New-York tribune., 1902-12-22
usJyT.J1JyG THE COLLEGE COURSE.

Il
In the matter of the controversy over the
/ ,anptb of the college course and its relation to
the professional courses OF the universities, the
educational world was last week placed under
a considerable obligation to the University OF
Rochester The New-York Alumni Association
of that institution provided at its annual dinner
a particularly practical discussion OF that topic
at the hands of experts one of them being the
head of typical small college and the other
the head of one of the large universities Ii
WAS an interesting and significant coincidence
that these two educators approaching the sub
iect independently and from opposite points OF
view met on essential points. The one de-
scribed what he theoretically thought shouid
be DONE while the other told what he was
actually doing: and the theory and the prac-
tice coincded.
Chancellor MacCracken of New-York Univer-
sity believing that the united preparatory, col
Iegiare and professional courses now take too
much time and postpone until too late an age
the young mans entrance upon his profession
al career proposed two remedies. One was
that the preparatory course should be so modi-
fed as to let the student enter college at
eighteen, or even seventeen. The other was that
the fourth year of the college course should be
so modified as TO afford a year Of professional
training thus reducing by that year the length
of the postgraduate course. He especially
urged this anticipation of full year in the case
of medical students, since they are required TO
pursue the longest of all professional courses.
But he also recommended it for law students,
so that they might either complete their profess
sional courses in two years instead of three, or
have a marked advantage in pursuing the three
years course in better preparation and in
creased leisure for general culture and special
research.
Such were the theories set forth by the head of
large university, which comprises half a dozen
professional schools besides an undergraduate
college President Rhees. of Rochester, made
known at the same gathering that precisely
those things are done, or aimed at, IN his
institution. which, though bearing the cor
porate name Of a university, makes pre-
tence of being more than excellent example
of the undergraduate college pure and simple.
At Rochester, be said. they were aiming to give,
in the chemical and other scientific classes, such
instruction as would enable the student to save
year in the medical school: in the classes in
history, constitutional law, etc, to enable stu
dents to enter a law school with advanced
standing or in the enjoyment OF special advan-
tages; and IN philosophical and other classes to
anticipate facilitate the post graduate work
of students in theology. For the complete
establishment of such system legislation will
be needed authorizing professional schools to
accept equivalent TO parts of their own
courses the work thus done In college. 1t will,
Of course, be necessary for securing such leg
islation to show the competence of the colleges
thus to anticipate professional work.
Now, the significant feature of these two pres
entations of the is that they both aim at
the maintenance of the four years college
course, and with it the ineshmable advantages
of those years of college residence, college dis
cipline. and, in a word, college life. Chancellor
MacCracken said: "Tbe four years of college
residence is the most American fact In Amer
der it 1t is un-American to turn the college
Into q shuttle railway or mere way station,
where students transfer from the preparatory
ito the professional school," He and President
Rhees alike maintain that no imitation Of the
preparatory school and DO elaboration of the
courses Of the professional school can ever take
the place Of the true college course or repay for
the loss Of even one year Of it, not to mention
the looping off of two of its four years The
preparatory course is at best nothing but pre-
paratory and the professional course is, and will
more and more be, specialized and technical
The college course is the one link in our whole
educational system which stands for liberal
culture, and such it cannot be spared and
must not be impaired.