New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23
WHAT PRESIDENT ELIOT SAYS.
NO IMMINENT PROSPECT OF A REDUCTION
BEING MADE IN THE COURSE
AT HARVARD.

A good deal of interest has been aroused in tho
last week. especially in educational circles. by tho
dispatches from Cambridge. Mass. which announced
that the Faculty Of Arts and Sciences at Harvard
College had voted TO reduce the college course from
four years to three Such action this. n carried
out would b. little less than revolutionary Inc
length Of the college curriculum In this country mas
ever since the Pilgrims founded their college on the
shores of the Charles River in 1886, and named 1t
after John Harvard been four years. ana such a
change as 1t was reported the Harvard faculty had
made would mean a tremendous upheaval of educa-
tional traditions usages and existing conditions. ana
would nccessitate extraordinary rcadjustmcnts
throughout the country. not In the colleges alone.
but in the preparatory schools, and later on In the
professional schools also. II Harvard should reduce
her courses of study so that the candidate could
secure an A. t. degree in three years. 1t would
almost inevitably mean that the smaller colleges
would sooner later be compelled 10 lolO" sui.
These therefore some OF the reasons that the
recent dispatches from Cambridge called forth such
eager and Interested comment among the educators
Of this city.
President Eliot when he came to this city on FRI
day night to attend the annual dinner OF the liar
ward Club. was naturally asked many questions on
these points. To reporter for The tribune ne said
that the reports had implied an altogether exagger-
ated condition of the real state Of affairs The
Faculty Of Arts and Sciences had been merely con-
sidering certain phase Of the question IN the re-
duction OF the course. and had not been voting at
all on the main question There was hot the slight
est chance he said Of such change going into
operation at the present time, and even II the
faculty should take decisive and favorable action
on the proposition for reduction 1t would require
due notice 10 the educational world for long time
beforehand. Consequently. d change was not I'M
mineni.
As q matter Of fact. Harvard graduates. and all
those who have been following closely the growth Of
the university, have seen for some years that the
radu iop in I he become
vital question. 1t is by no means new or original
suggestion II has been In the mind OF President
Eliot for twenty years. and IL has come up in one
form or another before the faculty score Of times.
President Eliot has always been the champion for
the ultimate reduction Of the college course. and
he has gradually been gaining aGherents among tho
faculty until within the last few years the majority
I'm that body which had formerly been against, has
now swung over in favor OF the reduction OF the
co,,rsc But this sentiment does not mean that the
course will be reduced for the OEerseer3 anu leoWS
of Harvard, who always have the maj say IN
such matter, have promptly klIied tne SUBSECTION t
whenever il has been made. Among those bodies,
adherents for reduction are being won, ana
II seems question OF only hve. or. at the most Ten
wears before the step Will be taken;
tent is OF course that now, when man preparing
for a profession first goes through iOur years
college course and then his professional course o.
four years he is getting gray haired before ne
really begins his life work. As a matter OF iact.
alsn even now there many students VINO. ~
sxtra study are enabled to take, ana 40 take. the
A Il degree at Harvard fulfilling all the require
ments In the space of three years Consequci'uy'
REDUCTION Of the actual requirements In only small