The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10


Tho following paper on THE Bachelor
OF Arts Degree" by W. s. Sutton. pro-
lessor OF pedagogy of the University Of
Texas, was read before the Texas Academy
OF Science:
At q meeting OF tho Association OF South
ern Colleges in 1898, speaker declared
that 'for a long time the 3. A. degree has
stood for all that is best in culture and
education At this same meeting Pres
ident Charles w. Dabney OF the Univer-
sity of Tennessee recommended that all
academic degrees except B. A. and pos
sbly the d. s. be abolished" He had not
the shadow OF doubt about that the B. A..
degree represents liberal culture, but his
qualification of possibly" with respect to
b. s. degree may be taken as evidence
MS occupying the same plane. In an ad-
dress Delivered by President Eliot OF Har-
ward before the members OF Johns Hopkins
university in February. 1854, the b. a,
degree was said TO be the customary evil
dence of liberal education Dr.
Hinsdale of the University OF Michigan
referring to this matter some years ago,
thus stated well known fact. But 1t is
England and her educational dependencies
thai have given this degree Its highest
staining In the world OF letters In these
countries II has long been the badge OF an
educated man" President Schurman. In
paper written In March, 1897, to explain
Cornell action in coming to the one de-
gree basis, said hat the b. A. degree
has long stood for the fullest measure Of
liberal education. But 1t is needless to
multiply witnesses. In England and In
America 1t Is the general belief that the
b. A. degree above any other degree sig
nfes that its holder has pursued courses
OF study, completion OF which ensures a
liberal education.
Nor is 1t at all surprising that this de-
cree has been chosen as tho standard CT
culture, for, while with respect to many
things there is nothing IN name, historic
facts are frequently crystalllzed in names.
ds short statement OF the rise of the
university degrees viii attest Tho first
degrees granted by lAediaeva! universities
were master and doctor. They we're first
granted at Salernum, Bologna aud Paris
TO persons that Lad demonstrated their
Illness To teach or to practice law, medi-
cine or theology. These two titles. which
were used nterchangeably, in the begin
nlng mad 10 connection whatever with the
arts studies, university work as init
mated above being confined to professional
Instruction. Later on because of the fact
that universities were either the outgrowth
or the arts schools or were developed
In association with them, the ARTS" fac
dlty was added TO the professional faculties
OF law, medicine and theology, and hence
arose the practice OF comforting the mas
tershlp or doctorate for proficiency in tho
arts subjects also. II is altogether
probable that the early doctorate or mas-
tership was not u formal degree, hut
merely license. or a faculty to teach
uicentla docendi. facultas docendD. It
may not be improper to remark here. by
way OF parenthesls. that tho old univer-
Mites considered it their CHIEF duty ia
give men preparation for teaching. and
mat modern universities are resuming i
junction, which. for causes not necessary
10 recount. was allowed 10 lapse. bur which
thoughtful men everywhere are beginning
10 realize Is factor OF no mean import
ahce in the progress OF education.
IN the course OF time the maslersbip was
eonnnod TO arts graduates in the Uni.
rersity OF Paris, an example which had
great influence on other universities. WIN,
me decorate was reserved for those who
completed their studies in one of the nro
lessionai facnltics law medicine or thooI-
oPF' IN Germany, however, the two Titles
were not distinguished. but In the and
maSter was eliminated and Motor came
70 De applied to arts" as Well as TO pro.
iessional studies Even the term ''arts
Jus ulHappeared and philosophy, the chief
instead. "''p'e"
brief inquiry concerning the Latin
term, aries, may be OF advantage In trnr1
ing the history OF "arts" depreaa ,Tho
WORD studies H. without doubt. the hest
IN. Enellsh equivalent for the Latin artes.
Ine ancient Greeks and Romans did NOT
nlahe tne clear distinction between the
arts ana the sciences that exists In modern
lhought The seven liberal arts. which
formed the curriculum OF SECONDARY sd,-
cation In the Middle Ages. embraced n,
the trlvium, consisting OF grammar Q.atin
grammar, to be snre) dialectics. or logic
and rhetoric; and (2) the ouadrivium
soniposeu OF arithmetic, geometry. music
ana astronomy. ThNse seven studies para
not intended to give training for nrofes.
sional or industrial life but we're DESIGNED
10 AFFORD that mental DEVELOPMENT which
iree men should enjoy. These ARTS" hay-
peen incorporated into the work OF the uni,
versities' tue University Of Paris led the
way IN establishing the practice of grant
ing the degree OF Bachelor OF Arts unon
boys who, by completing the triyium bad
reaohed the halfway point in the "nrts''
course. II Is believed that the practice NJ
European guilds had decided inauence
upon tho question of university degrees.
for the universities themselves wers IN
reality. only guilds OF learning. AS mas
tership in guild was preceded by
period OF apprenticeship, so mastership In
arts followed term OF bachelorsbin'
While prosecuting the studies OF the ouad.
rivium, IL was also the duty of the student
who had completed the trivium and had
received his d. A. degree, to assist the
masters in instructing the freshmen. tho
new aspirants for what might be callei the
apprentice degree In learning. Upon re-
ceiying his b. A. decree the youth was
SAID TO enter upon arts (incipere In arti-
bus). The degree. consequently. looked |
forward TO the time when the "arts" stu
dies would be completed and when the
pachelor would enter upon his career OF |
mastershp. "
According to Prof. Laurie, of the Uniyer-
sity OF Edinburgh, the title first used TO in |
dictate completion OF the triyium was bao-
caiarius. meaning cowherd In the seryice |
OF farmer. bacca being low Latin for cnw
tvacca). Afterward an error In ety.
mology, which Intimately connected tbe
laurel berry with graduation, transformed
baccaiarlus into baccalaurous. Whatever /
may DO the derivation OF the term, bach
elor. II is certain that, up 10 the time ot
the great Renaissance. the b. A. degree
was conferred upon boys about II or rs /
years OF age when they had finished the