The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-27
BY DANIEL STRONG.
Copyright 1903. by T. c. Mcclure

SOpyI lSnL AOVoS
When DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler,
the president of Columbia University,
gave to the trustees of that imstitu-
ton his first report as president, they
were probably informally prepared for
the startling and radically innoVating
suggestions which were contained in
it. But to the public DR.. Buffers
propositions came so unexpectedly and
were so surprising that far-reaching
discussion both in the daily press and
in all educational circles followed.
Thereby was made clear the fact
that public thought had already been,
perhaps vaguely and tentatively, di-
rected to the dangers which DR.. But
Ter pointed out in this report and
which he purposes to remedy. The
suggestion that he made was that the
regular college course, heretofore oc-
cupWng with almost every institu-
ton four years, be so changed that
there be provided concurrently both
a long and short course; one of two
years, for which an appropriate de-
gree might be given, and of four years,
for which another and equally signlh-
cant degree might be conferred.
In Boston recently, DR.. Butler, about
year after his view was first made
public, addressed a gathering repre-
senting the National Educational AS
ISOLATION of the United States. That
was so important and so great an
assemblage of those interested in
educational matter that it was a sub
iect of discussion in the newspaper
press. both throughout the United
States and in England. The estl-
mate is that considerably In excess
of 10000 teachers or educators now
actually engaged in teaching were
present, and to this vast audience DR..
Butler spoke, reiterating earnestly and
emphatically the position he had taken
in his report to the Columbia trus-
tees.
Soon after the adjournment of that
association, DIR. Butler returned to
New York, partly for the purpose OF
accepting an invitation to spend a day
or two with President RooseVelt-the
President and DR.. Butler having been
warm friends for many years-And it
was after his return from that visit
that DR.. Butler spoke in the informal
and more personal way which is re-
corded in this interview.
President Roosevelt Is greatly inter-
ested in the National University whose
work is made possible by the endow-
ment of Andrew Carnegie of $40, 200, 900,
and which is designed to furnish an
opportunity for exhaustive and extern
sive original research in all depart
ments of learning and especially in the
field of science. DR.. Butler was asked
if there was any relation between the
National University as sponsored by
the federal government and endowed
by Andrew Carnegie, and the changes
with respect to the curriculum OF a
college proper with which he is now so
prominently identified.
"Of course, there is the closest re-
lation," he replied. THE National
Univ ersity is, in it's scope and purpose,
to furnish final opportunity for origi-
nal research, investigation and study,
of a character which it is not possible,
perhaps, to obtain in any one of the
great universities. The Federal de-
partments at Washington are to be
open to such students as are certified
as qualified to pursue original re-
search in them; as, for instance, in
the Naval Observatory, in the Smith
sonian Institute, in the Geological De-
partment or in the Coast or Geodetic
Survey, as well as in the Treasury
Department.
"It is my view that, after the meth
DDS of this institution are understood
and it has been thoroughly organized,
our colleges and professional schools
will be found sending to the National
University men of the highest ability
and qualification, the result of whose
researches will be vastly to increase
knowledge in all departments of learn
ing and undoubtedly with the most
beneficial effects upon civilization and
the welfare OF mankind. Now, / have
long felt that If there is too much
time taken in the academic course, or
il students enter it at too late period
in life, then they are at altogether too
advanced an age upon graduation 10
pursue higher professional or techni-
cal studies such as those of the Ma
tional University, unless they expect
TO be students all their lives. There
fore. il seemed to me that IL is speed
ily TO be essential that there be some
modification OF the college curriculum,
especially in view of the fact that the
preparatory, or the secondary, schools,
the high schools, are so advancing
their studies that they really overlap
the work done In many colleges In the
first or second year OF the courses
"Is Il to be inferred that you favor
the subordination. or the belittling, OF
the college proper to the end that the
high, or preparatory, school, on the
one hand, and the professional school,
upon the other, may continue 20 In
crease their requirementsT
Those who have Insisted that DIR.
Butler, IN his advocacy OF a shorten
ing Of the college course II really, al
though perhaps unconsciously, un-
friendly 20 the American college,
should have seen the expression Of
irritation and impotence with which
be heard this question, In answer