New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-16
TIE COLLEGE STANDARD.

The old question Of the standard Of college
education and culture has assumed new and
particularly vital phase. Or perhaps we should
say II has entered uron some further evolution.
for its phase is merely the development
of the old one to Il higher degree of intensity.
few years ago the question whether the
regular college course" leading to the bacca-
laureate degree should be inyariable or should
be subject to certain elective notifications.
cordlng to the will Of the individual student.
The principle of electives. within certain gen
eral limits, soon won the day, and is now al
most universally in operation. with satisfactory
results Now the question is seriously raised
whether the elective principle should not be
extended. In its broadest possible application.
not only to the college course but also to the
entrance examinations. The proposition is that
instead Of adopting uniform requirements for
admission the colleges shall merely require
uniform amount of work in whatever branches
Of study; in this case also, 1t Is TO be assumed,
within certain general limits.
To this proposition grave objections are made.
One of the most forcible is that It carries the
elective system too far back. 1t has been gen.
orally recognized that by the time man
reaches his senior year in college his intellectual
character is so well developed that he may with
propriety and profit enjoy a wide latitude in his
selection of studies He has. I'm fact, by that
time acquired so varied instruction and DIS
cpline that even the strictest specialization Yin
that year would not deprive him Of title 10
the possession of liberal culture The same is
true in a more limited degree in his Junior year.
In the sophomore year the limits Of permissible
election much narrower, proportionate to
the lower degree of intellectual development;
and In the freshman year they are at their mar
rowest compass, r. indeed, election is permitted
at all. The principle-an eminently sound one
is based upon the cumulative and evolutionary
effect of study and discipline, and upon the
fact that whatever may be the final direction
Of a students course fixed starting point is
essential. Whatever a man proposes finally TO
read, he must first learn the one invariable adj
phabet. Whatever he may finally write, he
must first learn how to write. And to whatever
tasks he may in the end apply his mind, he
must first learn how TO use his mind and have
1t put into condition for use. It is to be as
sumed that trained and experienced educators
know how such mental development il to be at
tanned better than does the boy not half way
through his teens
But If the system OF election be carried back,
preparatory school, why should It stop there?
If there shall be no fixed standard for promo
ton from the preparatory school to the college
why should there be for promotion from the
grammar school to the high school? Or from
the primary school TO the grammar SCHOOL, Or
from the kindergarten to the primary school?
1t certainly is not to he seriously contended
that the boy Of eight or nine who finds &C.
orit ia IN no IT,
ted to study the former exclusively and alto
gether neglect the latter or that the child in the
kindergarten is to engage in only such exer-
clses as 1t nstinctlvely selects and is to be left
out Of all else. The line between authoritative
direction and self choice must really be drawn
somewhere, and we know OF no place where 1t
is more appropriately to be drawn than at en-
trance upon what is by common consent the
final and browning course OF general culture.
and the preparatory course to the highest pro-
fessonal and special pursuits.
Nor is this objection less worthy of note that
such extension of eclccticism would destroy the
significance and the value of the baccalaureate
degree. Hitherto the degree of Bachelor of
Arts has stood for something reasonably def
mite Even in colleges where the greatest
latitude in electives has prevailed the bestowal
TO certain degree familiar with languages and
literature. ancient and modern: with mathe-
mates and the sciences; with history and phi
lOsophy-in brief with all the great departments
Of knowledge which are essential TO liberal
education. II would. we believe. he most I'M
fortunate to destroy. impair or lessen that sig
nfcance. 1t would be illogical. if not as
mschevous, as TO impair the significance Of
any other academic degree. Obviously. It would
be improper TO bcstow NJ. D. upon person
who had not satisfactorily completed pre-.
scribed course OF medical studies. or Ii. r.
upon one who had elected not TO study law.
1t may well be held that b. A. or b. $. should
he just as definite in it's purport as the med
ical and legal degrees. And II may well be be-
! lieved that movement toward making and
keeping them would be for the advancement
Of the truest educational and intellectual in
terosts
TO argue thus is by no means to be narrow
or exclusive. or TO repudlate the definition OF n
university as IAN institution where any person
can find instruction In any study" The college
may admit all the special students II has room
for, and let them study what they please. and
give them credit for so doing I'm such courses
some students may find much profit Bnt II Is
not reasonable TO say that person pursuing