The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-17
UNIVERSITY SPECIAL COURSES,

In the University Chronicle appears
an article in opposition to special
courses" 1t aims to induce students
to pursue the regular college courses.
1t urges that for Special students
who desire to take not more than one
or two studies no entrance examina-
ton is required. And it is urged that
it frequently happens that higher col
lege work is prosecuted by students
imperfectly prepared to do so; and a
natural sequence of this is, that regu-
lar students are retarded in the vigor-
Gus carrying on of their respective
studies"
We understand that the object of CIV
ing these special courses, is to enable
young persons who have neither time
nor means to enable them to take a
four years college course, to select
certain branches of study in which they
desire to become proficient, and devote
what time and means they can COM
mand to pursuing what they may
reach, without being hampered by 9TH
er things that they cannot hope to &C
quire 1t has appeared to US that this
was very excellent opening for people
in that position.
But it is objected in the article re-
ferred to that students of unmatured
minds who dislike being thought of as
carrying on preparatory work, seek
refuge by registering as special stu
dents. and prosecuting studies for
which they utterly lack the necessary
preparation"
What injury this can he to regular
students who are taking the full course
we are not able to discover. But if, as
claimed. it retards the vigorous car
rying on of their respective studies"
it is something that ought to be RENE
died The faculty of the University
will probably know as much about that
as anybody, and we think the matter
can be safely left in their hands.
But there is a funny thing growing
out of this discussion, to which we
desire to direct attention. Our morn
ing contemporary has taken it up and
draws from the Chronicles remarks
exceeding comfort It is on this ac-
count: While the late legislature was in
session. and efforts were being made
to induce the Republicans to relent in
their hostility to the. University and
the schools generally, our neighbor as
sailed the normal department of the
institution and endeavored to give it
big black eye. 1t asserted that in
competent teachers had been turned
out in large numbers, and intimated
that until recent date that was the
rule rather than the exception.
This was so manifestly untrue that
proofs to the contrary were adduced in
profusion Then the statement was
made that Democratic legislators from
the South had made statements to that
effect. The Herald investigated the
matter, and by interviewing all the
Democratic members and several Re
publican members, demonstrated the
utter falsity of the charge. The ap-
preparation needed for the University
was not passed, however. Only a
meagre allowance was made. The
means suggested for obtaining ample
funds for the University and the
schools were rejected, and the Repuh-
Dcan legislature manifested more love
for canaigre root than for the tree of
knowledge and more yearning for sugar
beets than for education.
Now comes the fun Of the thing. Our
morning contemporary seizes on this
article in the University Chronicle as