Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-11-02
HARVARD'S ELECTIVES.
Athenaeum is Mistaken About the Mat
ter Says DIR. Turner.
To the Editor of the New DOMINION:

! WI AJbIS AAs At 0Sa~
/ To the Editor of the New DOMINION:
In the current issue Of the ''Athe-
naeum" the following occurs:
| s'fhe West Virginia University,
| following in the wake of Indiana,
Cornell, Leland Stamford, Jr and
Harvard, has adopted the elective
system to its fullest extent
! In another place in the same num-
Der it is said, The elective system as
it prevails in the West Virginia Uni
versity is not purely or wholly cleo
tive
| The first of the above statements,
in so far as it relates to Harvard Col
lege Is not true Nor is it true as to
the Lawrence Scientific school of
Harvard University. The facts are as
follows:
/. Harvard College has not abol-
ished the distinction between the de
grees of A. b. and B. S. They con-
tinue the same as heretofore.
Ii. Harvard College has not ''thrown
down the bars in regard to its adj
mission requirements. After a dis
cussion in the faculty lasting too years
| during which the subject was gone
over in the most careful manner, the
following scheme was recently adopt
ed as the requirements for admission
to Harvard College and the A. B.
course.
ID The total value of all admis-
sion requirements is placed at 20
points; of these, are required OF all
candidates for admission, namely,
English az Elementary Algebra ~.
(2.) All students must present one an
cient language(either elementary Greek
or elementary Latin) points; one
modern language (either elementary
French or elementary Germany 4
points; either plane Geometry (2) or
Geometry with some solid Geometry
(3); History (either ancient or English
and American) 2; an obseryational
science or sciences elementary
physics (2), or chemistry (2); or phys
Biography, or Anatomy, Physiology and
Hygiene) points. In all appoints.
(3O Besides the above prescribed
studies and prescribed alternatives,
the candidate must present optional
subjects amounting to 8 points, four
of ,ohich must be advanced Subjects
-Four Of these eight must be chosen
from the alternative prescribed studies
with the addition of botany Counting
points,; and the other four from the
advanced courses in these subjects,
| with the addition Of Astronomy and
Meteorology.
II any of your readers will take the
trouble to compare the above with the
prospectus recently published by the
West Virginia University they will
see that there is very wide differ
ence in the two requirements, not
merely as to amount of work but es
pecially in the fundamental ideas on
which the requirements are founded.
III. The same general principles
are applied in the new requirements
for admission to the Lawrence Scien-
titc School, which grants the degree
of B. S. The absolutely prescribed
studies are the same, with the addi
tion of geometry g points,: either
two modern foreign languages (ele
mentary French and elementary Ger
many or one foreign language (elemen-
tary and advanced), with elementary
history and science, are the alterna-
tive prescribed requirements: these
are followed by optionals, as in the
A. B. requirements.
". In Harvard College, the group
system of studies is not adopted. 1t
is in use only in the Lawrence Scien-
tific school. Even il it were ia use
in Harvard College, that would not be
a sufficient reason for its use in West
Virginia University.
V. So far as l am informed, Har-
ward College has not adopted the
course system for degrees. 1t is recog
nized in Harvard College that time as
well as ability to cram, is an import
ant element in education.
Yours truly,
e. M. TURNER.
Morgantown, Oct. 81, '99.