The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04

| sity. N'' VI ou' S''e
| NO one who possesses even n super~
nsiai acquaintance with the history Of
educational movements will imagine that
ms problem OF the reconciliation OF tho
o'u iearning and the new has arisen only
III our University. The same problem has
presented Itself for solution in all univer-
sues. has aroused the same contests,
mas oeen solved by the same methods.
me principle which Jefferson made fund
amental here. because OF It's intrinsic JUS
tice' mas been applied all over the world
20 loose this especial knot. In recogniz-
ing the NJ. A. as a purely elective degree.
the board of visitors have simply ac-
| cepted and Endorsed conclusion that is
| to-day the established doctrine Of the
| educational world And from this con-
clusion as premise the whole series Of
| enactments on academical degrees follows
! by an irrefutable and inexoraDle logic.
The attacks which have been made upon
| this movement are Of two sorts Those OF
| the one sort impugn the motives of the
| visitors In their action, and question the
| sincerity and veracity OF the advocates
or this action. Those of the other sort
| proceed from an abysmal ignorance OF the
real state OF affairs at this University,
an ignorance Inexcusable in men who pose
before the public as friends Of the Univer-
sity and authorities upon questions OF
| education. To attacks Of the second sort
| reply may be easily made by simply
setting forth in a clear way the actual
state OF affairs. Those OF the first sort
do not deserve an answer and are noticed
simply because the position of their au-
thors appears TO confer on them a weight
which intrirsically they do not possess.
To tho candid and rejecting mind such
charges are like the bubbles OF gas which
rise from the rotting bottom Of stagnant
pool; they can exist only in darkness and
submis sion; once exposed to light and air
they burst from their own tenuity.
Thus IL is that these assaults when set
forth I'm clear terms. vanish into air That
the visitors. the members OF the faculty
who espouse their Views and tho vast
numbers OF the alumni who accord them
hearty support are united In a base
conspiracy TO lower the standards OF the
University and drag her pride in the dust
is a proposition too obsurd to gain a
hearing. That these men. though not
kraves, are such fools as 10 pursue in
Ignorance a course destined thus 10 end,
is an assun ptlon of perspicacity on the
Part of their vCciferoUs critics so ridicu-
lous as to arouse indignation rather than
amusement. The men who have planned
these Innovations and ordered their exc
cution had FIST deliberated long upon
them. They have sough. advice from
the leaders Of educational thought in
America. They have studied the solutions
OF educational problems devised at other
famous SEATS of lea,ning. They have
made thems elves thoroughly familiar with
the conditions which exist at This Univer-
sty. Their action has been taken in full
view Of their responsibility TO the State.
END represents their united labOrs, and
is sustained ~ their unanimous convic-
ton. II will Iced more TO move them or
their successors in Office from this re-
solution than the ungrammatical rage of
a band Of callow youths or the shrieking
rhetoric of a country schOol-master.
or the same texture is the charge that
the governing board OF this University
has determined TO enter upon an ignobe
rivalry with the colleges of the State for
miniature boys as students. The charge
is intrinsically Incredible. and is disproved
by incontestable facts. The minimum age
Of admission remains the same as from
the foundation of the University and the
actual average age has been for years
slowly but steadily rising. The writer
does not hesitate to assert that more
candidates for admission 10 this Univer-
sity are each year turned away for want
OF preparation than from all the colleges
OF the state put together The very
beard, which is arraigned for its sins
against academic comfy, has in contem-
platlon a measure for systematizing the
present entrance examinations and ex-
tending them to all the academicai
students Their hope for increased num-
bers and more ample public recognition
rests upon their determination TO make
the work Of the sch col better I'm the
future than ii has ever been in the past.
Thus only do they expect to retain that
acknowledged primacy among Southern
seats Of learning, which this University
has so long enjoyed.
Diminishing then as worthy only OF con-
tempt these Inscriptions TO the visitors OF
base motive and unworthy design, let us
consider charges Of the other class That
enactment of the board which excites the
especial ire OF your correspondent is the
one which permits the faculty TO grant
p limited recognition TO the training Of
b. AS of other chartered institutions
Of learning" He considers this act
seemingly a reasonable and courteous
acknowledgment of the excellence Of the
work done at many Of our Southern col
leges as destructive TO every hope Of
sound scholarship. When his attention is
called TO the fact (of which he seemed
ignorant or obivious) that even more
ample recognition is accorded TO these |
same degrees at other universities of ac- |
knowldeged eminence-Johns Hopkins and |
Columbia, Harvard and Yale. Leipzig and |
Berlin-hs rage is unappeased. With an |
acquaintance with the secret |
intents and thoughts of the faculty he |
assures them that they will not dare to
exercise the discretion vested in them by |
the board. And as the only safety Of the
State University he implOres the faculty |
to nullify the action of the board by re-
fusing recognition to all degrees Of other
schools In the hope that some revolution
of politics may soon bring into Office a
board Of visitors of whom your cores
pendent can approve
The plain facts are these. The policy |
Of recognizing degrees of other schools
in the faculty. was upon their
recomm sndation adopted by the board,
and has been acted on for years. The
visitors have simly reproduced the law
drafted by the faculty for the elective |
Pm. ID. Degree and have applied II verba-
i'm 10 the new elective NJ. A. degree
They have confided TO the faculty in the
ne case the very same discretion which
hese gentlemen asked for and received
n the other. Can IT be that the professors
ire the ''prodigal heirs" who have thus
educed the unwary visitors into selling |
the family jewels? And is 1T true that
hese same professors have asked for
md obtained an authority which now
hey dare not apply with discrimination
nd impartiality?
When your correspondent endeavors TO
Upport and attack upon this measure by |
n example like pitfalls dug by his own
'ilful ignorance OF the actual state Of af-
airs at his alma mater again await
i'm. The course which he selects is
diculous and detestable from an educa-
onal point OF view; no sane man-not
, speak Of an eX-professor and head
Of of |