Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-14
SMALL COLLEGES.
Limit on Number of Students mt
Williams.

Limit on Number of Students Mt
Williams.
From the New York Tribune
1t is reported in "Tne North Adams
Transcript" which is presumably well in
formed on the subject, that the authorities
of Williams College tnterd to limit the size
Of future classes, desiring to restrict the
number of students to about three hundred
In all. This, of course, will not be accom-
plished by the arbitrary rejection of appli-
cants for admission. The design is to raise
the standard and at the same time to
diminish the amount of pecuniary assist
ance given to needy students, the expecta-
ton being that for a time at least these
two checks will operate to keep the attend
ance within the desired limit Whether
this arrangement, be regarded as a new
policy or as a new application of an old
policy, its results will be watched with in
terest In educational circles. The plan is
not proposed as a means of relieving q
harassing financial condition already exist
Ing, but rather for the pprpose of prevent
ing larger demand, upon the resources of
the institution than 1t Is prepared to sup
ply. The increase in attendance which the
college authorities regret and wish to stop
has not been induced by a lowerin. of the
standard, but it is believed to be due in
part to the establishment of a scientific
course and In part TO the generosity of the
college toward students applying for pc
cuniary aid. For admission to the scien-
tlfic course knowledge of Greek has not
been and will not be required, but hereafter
the requirements in French and German will
be sufficiently severe, SO it is believed, to
offset that concession entirely There is
indeed, possibility that the scientific
course will be dropped, but the other re-
strictive measures will certainly be tried
first
For many years Williams has been re-
garded as the highest type of small college,
1t was finely said that Mark Hopkins and
one student would constitute a university
SO profound was the educational influence
of that eminent man upon every one SUBJ
jected to 1t. The college has never eagerly
sought students, being contented to attract
the few to whom its character and environ
n.ent were pee uliarly congenial But vet
III der that policy its natural growth has
now exceeded, or threatens to exceed, the
capacity of the college to care for its mem
bers in its own traditional way, and 1t
therefore deliberately discourages a numer-
ical development which would be embar-
RAISING at the least, and which might sub
vert the Williams ideal. To attempt to
counteract the law Of growth is risky I'M
dertaking for those who are not willing TO
degenerate, and it would be a total mistake
to suppose that the men in control at Will
liamS mean to limit its true expansion
Quality is more admirable than size, and an
educational institution which cannot hope
fully cultivate both Is fortunate when it is
governed by men who insist that the for
mer alone is indispensable.
Whatever the immediate consequences of
the step taken at Williams may be, it is
likely to give the college still higher re-
pute for thoroughness of instruction and
for exercising the mental and moral in
spiration of direct personal influence. Such
distinction as that would in turn consti-
tute a powerful attraction, of which the
natural effect would be an increased at
tendance: but we do not need to assume
that such result would be unwelcome af-
ter the material conditions to which the
new expedients are adapted had passed
away. The college has noble record, and
Its future never appeared more secure