The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25
THE UNIVEBSITY DEGREES AGAIN.
Professor Dabney Replies to Mr.. Geo. w.
Miles-An "OId Alumnus" Also Speaks.
To tho Editor of The Times.

~ lIt LulLOA VI / lit AllllNHs
Although the REPLY to Professor Dab
ney" in to-day's Times is much more Of
an attack on the board of Ni~sitors-whom
the writer. Mr.. c.. w. Miles, Jr., declares
to be a band OF frenzied educational COM
munists-than a reply TO anything that 1
said i'm your last Sundays issue, / sup
pose that ] shall have to attempt a reply
to Mr.. Miles. l am 10th 10 do so; but, as
it is very important for the public TO un-
derstand exactly what the board have
really done. / viii once more try to make
the matter clear.
1 tried very hard to make il plain in
my other letter; but, as Mr.. Miles seems
to have misunderstood me. a few addi-
tional explanations win DE necessary.
Many persons reading Mr.. Miles letter
without having read mine would gain the
impression that the board of visitors
nave declared that bachelors of arts from
certain other colleges shall be permitted
TO apply for the NJ. A. degree Of the
University on equal terms with our own
bachelors. The latter must take advanced
courses in four schools" in order 20 Sc
cure the higher degree; and Mr.. Miles
says nothing 10 show that the former
must do more than this. Such, however,
is the case, for the board nave expressly
provided that they must take, in addi-
ton, the "B. a. courses in those schools.
In other words, the only concession a
TO them IS that, in consideration Of the
mental training and knowledge evidenced
by their having taken the degree of some
reputable college, they be excused from
one-half of the b.. A. work here. From
the other half they are not excused, while
they must perform here all of the adj
vanced work.
If it be supposed that to a man capa-
H. Al - 4- a .tmnma
school the Il. A. course In that school
would be Il mere bagatelle. the SUPPOSE
ton would be based upon lack Of knowl-
edge as to the real nature Of the i. a.
courses. If we take the school of Latin,
for example, il may surprise Mr.. Miles 10
learn that the board have ordered that
the r. A. course In this school should
differ from the NJ. A. course, not merely
in quantity (as the old intermediate
course differed from the "Senior'( but
also in kind. The very terms Junior"
intermediate" and Senior have been
abolished. and il is ordered that the
b. 4. course should comprise a far greater
amount OF Latin translation than has
ever before been required az the Univer-
sity. as well as lectures on Roman his
tory. literature and general civilization,
while the ain Of the NJ. A. course VIII be
10 fit students by a rigid drill In syntaN
mot emitting other matters Of impor-
for the position Of teachers OF the
Thus il Is seen that the M. A.
course does not include the ID. A. course,
and that n knowledge Of the one does
necessarily imply a knowledge OF the
other. 1t IS altogether a delusion to sup
pose that the board wish TO cheaper ana
lower the NJ. A. degree. Indeed II VIII
be much more difiicult TO GRADUATE
In the school OF Latin than formerly.
then a man could graduate by merely
taking the Senior class, whereas now
he must take both the q. a. and the
NJ. A. course, each of which will give him
abundant work to perform. And so OF
the other schools. TO graduate In his
tory. for example. he must take not only
he 3. a. course N ssneral history, Y !