The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-09
The Effect Of Making Greek Optional
at Harvard.

The last annual report Of the President
Of Harvard College contains an Interesting
statement with regard to the consequences
OF the change made nearly eight years ago
in the requirements for admission to the
freshman class. 1t will be remembered
that. according to the plan adopted at that
time. an applicant was allowed to omit
Greek and to substitute other qualifications.
including advanced mathematics. Have
those students who have availed them
selves OF this privilege attained as much
success in college examinations as those
who have adhered to the traditional sys-
tom. which made an elementary knowledge
Of Greek condition OF naturalization
Before noting the answer made by Presi-
dent ELIOT to this question. we may do we'll
to recall the experience of the greatest scat
OF learning in Germany. For ten years the
University Of Berlin suffered men to ma
circulate without exacting from them any
knowledge OF the Greek language. At the
end of that period the whole corps OF pro-
fessors and instructors were invited to sub
nit their opinions In writing concerning
the effect OF the innovation. BY an over
whelming majority. including the most
eminent representatives Of science. ver-
dict OF distinct disapprova of the change
was rendered. The conclusion arrived at
was that those students who brought with
them no knowledge OF Greek exhibited
less thoroughly trained minds and less
capacity OF profiting by their university
opportunities. Tried by the tests OF aca-
demical proficiency. they were excelled by
their competitors.
1t appears that the result OF the Harvard
experiment has been different. We are told
that. OF the three optional preparatory
schemes. that one which permitted the ex.
cluslon OF Greek. but exacted by way OF
compensation four advanced studies instead
of three. including advanced mathematics.
has proved acceptable to but a small. al
though a gradually increasing percentage
of the whole number of candidates: name
ly. to three and half per cent, In 1888 and
to seven per cent. In 1898. President ELIOT
attributes the unattractiveness Of this plan
to three causes: In the first place. 1t re-
quires advanced mathematics. for which
only very few boys have taste: sec
ondly. the time required to master the sub
stitutes for Greek Is longer than the time
required for Greek; and thirdly. the num-
Der OF hours OF examinations to be passed
under this plan Is greater than the number
exacted under either OF the other two
schemes. In other words. 1t Is more diffi-
cult to enter Harvard without Greek than
with 1t: and to this CIRCUMSTANCE. Ii Is con-
coded by President ELIOT may be due the
fact that the persons who have thus far
entered without Greek. have won an aca-
demical standing which is. on the average.
above that OF those who entered with Greek
1t would seem to be a reasonable deduction
from such state OF things that, il 1t Is now
more difficult to enter Harvard without
Greek than with it. the difficulty should be
equalized by requiring more Greek in re-
speet either OF quantity or quality. 1t would
certainly seem to be mistake to take
step backward by reducing the substitutes
for Greek.
That some readjustnent OF the require
ments for admission Is contemplated. must
be inferred from the report before U.S.
President ELIOT points out that when the
present optional scheme Of qualifications
for matriculation was adopted in 1886, it
was understood that 1t should be tried for
six years. 1t was Intended for a tran
sitional arrangement. and the doubt is ex-
pressed whether IT can fairly be considered
just or expedient as a permanent one
We are told. indeed, that 1.-THE Fac
ulty will probably proceed before long to
reconsider the requirements for admission"
We may safely conclude that they will not
lower the requirements, but will increase
the amount of Greek demanded rather than
lessen the substitutes for IT, This convie-
tion is justified by the recent course Of the
Faculty in raising the minimum standard
of the A. b. degree. The application of the
freezing-out process to incapables is likely
TO continue. Even now. 1t is notorious
that. as President ELIOT points out. that
degree can be obtained In Harvard Col
lsgs. or In any other American. English.