The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-15
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
INDIANA COLLEGE ASSOCIATION BE-
GINS ITS SESSIONS.
President Stone, Of Purdue, Reads an
Interesting Paper-VisitOrs at
Local Hostelries.

The Indiana College Association opened
its annual meeting at the Denison last
evening, with an attendance OF between
thirty and forty members The first ses-
sion was to have been held yesterday aft
ernoon, but the members of the associa-
ton did not get in until too late for the
programme to be carried out before the
dinner hour. The officers of the organiza-
ton are: Charles W. Lewis, Moore's Hill,
president; c. B. Coleman, Butler, vice
president; o. l.. Kelso, State Normal,
treasurer; Andrew Stephenson, De PAW,
secretary.
President Lewis called the association to
order at 7:30 o'clock in the evening and
announced the appointment of two COM
mittees, as follows:
Committee on Nominations-Dr. Kane,
Wabash Professor Manchester, Vincennes;
Professor Kelly. Earlham.
Auditing Committee - Professor King,
Wabash Professor Wisely, State Normal;
Professor Brown, Butler.
The programme was then taken up, Pres
ident Stone, of Purdue. presenting his pa
per on How Far Can the Elective System
Be Carried in College?'' AT the conclusion
Of this paper the association adjourned to
Parlor A, where banquet was served.
Following the banquet the programme
was resumed. President Lewis, of Moore's
Hill, leading with a discussion of the SUBJ
ject. 1.-THE Agitation for Shortened
Course In College" Prof F. c. Tilden of
De Pauw, led the discussion of DR.. Lewis's
paper. and he was followed by an informal
general discussion, in which all the men,
bers participated.
he eli of
officers will be held and the general bust
ness of the association transacted. Those
present lest evening were:
Charles w. Lewis, Moore's Hill; w. T.
Stott, Rebecca /. Thompson, Jeanette
Zoppenfeld, f. s. Gardner and NJ. Z. Cro-
well. Franklin; l.. J. Aldrich, Merom; w.
E. Stone and w. NJ. Goss. Purdue: c. K.
Chase and Robert L. Kelly, Earlham: Rob-
ert A. King and w. Z. Kane, Wabash; ID.
w. Fisher. p. III. McComb and e.. r..
Melcher, Hanover; O. l.. Kelso and John
b. Wisely. State Normal; James r. Weav-
err F. G. Tiden, w. NJ. Blanchard and A.
Stephenson, De Pauw; j. T.. Manchester.
Vincennes; r. L. Mccormick and c. l..
The paper read by President Stone, of
Purdue. on the elective system was an in
teresting discussion OF subject that is
being considered now by every college and
prospective students.
PRESIDENT STONES PAPER.
President Stone said in part: 1.-THE Amer
lean college has entered the field of the
universities In the practice, which is quite
general. of offering electives to their I'M
dergraduates. The older method prevailing
i'm Europe is to permit little or no choice in
his studies to any but the university stu
dent, who is given the utmost freedom in
this respect. In America we anticipate by
extending this privilege not only to stu
dents of college grade. but to pupils of the
high schools. and it is even recommended
by no less an authority than President
Eliot that pupils of ten years in the public
schools be given a choice of studies. This,
said the speaker. is to be regarded, of
course, as extreme view.
THE objection to electives is that of in
trusting 10 immature youth the decision as
to what training shall stand for the college
degree. The advantage of electives is to be
found in the recognition they AFFORD to
diversity of talent and purpose in the stu
dent. More than this. they help develop in
him individuality and definite aim. The
college elective makes IL possible for the
student 10 specialize. Even though ii may
be inexpedient TO permit child OF ten
years to elect his studies. IL is quite sure
that a time will come when he should enjoy
this opportunity, and the earlier it can be
intrusted TO him the better for his future
This is al in harmony with the conditions
of the times. which lay larger burdens on
the agencies contributing to his education
should operate as early possible. All of
the Indiana colleges offer electives to their
students in one another form. The COL
leges of liberal arts give greater freedom
than the technical schools which is ex-
planned on the principle that scientific and
technical courses consist of a series of de-
pendent steps subjects, none of which
can be safely omitted and none of which
can be taken up without the necessary
preparation. But these courses in technol-
ogy are in themselves highly specialized.
and I'm entering upon them the student ex-
ercises elective at the outset"
The speaker emphasized the Importance
in collge OF liberal arts of retaining the
fundamental studies in the list of required
subjects and OF permitting elective sys-
tenn 10 eliminate these from the require
ments for the degree In order 10 retain
This important feature of the course not
more than one-third or one-half OF the
curse should be elective.
The most desirable form of elections was
thought TO be the Offering of different pre-
'cribed courses. each containing a majority
Of fundamental subjects common TO all. but
ZACH characterized by some special line. as.
or instance. an English course. classical
curse or a scientific course Elections
should be allowed sparingly or not at all to
The freshmen. There Is time enough In the