The Portland daily press., 1897-12-31
PEDAGOGICAL RUSH LINZ.



which was one of the brightest of the day
came in under. the general topic of college
examinations. Both Mr.. Reyes and Mr.
Cole raised the point that the changes in
-therequirem would add to the al
ready heavy burdens of the preparatory
schools, but Prof. Houghton did not
agree with this, stating that the colleges
were aiming to secure uniformity and
satisfactory results without intending to
put an undue amount of work on the
secondary schools. Prof. Houghton in
the course of his interesting paper, said
that the main object of the study of Latin
should not be overshadowed blythe magni-
flying of any Of the secondary considera-
tions in it's favor. While it was true that
the study of Latin increased the mental
towers of the students and gave them
valuable knowledge of many of the ele.
ments of English, these were the second
airy objects. The main reason for the
study was that Latin was worth knowing
in itself for the literature and history
which it made known.
Principal Cole in his paper discussed
this an other questions in an original
and entertaining manner. In part, he
said:
l think that no one will deny that the
curriculum of the school of our day is
overloaded. It is admitted that many
additions and Innovations were really
needed and have resulted in good. But n
good thing can easily be pushed too far.
Schools must now furnish instruction
ancef charity and brotherly love; they
must teach honesty, frugality, the Bible
and all the subjects relating to man as
man.
In the college preparatory course the
pinch is most felt. Here the new educa-
ton and the colleges unite in piling up
the work. The boy who wishes to fit for
college is bewildered and often times dis
couraged by the multiplicity of studies
which he is expected to master; and SO
the teacher must, of necessity, put the
knife in and carry on trimming process
in many places. What notifications,
then, may we justly ask in college en-
trance requirements?
First, of arithmetic.
This study is now, for the most part,
relegated to the elementary school, al
though, in some high schools, in defer
ence to q popular demand, it is still made
a subject OF study. Some colleges no
ought to appreciate the situation, and
follow SO excellent an example.
Above all things, in this connection
the schools should not be forced to teach
the metric system Of weights and meas
Ures. The few people who go to college
caal master enough of it to answer all
puSposes.
Mkt, of Greek Prose composition.
Crock prose composition should be
studied in connection with texts set for
the sole purpose of grounding the pupils
in the use of forms and constructions Gin
the pro- ler manner. Consequently, can
didates FOR college should not be req uired
to show ASkill in writing Greek in con-
nected dh seourSe.
Again, where French is required for
admission to college. and where it is
made sub stitute for Greek, the amount
that the SC, aools are asked to cover seems
to me to be beyond all reason
What shall be said of the. present col
lege requirements in English?
Teachers are a unit as far as I can
learn, in think ing the list of works toe
long, the works themselves not well
chosen, and the questions Usually asked
ut entrance examinations not such as will
brin out the candidates knowledge OF
English.
The educator who looked over tho Eng
lish requirements for admission, fur
nished by the various universities and
colleges IN response TO the circular letters
sent ou5aby the regents of the university
of the city of New York about year ago
has made his report, which contains the
following:
'tThe-9 is a wide diversity of opinion
among college and university men as to
the natuie and extent of the preparation
on these uniform texts in English which
may BIO required of candidates. for college
Indeed, IL would appear impossible
at present, for any secondary school to &c,
into consonance simultaneously with the
college systems of the country.
From a general survey Of the field, II
would certainly seem that the situation
loudly Calls for notifications in college
entrance requirement. II these modiflcs
sions should be made, and if they shoule
lead to horizontal reduction, I believe
that the school teachers, stimulated BIZ
renewed courage and hopefulness, wouIt
send up boys and girls better prepared fol
college work, and that our whole
educational system would be vastly i'm
proved.
ThE RURAL SCHO OILS.
The aftei noon session was devoted tx
a discussion of the rural schools. 1t drew
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