, 1896-09-24

now can they exist in independence of the
classics. We are graphing with ply
steal forces, but we cannot abandon the
rich inheritance that comes to us from
the past. We are not debarred from
this on account of our youth, and we
should be foolish to stop with the de-
velopment Of the soil and neglect to
develop ourselves. We must not stop
when We ave gotten power simply to
teach u men and women to run troll
ley cars, raise wheat, and handle a pick.
To make the standard so exclusively
practical is to put it too low, and we
should accomplish little even in elec-
tricity. agriculture. or mining. That
result the advocates Of the practical In
education would regret as much as we
should.
This all leads us to the conclusion
that a symmetrical development of the
mind is what we should seek. The
question arises: How shall we devel-
op our minds on all sides so as best to
do our chosen work? Certainly moi by
the old hard curriculum with every
thing prescribed. which sought to turn
out all alike, like a row of penny SOL
diers. The modern college student
would be Immediately repealed by this.
for the whole spirit Of modern educa-
ton is individualistic. Should he be
compelled t o pass through it, he would
acquire little development except that
which nature brings with increased
years.
Shall it be. then. by the elective sys-
TEN? This method certainly does
stimulate a student to his best work
by allowing him to take such subjects
as interest him. 1t is, in this. excellent;
but al elective system without limita-
ton is as narrowing as the prescribed
curriculum. A system that allows a
man to be abnormally developed on any
side, be it linguistic. literary, mathe>
NAUTICAL. scientific, or philosophic and
stunted on all or many of the others, is
bad. 1t is not an education at all.
The best method. as usual. is be-
tween the extremes. AS Ovid says, Tin
medic tutissimus ibis" 1t is we'll to
subjects which develop the same side
of the mind, but mo- allow him or her
to neglect any side altogether. Let
him select the language or languages
that appeal to him. but show him how
the study of some language is neces-
sary. because it develops the memory.
the imagination, and the powers of ex-
preston. Let him study physics,
chemistry. biology. or geology. as he
chooses, but do not fail to have him
see that he should study some science
to rain his powers of observation and
reason. Have him decide whether he
prefers logic, psychology, history OF
philosophy, Of ethics. but see to 1t that
he chooses at least one.
There is. however, one subject for
which no substitute can be provided.
and that is the study of our own Ian
guage. A man or woman not skilled in
the literature and use OF the mother
tongue, will be set down as an ignor-
anus, no matter what else is possessed.
1t is a tremendously powerful aid to
success to be able to speak and write
the English language with elegance
and exactness. The commonest people
appreciate that power.
These possibilities In choice within
limits are what the varied courses OF
the University of Wyoming are aiming
at. 1t is our intention to graduate we'll
rounded men and women The best
specialists in every subject are to be
employed in the future, as in the past.
without regard to political or religious
preferences. Everything will be done
to render all courses attractive, and u
see hat every student receives the dis
cipline from each particular branch OF
knowledge.
When the student has every side OF
his mind awakened. he is ready for life.
His p~erceptive, retentive, and reflective
powers have been trained. and If this
has been properly performed. he knows
how to work, where to seek knowledge,
and he is prepared to make the best
use of the future. He has had a uni
versity education.
1t might be of interest to many to
know how the university faculty has
spent the summer.
President Graves returned t Lara
ME from his home in Brooklyn, N. Y,
the middle Of July, since which time he
has devoted each day to earnest work
in the interest of the university. In
addition to supervising work as presi-
dent and director, he has attended
teachers county Institutes In Chey-
enne, Rock Springs and Rawlins, ex-
amined the Lander, Sheridan, Sun
dance and Wheatland experiment
farms, visited the cities Of Rawlins,
Saratoga, Rock Springs, Evanston,
Lander, Fort Washable. Cheyenne.
Wheatland. Douglas, Casper, New
castle, Sundance, Buffalo and Sheridan,
besides lecturing before q dozen OF
more audiences.