New-York tribune., 1902-08-31
THROUGH COLLEGE IN THREE YEARS.

The circular issued by Harvard University
formally offering the degree of Bachelor of Arts
| at the end of a three years course marks
| new stage of a long fight. Almost at the
same time comes the announcement that
| the University of Pennsylvania has taken a
similar step. President Eliot and those of
| his reforming persuasion have pushed the op-
position year by year further aside in an
effort TO reduce the required time of the cur
riculum. Now they put on record an outright
overthrow. The degree is to be had, upon
proper performance, after three years; or in
other words the required length of residence is
reduced by one year. -Four years may still be
spent in acquiring the bachelors degree. This
letting down the bars is permissory, but the re-
suit is plain. The percentage of men qualify
ing in three years-accordng to the last issue
of ''The Harvard Graduates agazine' already
% per cent-will increase more rapidly than
ever until soon the four year men viii dwindle
down like General Garcia's gallant army in Mr.
Dooleys account The college course at Har-
ward and at the University of Pennsylvania
seems on the eve of being three years instead
of four.
Throughout the country the upper and neither
millstones of the preparatory and professional
schools are grinding down the college. Har-
ward. as she did with the elective system. faces
the issue first. That earlier innovation is still
debated. Kind and thoughtful men will still
tell you that, though all credit may fall to Presi-
dent Eliot for starting and sustaining the move
ment 1t a desertion of sound principle.
Yet before this step is pronounced an
athena, it would be we'll to reflect that it has
no essential relation to the merits or demerits
Of the elective system. The case is far simpler.
The professional schools want college bred men,
and one by one are formally requiring candi
dates TO be such. The mute, inglorious under
freshman Marshall and the beardless young
ster with a taste for malignant cancers, for
their part. want the college. The earlier gen
Grafton of fathers apt TO remember how
they were supporting circle of maiden aunts
at the age, say, of seventeen; and the mothers
Of the coming generation grow anxious TO
demonstrate their qualities as housekeepers
Given these conditions and a college that awards
its degrees for work rather than lapse of time,
there certain 10 be men who will finish the
course in three years. The question then ruffles
the academic world ''If three years is enough for
the best men, why not for all ~ Then there
comes a long fight in the faculty, than which
nothing is more acute. This was begun at
least as far back the vote of 1887 to inquire
into the advisability' of the proposition. Dur
ing the interval the three year men have to
face the opinion of graduates of earlier day
that either college study must be holiday af-
fair now, or the young men far more brilliant.
Neither horn of this dilemma being too pleas
ing, they wait for the success of the reaction
ary party in the academic councils. Now that
this success has been gained, the Objectors
may be expected TO settle down to criticising
the innovation the basis of its fruits. But
this, after all, is the only fair way to judge it.
1t has arrived as the result of conditions of
growth in universities and of life outside.
1t will remain only if it demonstrates its wis
dom. Harvard and the University of Pennsyl-
vania, after much hesitation, but before others
have moved. have screwed up courage to give it
q trial.