The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-25
he southern Association of Colleges """
Preparatory schools.

To the Editor Of The Times; ,,.,., an
Sir.-About a year ago lh -aeeooi4-
effort was made 90 organic tha
tom that should bring cIu,. or, "a orr
chaos now existing IN the SCUM III al
DI+rgtional methods and systems -
present most of our colleges lAn' a.
much AN the material lhcy or" mo
the great detrimcnt OF lniNs,
schools. and also 10 the serious u'tlA'.ii
of many Of the boys. VINO are 1L-' &
rrfffod TO college before they arg 49,
ture enough. either Ia thelr 49,
or in their normal deteloinle"t, r6f-
IN wise OF safe for them 10 be ~ DDt
Ice. The sch0lls thus have inc coit-|
connecting with them Tor thcse unli'
p4rrd boys. and the assocldlloh n'p
10 remedy his evil. and help inc ~fcAuol'
d., doing AWAY with preparatory classes.
Furfn.rmOro. even II tcachefs 90 hot
fnd tfeir pupils drawn on 10 coIit5'
too soon. they encounter aholuti e,i lV'o
difficulty lu the fact that natdly ZIP
two colleges agree I'm what they require
f,r entrance into the freshman class ~"
fhgf "a teacher. who ls Citing say a dozen
Io,s 10 af,fcr college the following ~
sion. may be- unable 10 cla7rll5
satisfactorily on account OF tne f'lS
requirements OF the different COLI 's.a l"'
lDrs have BOD view. The as-otlatlNh hpp''
20 0hXiate this difficulty uf 0t'Ni
uniform minimum reqllrement IN al lng
colleges that join the aSsoclailou' ~in
this lowest requirement we nope ID
ms soon as may seem wise and practlca-
In Is manifest that if this move is Sue
Ccssful the schools are bound 10 h'
whether the colleges do or NOT, IT it.
schools. especially the betetr ones, snoult
take hold and push the matter any
throw their influence IN favor or inc COLI
lcres that refusc to have preparatory
classes. most of the c0llcees would. PROD
ably, find 10 20 their decided interest 10
join the association themselves.
Similar organizations are titncr at
rHArl Ir WLfffmW fn work in nfUIE ENN~
tons of our country. and we, in ihe
South. are In great danger oI lht-lut
far behind in the educational reforms
SO actively pressed elsewhere. Tennessee
is setting a fine example 10 her sister
States. Her State University. at Knox
Vile. twhOSe president is a d~istiugul7htl
Nirgiuilu. Or. Charles w. DahueyJ, dud
away with the preparatory classes. OK
cent i'm Greek. some years aeO Wander
Iiit had previously done the same thing,
cutting off tho beginner class in creek,
too. and requiring Tor entrance lnlq ,He
Freshman class -FOUR years OF Latl"
and three in Greek. This policy has prov
cd very helpful. % has. 10y no means,
killed out the Greek, as about ninety
session. The famous Webb School, IN
Tennessee. has about seventy-Ate noA7
studying Greek at present out OF ABOUT
2-5. For some years past tennessee i4t
maintained an educational association OF
its own. that seems 20 Doe earnest Nd ad-
vancing the educational interests OF the
State.
Only one Virginia college has as yet
Joined the association. Washington ana
Lee. which sent "a delegate TO the Al
lauta meeting. and was represented also
al the late meeting in Nashville. our
State University was represented by TWO
of its professors. who. as | WAS Informed
bv Chancellor Kirkland. expressed them
selves as heartily I'm favor Of the move
mcnt. The conditions Of membership as
regards entrance examinations. prevent
the University from going into the asso-
citation al present. but IL is hoped that
her influence may soon be added TO the
new organization. OF course. certificates
n,m duly accredited schools are allowed
I'm place Of entrance examinations.
-Four Virginia schools became members
at the last meeting-viz., the N0riplk
Academy. Pantops Academy. the Dan
willie Military Academy, and the Front
Royal Academy.
The secretary OF the association: and
it's founder. In fact. is CHANCELLOR ].
n. Kirkland. OF Vanderbilt. There II
little doubt that IL can be made the
means OF great good TO the cause OF
Southern education.
ADDISON HOGUE.
Washington and Lee University. Lex
tnXton, vA