The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04
THE NJ. A. DEGREE AGAIN
PROFESSOR THORNTON DEFENDS
THE UNIvERsTTr's POSITION.
Motives That Led TO the Change In the De-
gree-Recognizing tho Degrees of
other Colleges, SC.


Ike anything old merely because it is
old. or anything new merely because IL
is new; never 10 Judge except from the
historical and comparative standpoint:
and always TO put the exposition OF the
subject before the display OF personal
cCyerncss"
These rules are guides not more USE
ful and admirable for the critic OF letters
than FOR the student of educational prob
lens. For both alike nothing is so worth
less as wordy controversy, nothing so
useful frank avowai of the facts
The recent correspondence in your col
umns on the changes in the courses OF
study at the University OF Virginia has
seemed to the writer TO defy every one
Of these caaons. and for that reason 10
have ended in darkness and confusion.
II there are any among your readers
sufficiently interested in this vexed oues
ton Ia lay aside for :he moment their
love OF the old for its intiquity and their
dislike Of the new for its novelty. and
20 occupy the point of view OF the i'm
partial historian and critic, the attempt
will be made TO exhibit to them a clear
view Of the changes which have been
Effected. and to furnish to them the
facts upon which just judgment of
these changes must be based
hools are no exceptions TO the general
rule that all things living must grow
Not many years ago the State University
offered in its acadcmical department thor
CuChly organized COURSES Of instruction
in eight subjects only. These were Latin,
Greek, French. German. pure mathe-
matlCs physics. chemistry and moral phi
losophy. A few other subjects were ac-
cessible 10 the determined and pertina-
cious student, but the courses offered in
them were embryonic. They looked well
in the catalogue. but counted for little
or nothing in the scolastic work OF the
place.
Vast fields OF modern learning were left
practically untouched In such a condi-
ton stagnation would have been proof
o. DEATH growth was the only irrefutable
demonstration OF life. New subjects were
added one by one-history English litera-
ture. analytical chemistry, applied mathe-
MATES. biology. geology, astronomy. Eng
Nsh language American history, Spanish
Italian. Such growth must continue as
long as the school lives and science ad-
vances.
The original fraternity Of eight studies
had been constituted into n degree. the
Master Of Arts degree Of the University
NJ Virginia, stilled called by the old
boys the degree" as If in the sight OF
their pride and love for alma mater no
other degree ever did or ever could exist.
What was to be done with this null
titude OF new brethren? If room were 10
be made for them in "the degree" ii
would be crushed by its own weight.
Were the eight 10 be treated as Brahmans
among the sciences and all the rest as
Pariahs7 Such was the practical effect
of exclusion. and this made 1t odious TO
all. who saw among the new disciplines
some OF the most useful and beautiful
creations OF human genius.
In the meantime another evil had be-
gun to show its head. In their endeavor
TO keep their courses abreast with the
latest researches in the scientific world
the professors were gradually changing
the character of some OF them ana
making them semi-specialistic. This Is
an open secret among the University
men, and may as well be openly discussed.
The work in these schools had lost much
OF its cultured value. They had become
scminaries for pedagogues, rather than
schools for that complaint and generous
education" which in Millions noble
phrase. Fits a man to perform justly
skilfully and magnanimously all the
offices. both private and public. OF peace
and war" If witnesses be needed TO
establish this charge. Mr.. Editor. you
may find them in your own city, and OF
the old masters of arts. and among the
staunchest and loyalest sons OF the old
University. Not one. but many OF them.
have said to the writer with honest free
dom: These things ought ye TO have
done and not TO leave the others undone.
More than five years ago these con-
victions had pressed themselves deep into
the consciousness OF many friends Of this
school They were held not by the visi-
tors alone nor among the faculty alone.
but were shared by thousands OF our
alumni, and by the wisest and truest
among them. Twenty years or debate
and experiment debate not puollshed 10
the world and experiment apparent only |
10 the careful observer of our inner |
histor,D had resulted in nothing-abSo- |
lutelv nothing But they had given moral |
demonstration Of the fact that stable |
solution by trial and compromise could |
never be expected.
Then IL was in 1883 that the visitors re-
solved upon a radical reform To meet
the one difficulty 1t was resolved TO make
the NJ. A. degree purely elective, and
confer Il only upon such students as
had COMPLETED a general culture course,
and IN addition had mastered some spe-
cial line Of advanced study. To meet the
other IL was resolevd TO organize In every
subject Of study two courses; In the one
the cultured and disciplinary value or the
science should be the cardinal considera-
ton: in the other the requirements or
advanced scholarships were 10 be domi-
uart. and TO establish a new b. a. degree
with restricted election among the gem
eral culture or Il. A courses.
The FIVE wears from 1883 10 the present
have been spent in working odt the de-
tails Of this general plan. While the prin-
PIES upon which IL Is based have never
been forgotten, mere than one expert
mental adjustment has beeen made to the
present state Of university affairs. New
courses have been created. old ones nave
been modified and readjusted the teaching
staff has been enlarged and strengthened
and the process Of Improvement still goes
OIL. These Of the visitors and the faculty,
WHO have thus labOred together land they |
have worked in thorough accord and I'M
daunted hope, do not fiatter themselves
hat the plan IS perfect. They expect | ,
he trials Of the future 10 develop points
q weakness and could even now lay the
t,ecr on spots that will probably need !
tenfOrcing But they cherish so hearty ,
al entire conviction OF the rightness or ,
TIE educational principles which lie be- :
meath Il tfat they fear no ciamor and ,
contemplate no retreat. !
Itt outline OF the plan adopted is as ,
follows. as will appear In the fcrthcom- .
irg announcements for 1S93-'9i. In the =
acadomlcal department will be found =
niieteen d'rtinct B. A. courses. organized >
III the spirit OF the foregoing paragraphs. !,
70 meet the wants of young men who /,
Iim az the mental training and culture
srcrded by university rather than at y
mo technical dexterity OF the special =
student Tho candidate for the r. A v