New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-01
HARVARD SUMNER SCHOOL.
TT NUMBERS OVER FOUR HUNDRED STU
DENTS
10 ONE ALLOWED TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE
COURSE OF TIE NINETEEN NOW PROVIDED
METHODS OF TRAINING.


METHODS OF TRAINING
Cambridge July 81 CspeciaD.-In two weeks tho
clm.shaded grounds of Harvard University will be
left TO their true mid summer desoation Tor before
August IL, the Harvard summer School will have
drawn 10 its close I'm all its different departments
and the various aspTanS after ephcmcfal culture
and mental possessions Will have scattered to their
homes all over the country. leaving Cambridge silent
as the proverbial churchyard until the rOmpng sons
NJ Fair Harvard return on September PC.
The current impression is that the Harvard Summer
scboo, IS stin in its infancy, has been started but
a wear or So and that instruction in gymnastics forms
almost the only feature Of the school. Consequently
II will De of interest to know the exact history Of the
SC hoo its scope and Its precise results The Harvard
simmer school dates back 1874. In that year.
the Faculty OF Harvard College resolved to throw
omen Bovlston Hall (the college chemical laboratory
"to such students of the university and 10 snch
outsiders teachers, students, or others. who may
care TO avail themselves OF opportunity TO study
chemistry in 4 thorough manner" ms then' was
the origin Of the summer school In chemistry alone
was instruction given In the summer of 1874 The
course lasted from July 10 August 29-four hours
a dav for five davs In the week. There were fifteen
students In the course three OF whom were women
and the foe 500.
Thus wins the Summer school OF Harvard University
started and exactly like the first year was 'he Ill
etr,,ction In the summers OF rs and '76. In 1877
iects taught and the total number Of students WAS
seventy From 1877 10 1857 these three subjects
were taught and the school had increased somewhat
in size But in ISS7 a marked impetus was gwen 10
the school by the starting OF scientifically thoroneh
course IN physical training. under DIR. Sargent The
object OF the course, widely known To-Day all oNu
the country Is succinctly forth by the catalogue
% thnt var: ITO qualify men and women as IN
structOrs in The Harvard system Of physical cXanihar
ton and training There is need for Intelligent or
ganizers and scientific training rather than Tor shui
performers-for those Who can arouse enthusiasts"
for health snd bodily developments rather than Tor
evmuastic feats" The immediate popularity OF 'he
co,rsa was Infested BY the registration Of hfynine
in physical training alone the first year In le7'
the school had grown both In courses given a9 mum
bers attending Physics, field engineering German
and French WIRE added 70 the list of subjects ana
,or+her with those students enrolled I'm the botany
geology chemistry and physical training, the whole
school numbered over 900. almost large as Dart
month College. III 1890 and 1892, tho school grew
In numbers and In scope until the brilliant culmha
ton has been reached in the summer school Of lS92
which offered no less than nineteen courses 10 the
400 students enrolled the university books.
What the subjects offered are and what the relative
attendance In each course is can best be cleaned from
the following list: AnglOSax0n, 8: English, %, Ger
man, IL French, Is; socialism, 4 history, To- teach-
ing IA elementary physics. 49, advanced physics ~
trconometry cheering 10: draughtlng, ~ chem
y,
81 physiology, 4, physical training, ia ce'u''hi
engineering II total 402
SO much for the history Of tho school and Its pro-
fessed purpose. OF the work which the students a-
conplish here ard of the character OF men and Womeh
here. some few words might be said. Tie Harvard
summer school Is primarily for teachers. If numbers DE-
any criterion; for tie large majority Of students mere
are men and women who come 10 Cambridge quietly
and unOstentauously, wishing only 10 learn as much
as they can while they are not teaching themselves
They have an ambition 10 perfect themselves IN one
particular subject to garner lc Of Tie richer Iiar
yard treasure to learn Harvard methods and Harvard
WAYS and they do learn an Incredible amount and 60
back to their work the fall better in every way for
their fveweels' study The second class of students
are culture seeking girls from the neigbong towns
who pursue physical training With the e1rnesness
that they show in their stiVings after sweetness ana
lightn And thirdly and smallest in numbers Is that
class OF real bona fde college who, short coTe
for their degree, or from inclination, pursue I'VE
weeks These latter the Barbar1ans,'
who scOrn the "Phstines7 OF the two previous Glasses
The work that each OF these 400 men and women
has been doing is different in many ways, but no one
takes more than course at once II the instructor
Of gymnastics In some school Of interior town has
decided that it would be Of benefit 10 him 10 take
course in physical training at the Harvard Summer
school he finds that this particular course is going 10
take All OF his time for five weeks Iii the morning al
o there is a lecture, then castlenc class, then In
dyidua work and 10 30 is reached In the after
noon there Is instruction in football and all Held
events on methods Of spnnting, etc, By Mr. Lathrop
the trainer Of Harvard's MotIiaven team NJ the
student Is man, special calishenlc exercises IN
strucon in methods OF physical examination If 1t IS
a woman and lecture I'm physiology for all
or suppose the teacher Of botany in some Newi oIk
State High school elects botany in tie Harvard school
the work IN this course takes all the time which
one person could give for five weeks. \ lecture by
Professor GarOrg begins the days work, and then
come, practical work IN dlssecting and anayzng
flowers for two hours. Az > In the afternoon
comes another lecture this time in vegetable botany,
and after that practical work with the microscope for
two hours. such Is the work for I'VE days in the
week, and on saturday comes botanical eNcnrS ~
with the instructor TO some hoaliy interesting place
III the vicinity
Similar methods prevail in the other courses 1t Is
object Of the college 10 give thorough ard systematic
instruction in each branch. TO that end, student l.
obliged to cOnfne himself exclusively 70 one subject
And that end instruction is given solely bv regular
members Of the Harvard faculty. Small wonder j. II
that a deal Of intellectual good IS done by this
summer school Of Harvard. Small wonder is II. TOO.
mat the end Of the summer School is eagerly awaited
by these faded professors, who having fingered a4tor
the college term di,pcusc the academic blessings Of
Harvard will hasten to tie mountains and SeashOIc,
hoping 10 recover in six weeks from the pro
triiiCn which 50 much mental rapacty has caused
them.