The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-08

graduate in three years instead of four.
Combining courses so that all gradu-
ates of the college of liberal arts will
receive the same degree, that of Bach
elor of Arts.
Increase of endowment fund by $780,
Increase of pay for professors by
from ten to twenty per cent.
More funds for library and equip
ment
Building for natural science museums.
Building for conservatory of music
Building for gymnasium.
Building for social gatherings of the
people of Topeka and the students of
the college.
DR.. Plass' inaugural address was
model of clearnesS and common sense
1t clearly defined the theory of educa-
ton as held by DR.. Plass, applied that
theory to the conditions existing at
Washburn, and told what results would
follow the application OF the theory.
DR.. Plass' argument for a shortening
of the college course by making it pos
sible for the student to do the work of
one year of the law, medical, dental or
theological school while at the same
time he is securing his, collegiate degree,
was backed by citing the fact that this
change is already in effect at Harvard,
Yale. Brown, Pennsylvania Michigan,
Williams, Columbia, Cornell, Chicago
and Northwestern universities. His as
Sertion that all collegiate work should
lead to the degree of Bachelor of Arts
instead OF the pIdCIlCd1lV meaningless
degrees of Bachelor of Science, Bach
elor of Letters, ETC., which are general
~ bestowed, will appeal to the grad
yates of colleges who understand the
meaningless differences between these
courses.
DIR. PLASSS APHORISMS
1.-THE first essential to a live college is
perpetual development"
LAS we'll attem1t to crowd the oak
back into the acorn as to try to make
the future nf Wa ehhI1T0 satisfy the
needs of this community by combining it
to the shell of the original generation"
1.-THE demand is imperative that the
student shall at graduation be preDar-
ed for some practical work and that he
shall reach the end of his educational
career at an earlier age"
I'VE must not forget that a man may
have had a practical education who has
not been taught to do single practi-
cal thing; that when he goes forth with
his sickle sharpened he is prepared for
work, even if he does not know how to
swing it, and better prepared than
though he should have rushed into the
field long before, not having taken time
to sharOen it,
1T is manifest that Washburn must
more and more modify her courses as
circumstances shall dictate. in the inter-
est of time economy.
1.-The college should not multiply
meaningless degrees Bachelor of arts
is the appropriate degree for a graduate
of college of liberal arts.
1T should be the policy of Washburn
to supply, in the line of higher educa-
ton, all that is needed in this section Of
the SunhoWer state"
t'Washburn is still a college She
make no pretensions to being a univer-
sity. She had rather be a college plus,
than a university minus"
TT would take 40 years for a student
to complete all the courses at Harvard,
but it is the exceptional student that
has more than from three to six years
at his disposal. and the small colleges
offer all the essentials of a liberal edu-
cation
PLASS DISCUSSES MERGERS.
In speaking of the merger of the Kan
sas Medical college with Washburn. and
the establishment of the law and dental
schools. DR. Plass said:
I'VE live in day of mergers and
affiliations Colleges and graduate
schools are catching the spirit of the
age, and in the interest of economy and
efficiency are joining forces. An excel
lent medical school has been developed
in Topeka. and has become a dignified
and efficient school. The Kansas Med
ical college, as it is called, is soon to be
merged with Washburn college 1t is
proposed that without change of name,
It shall become the medical department
of Washburn. We are now cooperating
with this end in view, and a complete
merger win be effected in the near flu
ture. This viii necessitate adapted
courses and combinations in teaching
40