Of his mind to -
at extent. A student, for example who ~
d turn for mathematics, can take all ~
rec OK the subjects In the fourth group. "
Tile one with linguistic talent may Sc " ~
[ any four OF the languages In the ~
It two groups. M
me great advantage of the scheme IS -
L no student is absolutely bound to r,
-e the work Of any one profession in A.
Ter to get his degree; and another ~,
tally great advantage is that no pro- nj
sor Is absolutely bound TO have men On
his class who take no interest in the Ga
TX. but do ii merely I'm order 10 get W,
diploma. No true teacher desires to gh
e such men I'm his class: but every wa
e teacher should strive 10 do such to
d work that students may be attract In,
to enter his class Under 7
new degree system. the old monopoly be
'yed OK exesrsted ~ few professors nj