The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
SMALL VS.. LARGE COLLEGES.
President C. F. Thwing, in November Fo-



rum.
Between the advantages offered by the
large and by the small college no balance
should or can be struck The presence of
numbers or the lack of numbers is only
one of many characteristic elements of
colleges. The college which is large, or
the college which Is urban, may be the
better or the best college for one student,
and the college which is small, as the
college which is suburban. may be the bet
ter or the best for another student To
ask which is superior is like asking wheth-
er one prefers purple or golden sunsets.
The answer arises from the personal equa-
ton.
But the fact of the personal equation
does permit the expression of certain mere
definite judgments. To the student of or
binary ability the small college offers
heartier sense of sympathy of fellowship,
and OF expectation of usefulness; TO the
student of extraordinary ability the large
college offers far richer advantages for
higher development and greater Increase
Of his greater power To the student who
is working his way the small college is less
expensive, but furnishes fewer Opportuni-
ties for earning; the larger college de-
mands more money, but Is able to make
large grants from its loan and other funds,
and to furnish better facilities for self
support. To the city-bred man the small
college in the country opens new life,
and to the cOuntry-bred man the large col
lege in or near the metropolis opens also
new life. To the first the temptation of
self-cOnceit or arrogance is presented, and
to the second the temptation of intellectual
and moral dissipation. The student of
weak will-whO, however, should never go
TO cOllege-hndS more adequate support in
the personal ministries of the small col
lege; the student of strong Will finds his
individuality strengthened even If made
less unique. by the individualities by which
he is surrounded.
l should hesitate to make an affirmation
on the subject, but l do not hesitate to ask,
whether the small college is not better
fitted TO make thinkers. and the large 10
make scholars; the small better fitted to
teach men, and the large better fitted to
teach subjects; the small better fitted 10
train the individual. and the large better
fitted to discipline the democracy and the
small better fitted 10 improve and enrich
personal character and the large TO dis
seminate truth?
With respect to the large college. Z is
TO be said that its organization should
indeed be simple. and should not be diff
cult TO make. But the organization of the
large college is far less simple than that
of the small The cost of administration
is greater. \ large force is required 10 &C
complish the desired results. Far greater
attention is necessarily given TO the organi-
cation itself Among the most elaborate
of the organizations of all colleges is that
obtaining in the University of Chicago. One
peril in such elaborate systems is that the
president Is obliged, honestly believes
he is obliged. TO segregate himself from
most relations with the students. This Is
should be. distinct loss 10 the student
and loss and sore trial 10 the president
himself