New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-08
SCHOOL vs.. COLLEGE.
ERRArIc CHANGES IN COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
EMDARRAss SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Brooklyn. May -, 1924.
To the Editor OF Tho Tribuae.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The general effect OF the notorious report
OF The Committee OF Ten" designed by the writer
o. writer's was 70 prove that every college pleIsa'
and only schools vie. No doubt this Is the
conviction Of al college instructors; If there are
any school teachers who believe It, now that the
first siupefac OF arra!gnment has passed they
and ali others concerned are urged to consider
some o: the recent entrance examinations set by
Columbia College.
Last year the June paper In geometry was de-
vised in inverse proportion the parts of the sub
ject plane geometry two-thirIs Of the whole re-
ceving only oGc-th.ri Of the questions, wh.e SOLID
geometry. one-;hlrd of the subject, received two
thirds OF the questions ! believe some on-Aand
attempt made 10 correct this error. but the
original criticism on the examiners Judgment and
vigilance remains. Similarly, In trlgonometry the
examination was inadequate regards the subject
and excessive regards the recommended text
book; aai this college came into characteristic
contrast with another weil-known institution by the
fact that OF two % boys the poorer entered
Sheffield the better fGod az Columbia, bo;h having
had the same advantages.
rs genera. Illustration OF collegiate caprice II
should be noted that Just VIXEN Yale, after years %
discrimination against certain subjects in preiln-
mary examinations. has removed all restrictions
and allowed any subject either examination
Columbia has reverse the conditions; AMI she has
reduced 10 a meagre minimum tho possible prelim
nares. lrasmuch as the same principles supposlng
the existence Of any principles TO be admitted Dy
college officers Apply 10 all colleges the hful
siblc
II il in the Caesar examination that the n.ustra-
tons are most instructive Yale has abandoned
this author, but Columbia has perverted him into
consisted of famou. Brldge chapter: In 1893 this
chapter was neglected II Is true; but the examiner
probably rejoinder 10 many indignant school
Apologize sentence on the subject Tnis year the
Bridge approached by fair enough passage Is
I have never known this chapter 70 be used be-
fore for examination purposes; on The only theory
and Inappropriate. IT. retention this year. after
the talk OF last year. H. p,rvDrsy; the Latin
name FOR the quality II peiH'tntla the AincrirAn an
typical. nor doea /; exhibit any unique essential Tor
Latin study in Caesar; the sghjcS IS 80 tecnn.cn
rs TO require diagrams. and the Characteristic
words ar" SO strange as % slip from memory with
ont refreshment iust before examination. Techni-
cal description - hard enough 10 understand IN
English. with diagrams. In departments where the
boy has already some general li"a or me OBJECT;
whore he mas no such knowledge and no diagrams
ond forgets words that give the key % the COM
1inatlons he is placed at great disadvantage.
TO give 50 much preparation TO ms particular
passage these conditions imply rs ~ dispro-
port.onate estimate ~ veue as 10 elevate it into
ih-t, words IN the thirteen lines of the paper thai
neither new nor unique. and have here TO new
ngcep a: a' c . Heither constrnrtoD nor m
ioriant vocabulary finds typical expression; ana
thr boy might pass thl' CHAPTER Win cram the the
It's temperance IL the cogenry of restoration.
AMI. ! Imagine. the examination o. this year
IN af conm@ @na o o s dmand S vey
ltue OF either particularly u the after. Columbia
mas weakness FOR modern names We have re-
gard 10 this feature % her examination. and re-
he nolcr1i forms OF important places; but we
never dreamed ~ requiring most ~ the equivalents
she asks for this year. what echo 3lma,tes eyer
brooklyn. June 6. 1872.