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

oughness. II they are not derelict IN the
performance OF this duty. such ineQuali-
ties as are feared by your correspondent
can arise only from the intentional deGra-
cation Of the standard of teaching In
some particular course by the professor
In charge-an offense 70 serious that the
VISITORS would not hesitate at once to
vacatc the chair.
is any study" says Saintsbury. "using
that word In Its proper sense. easy?
nave tried many: I have found plenty Of
oiihcuity In all, II only II be not DELHI
eiateiy avoided or carelessly ignored"
The truth Is that the vice against which
the FACULTY has always had to contend is
not 10 prevent the professors from max
ing their courses too easy. but to hinder
them from crowding the programme and
sacrihcing the best interests Of the stu
dent to the ideal claims OF rigorous
scholarship. II Mr.. Miles can tell us how
10 check this evil. he will confer a lasting
benefit upon his alma mater.
IL would be unreasonable to suppose
that a gentleman. who has dedicated his
life to the work of teaching, is so igno-
rant Of his educational values as to gauge
the merits OF a course OF study by its
difficulty. Such an assumption would argue
In an experienced teacher a degree OF
inaptitude for his chosen calling which
is beyond belief. But as this erroneous
test Is often APPLIED by others, II may be
as well to notice II here. Easy and hard
are terms which measure nothing in
studies save the adaptation OF native
powers to the chosen task. One man finds
in the intricacies Of differential equations
a labor Of love and pleasure, while an
other seeks It in the delicacies OF Greek
Syntax. Reverse the election and 10 both
alike the task will become of intolerable
difficulty. and the analogy holds in every
department of study. From this point of
view the Yoke OF the new elective NJ. A.
will DO easier than that OF the old, the
burden will be lighter. But at the same
time the educational value OF the degree
will be higher, the student will leave COL
lege with an imperishable sense OF the
beauty and charm Of divine philosophy"
and will never grow (as so many have
done under the other regimen) Into
hatred and contempt of learning, mockt
and deluded all this while with ragged
notions and vain Babblements while he
expected worthy and delightful knowl-
edge"
From the point OF view OF the teacher
this reform is destined to produce equally
grateful results. The students who pur-
sue these advanced NJ A. courses will be
distributed, not according 10 the cast-iron
NNhihidS VI al yluS DuL
according to their native tastes and intel
lectual aptitudes. The larger classes will
be somewhat smaller: the small
er classes will doubtless be larger But all
of them alike will be made UP OF stu
dents who approach their work with acd-
quate preparation. with an ardent in
terest and with the resolute purpose to
excel instead OF the half-hearted ambition
to barely scrape over the standard for
pass. 1t Is needless to say that the mem
bers OF such a class will exert a healthful
on the professor and on each
other IL is natural to expect that the
teaching will gain in vivacity, interest
and thoroughness. and that the progress
Of such class will be rapid and secure.
The necessary and inevitable consequence
OF these changes will be an elevation Of
the standards Of instruction, a broadening
Of the intellectual life Of the University,
a vitalizng Of all those currents of in
huence which flow from her TO Virginia
and through the South. Now. indeed, may
we epect that she will point us out the
right path OF a virtuous and noble edu-
,ation, so laborious, indeed. at first ascent.
but else so smooth. so green, and so full
Of goodly prospects and melodious sounds
on every side. that the harp OF Orpheus
was not more charming"
VIM NJ. THORNTON.
University Of Virginia. Jan. o. 1893.