Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-03
Endorsement OF the Campaign
Started to Reform College
Entrance Requirements
SIGNS OF THE TIMES FAVORABLE
The Chief Contention I. for a Place in
College for the High School Student
Who Is Without Either Latip or
Grsek-Larser Eastern Institutions
Have Already Made Such Provision.
Special to Times-Repuhlican.

Special to Republican.
Sioux City, Dec. 3.-The campaign
which DR.. Frederick E. Bolton, of the
. State University of Iowa, has inaugu-
rated for the purpose Of reforming col
lege entrance requirements is Endorsed
by Prof. George Edward Marshall.
principal of the Sioux City high school.
Professor Marshall believes college
courses should be arranged SO that the
young man or young woman who may
not have taken Latin or Greek in the
high school may enter college without
having to undergo special course in
these studies. He also predicts that
q number of branches which now hold
places In high school courses thru tra-
dition will be supplanted.
The subject which Professor Mar
shall was to have talked upon at a re-
cent meeting Of the secondary school
men and college representatives in Des
Moines was one OF the principal bones
of contention at the meeting. The sub
ject was "Some Facts Concerning Col
lege Entrance Requirements" and 1t
was presented by DR.. Bolton. of the
state university. Among the questions
discussed was whether Latin and Greek
should be absolutely required for en-
trance into colleges. and another in-
teresting discussion had to do with the
number OF years which should be given
to the English course.
Professor Marshall was unavoidably
prevented from attending the meeting,
but he cheerfully gave expression to
his views on the subjects at hand and
Endorsed Or. Bottoms views on college
entrance requirements. Professor Mar
shall said:
ANY comments which DR.. Bolton
may make upon the subject OF college
entrance requirements are sure to be
sane and satisfying. am heartily in
favor OF such changes in the rules OF
our state institutions as will permit
students to enter who have not had
Latin or Greek. There should be some
course where the. boy or girl who for
various reasons had not taken those
thorough believer in the value OF the
1CldSSlCS as u IucduS VI SuItuIS anu 1AChe
tai discipline, and yield to no one
in my respect for them, but I have
always contended that some adequate
provision should be made in the college
for students who have taken straight
English course.
"Many high school students do not
take Latin or Greek, and for various
reasons-some because they do not care
to, some because they hnd difficulties
which they fancy are insur1nountable
and some because these studies do not
appear to them al practical. Such stu
dents take the same amount of mathe-
matics science. English and history
that other students take, often more.
and yet they flnd no college course
which they can enter without the pre-
paratory Latin. They may enter upon
condition, but the Latin required for
entrance has to be made up later.
This Is not as 1t shouid be. and am
glad that man Of DIR. Bottoms, ability
has taken the matter in hand. AS a |
matter OF fact, student who has taken
any Of the four year courses IN a high
school of recognized standing should
be eligible for admission to the fresh |
man year OF college. and with, or with-
out Latin and Greek there should be
q place for him. Az a matter Of fact,
1t Is cheering to note that the larger
OF the east have made such
provision.
'srhe Sioux City high school has four
years Of English. and we think II none
too much. There is no subject in my
opinion more important than . thor
ough systematic course in English. II
have known two year courses and three
year courses. and they were Inadequate. |
After four years steady work, students
know little enough OF the language. !
After all English Is the medium OF our
and our knowledge In
most instances is based upon 1t. and 1t
should be above all else required and
insisted upon. It Is true that no thor
ough knowledge Of English can be had
without Latin as basis. but that Is
from the standpoint Of the scholar and
not the high school student. and for
that matter II we are going into the
basic principles OF the languages 1t is
mot possible to ignore the claims OF
Greek. German and French. SO there
you are.
'.As matter of fact there are many
studies in the high school curriculum
which hold their places thru trAdi-
ton and which doubtless will be sup.
planted by others of more practical ap-
plication unless the signs Of the times
fail"