Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-16
THE COILEGE YEAR.

cornell Observation-Disclosures. 26t 2b 2Al
.....,..,.....,.. 2S6 ~ 20
HARVARD .,................. 23 II 252
Johns Hopkins ....,........ 25s % 1886
Mlchlgan ......"..,.-...,. 2S II ~
Minnesota ..........,....,.. 2B9 10 $50
ODerlin ................. IA "A zoo
Pennsylvania ............ 252 II 2S5
smith g2 SO 26
NaSSar ......-..--......... 2bi ~ El
Wellesley .....,-...'..... 80 90
Mllllams .,....,".,.,,..... 20 ~ 2+0
1ale ISL 81 2oU
In these twenty-one colleges the average
number OF working days in each year is PAP.
II one substract from this number the thirty
six days standing for the thirty-six Sundays
of the college year. and also thirty-six other
days composed of either the one whole holt
day of each week or the two half holidays of
each week, which most colleges, though not
all. offer their students and professors, one
finds remaining only 10 days as represent
ing the positive working time of each year.
But significant as this relatively short time
Is, it becomes more significant when one re-
members a form Of the college work of which
the general public has small knowledge.
Most colleges have an examination period
at the close of each term. In case the col
lege has three terms in each year, this exam
ination period usually does not cover more
than a week at the close Of each term. But
in case the college has, instead Of the old
method Of three terms of twelve weeks each,
two half-years Of eighteen weeks each, the
examination period in certain institutions
is longer than three weeks and in others
shorter. The larger the college, on
the whole. the longer is the period
OF examination at the close of each semes-
ter. At Harvard and Yale the larger part
OF three weeks is consumed at the close Of
each Of these periods. In a word, some
FIVE or six weeks are used in testing the
value OF the work which the students have
done. Therefore the 10 days, the number
OF days standing for the college year, is still
further to be diminished by some forty days.
OF course the examination period is valua-
BILE; it has a greater value. in a sense, than
any other time of equal length in the col
lege year, but it does not represent that
aggressive movement in scholarship and
education which the ordinary week repre-
sents. 1t is therefore plain enough that
the college year has become pretty short.
Looking Backward
The present shortness, be it said. repre-
sents a tendency. For in the last two
thirds of this fast flying century the nor
NAL college year has been cut off from being
one of some forty-two weeks to being one
of some thirty-four. thirty-ive or thirty
six weeks. Let me give certain facts. In
the year 1881 the summer vacation at Dart
mouth was OF four weeks, the winter vaca-
ton of six and one-half. the spring of two
and one-half-a total of thirteen weeks. AT
the same time the annual vacation in the
University OF Vermont was of twelve weeks,
four weeks in the summer and eight in the
winter. In Middlebury the summer vaca-
ton was also of four weeks, the winter oil
seven and the spring Of two. In Bowdoir
the summer vacation was of four weeks
the winter of eight and the spring of two.
In Williams the entire vacation was of thir-
teen weeks, divided between the summe
of four, the winter of six and the spring OF
three. AT Harvard the summer vacation
OF six weeks came before the commence,
ment, which fell on the last Wednesday il
August; there were also two weeks a
Christmas and two weeks in the springs
total OF ten weeks. Brown had a vacation
also, OF thirteen weeks; Yale, one of twelv,
weeks. one-half Of which was in the sum
mer and two weeks at Christmas and foul
weeks In the spring. Princeton had a vaca,
ton of six weeks following upon the com
mencement time and of five weeks In tn,
spring. CoIumbia had one vacation
from the commencement. which fel
on the first Wednesday in August
TO the first MONDAY in October
The University of Virginia had one va
cation, running from July 20 to Septembe
1. Western Reserve had two vacations, fv
Ntthb III tue Suulilltl anu " III lHe IN
ter-a total of seven weeks.
These facts indicate that sixty years agl
and more the ordinary college year con
sisted usually OF forty weeks, in many case
of forty-two, and at least in one of forty
five. In a word, in two generations tn
length OF the college year has been lessene,
by about one-fouTth.
II is to be noted that the long vacation Il
several colleges fell in the winter time
This custom arose simply from the fact tina
many men in that early time were support
ing themselves. Many men are now sup
porting themselves also in the college, bu
in the early time the best method of Sc
curing self-support was teaching the coun
try school. The country school was kel
in the winter time; therefore the custom c
the college adapted Itself to the need c
many INDECENT students, The names c
some OF the best men in American life migt
be cited who made their way through CO.
lege by keeping school. But as schools
even In the country, have come to be KEEP
not six weeks in the summer and twelve 1
the winter, but rather thirty-six week
the opportunity open 10 college men of usiu
q winter vacation in this way has gradr
ally closed.
Cause of the Tendency,
The causes Of this tendency toward Il
-" N-N NA'Ne -NA' So
some are general. others special and loca
One reason, doubtless, lies in the chanl
in the social customs Of the American PEE
pie, A summer vacation, and a long sun
mer vacation, has come 10 be the rule Il
many people. II Is dificult, II not impo
sible. for the college TO go against a soci
custom so firmly imbedded in American II
as is the long summe vacation.
A further reason lies in the demands
the college professors. The number
teachers in the American college who
abroad each summer rapidly increases, f
such a trip and residence a long time
necessary. It is also to be said that Il
practice OF American teachers going ahro,
is 10 be promoted. Their worth 10 their CO
leges becomes greater,
Furthermore, the writing Of hooks is nc
regarded as one OF the duties that deyolv
upon the college teacher. such work c
be done only in the face OF special dii
culties while one Is going through ordina
college routine. But summer offers a fifth
opportunity for composition. | recent