The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-07-22
VAN FULL CREDIT.
Normal School Principals Think
Their College Work Should
be Recognized.

Good for Something Sentiment Of
Normal schools.
The absence of several prominent
educators who were to take part in
the program made Fridays after
noon session of the educational cen
ference something of disarpoint-
ment But il had its compensatIons.
1t gave the normal school, prepare
tory school and University men a
chance to get at each others threats.
The discussion was very informal,
and every body was allowed to say
his say. DR.. Purlnton, as presiding
officer, making only the one restric-
ton, that not more than two men
should occupy the floor at the same
time, this when Prof Troster, Prof
Hodges and Prof Deahl all wanted
to talk at the same time, with A. j.
Wilkinson making remarks on the
side.
In accordance with the principle
that tout Of the heart the mouth
speaketh. the question veered to
the eternal question of college credit
in the University for work done in
the preparatory schools.
"The Relation of the Denomina-
tional Schools to the University's
was the theme set down on the pro
gram for consideration. President
T. E. Cramblett, of Bethany, and
President John Wier, OF the Confer
ence seminary, we're to have talked
on one phase of this, but at the last
moment it was found that neither
was present. Likewise, President
s. <. Swartz, of Broaddus Institute,
and President r. L. Telford, Of Lew.
isbnrg Female Institute were absent
Prof. Frank b. Trotter, of the
Seminary, was present and spoke
briefly for the Seminary. He made
point that there seemed to be a
great rivalry between the schools to
get students. This should not be.
Let the schools turn their attention
to taking better care of the students
they have, caring nothing for num-
bers. Scrambling for students was
unseemly and beneath the dignity OF
ar institution of acknowledged
standing. How many students we're
instructed was not so important as
how well they we're instructed.
Vice President j. M. Skinner of
Morris Harvey college talked on
what the Denominational Schools
Should Do for the University" Prof.
Skinner is recent graduate OF the
University and the institution suf
fers no undertaking at his hands.
His address was greatly enjoyed by
all present.
The formal addresses finished, the
question of University credit for
college work done in preparatory
school, that had made the morning
session a lively one again asserted
itself. Prof. Hodges took great pains
to explain in his clear, concise way,
the system followed by the Uni
versity committee who has it in
charge, in admitting students and
giving them credit for work already
done towards degrees. A certificate
from the preparatory school, il ac
credited was all that was necessary
to admit the applicant to the Fresh
man class. II he wanted credit for
college work, he was sent to the head
of the department in which the work
was done, and would obtain all that
was due, with or without examina-
ton. When student came from
the Conference Seminary, he said,
there was never any question about
his college credit. The same was
true of any school where work was
known to the instructors. But when
a student came from the Oshkosh
High School il was different. No one
knew the quality oil the work done
there, and the student would have
to prove himself, By examination or
otherwise.
Students always got all the credit
that was coming to them and little
more. The students themselves
know this better than anybody. They
did not get all they wanted,
but it was usually case OF wanting
too much. The committees system
was the result OF long experience and
much thought, and while it might
work hardship in very exceptional
case, it was the best he knew OF.
A. j. Wilkinson arose and wanted
to know where the question Of brains
came Ia: 1t seemed to him the sys-
TEN made no allowance for special
ability whatever. 1t all depended on
work and grades. Where was the
sitting process to begin? Were
the billiards, the boys who plainly
had no talent for Latin and other
learning, to be allowed 10 20 through
college, and to learn when lie finishes
that they were filter for the shop or
farm than for Law and Latin? Mr..
Wilkinson wanted some patent, n.y.
dradlic, self adjusting device to test
the brains of the -outh when he knock
ed at the college door. The bright
fellow should te allowed to take COL
lege work, without. reference to his
previous preparation, while the dull
boy was to be severely tested and adj
mltted only on evidence incontrover-
libel, or set to driving nails. He
then attacked the whole system Of
grading and classification, the world
over and incidentally the one in vogue
In the University.
-Four or five men wanted to answer