The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-02-02
The Elective system in Education.

these institutions are undergoing radi-
cal change. 1t is becoming more flexible,
more practical, in that the knowledge
seeking youth can select those subje cts
which suits his peculiar taste, and ap
| pllcable to his intended vocation. We
are approaching that period in our sys-
tenn Of education when more attention
must be given to the individual student
! Popular education, In order to serve it's
true mission, must be so adapted as to
harmonize with the different vocations
in life, and to the practical demands of
our times. We must observe the con-
ditious OF the present, If we hope to
rightly prepare ourselves for the future.
Our age demands broad, practical aud
well diciplined minds. II calls not only
for the cultivated minds, bnt minds that
are receptive to, and able to grasp the
ideas with which modern society is sur
char ged. ln order to meet these require
ments our courses OF study must be so
arranged as to give the student less
Latin, Greek and mythology, and more
ethics, literature, ctUics, science, socio-
loqy, and kindred subjects, which treat
Of conditions as they actually crist. 1t
certainly is far more important to study
the problems OF government, than to
delve into mysteries of ancient mythol-
ogy. though it is ad mitted that it is a
subject Of profound interest. Far more
important, 1t seems, to keep in close
track with the philanthropic movements
OF the present than to spend time and
energy searching the obscure character
Far more important to understand the
industrial problems which today demand
solution, than tax the memory in trying
10 commit the names OF the old Grecian
and Latin dleties. 1t Is not enough to
be gooe scholars, but we must also be
good citizens, and the frst requisite for
good citizenship Is thorough know
ledge OF the forces which today are
moulding public characters aud
opinions. Education should prepare the
student for life as It's, not as he could
like to Jtnd l.. For ages we have utterly
ignored this fundamental truth, and
only in the last decade OF the nineteenth
century do we seem tc have awakened
to full rea,ization o. les Importance. IL
is beginning to dawn upon the thinking
mind that institutions OF learning, in
order to fulfill its true mission, must be
brought In close relation with the actual
conditions Of ltfc and society. 1t is II
healthy and promising sign that in many
OF the blccalaureate sermons delivered
last year by our leading educators, the
relation which the student sustains to
society. Presidents Angell of the Mich
igan University. and Eliot OF the Har-
ward University, are among those who
believein practical eiucatlon, and have
ably elucidated the principles OF this
system in our leading magazines They
believe the sooser we recognize that
the college is not plase to pvepire,
smooth and polished characters, but
strong, practical, broad minded men
and women, the better for us and society
as whole. That education Is thu bsst
which does the most, not for the indl-
vidual alone, but for humanity at largo.
The question arises, then, how shall we
prepare the individual that he may be
able to direct his energies In those
channels where they will do the most
good?
The elective system OF education at
tempts to answer this question. 1t aim,
to meet, as far as possible, the demands s
Of our age. According to this syst,m
the student is required to pursue a
prescribed course of study only during
the freshman year. In the sopAom IRE
year only one or twJ subjects are re-
quired-the others are elective. L.
the junior year one. sometimes two sub
jects are required. The electives NAV
be chosen from list embracing ten ,r
eleven different subjects. These cleo
tiyes include language, literature, his
tory. science, sociology, philosophy,
mathematics, ETC., thus giving the
student great latitude 10 the selection OF
his subjects. In the senior year, as
rule, all subjects are elective.
1t Is believed that at this stage the
student knows better than the flculty.
what is best for him individually, and
hence he IL allowed to pursue thoy su,-
jects which will be OF the groltsst prac-
tical beneft to him In actual life. rhis.
10 short, comprises the "new edncation."
The elective system has mary aivan-
tages. It enables the stndcat to satisfy
his Individual wants and ioclinatio IS.
he Is permitted to equip himself for that
work he can do best. He Is allowed IT,
so arrange his work. while ut coilss
that when he leaves his alma mqter he
will be able to put his education Into
practical use. He will not only know
what he can do, but he will also he prs-
pared tn t1o a. He learns Mt Ieast N faw