New-York tribune., 1903-11-28
OPPOSE TWO YEAR PLAN.
Presidents Schurmdn, Taylor and
RheeS Speak against 1t.

The seventeenth annual convention of the As
sociation OF Colleges and Preparatory Schools of
the Middle States and Maryland began yesterday
two days session at Columbia University. Nearly
one thousand college professors and principals OF
high schools and secondary schools had registered
up 20 last night
President Butler welcomed the visitors. William
II. Maxwell superintendent of schools in this city.
discussed the elective systems in secondary schools
Principals Cpdegraff. OF Baltimore. and Josn, of
New Brunswick. ". J.. and Professor Charles De
Gsrmo Of Cornell spoke the same topic.
In the auditorium of Horace Mann School. later.
a heated discussion took place about the two year
college course. Professor ]. H. Penniman. dean
of the academic department, University OF Penn
sylvenia. began the addresses. vigorously opposing
the idea He said four year course necessary
for the proper intellectual development of the stu
dent. He did not object to three year course for
some students, carried on now in several coll
leges.
President Rhees Of the University OF Rochester
also opposed the shortening OF the four year
He said il could not be done in the interest of the
student The student should be kept four years for
the purposes Of intellectual maturity. He did not
object TO a three year course IN special cases.
Professor Andrew r. West dean Of the graduate
school Of Princeton. said the four year course had
been proved the best and was almost universal 1t
suited the means Of the country and was not too
long for training boy into a He thought a
three year course suitable for those who could not
stay four years. but he believed the four year
should be measured in those cases ct into
the three years
President sehurman Of Cornell University said
the proper age for a boy TO enter college was be-
tween sixteen and seventeen years of age and four
years should be taken up in completing his studies
He might study simple things at first. but a GER
tain amount of trained intelligence was necessary
for the more abstract studies. and time was re-
quired for him 20 master those pursuits. PresI-
dent Schurman protested against lowering the
standard of degrees. He also said that result
Of four year to develop the manhood
Of the student.
President Taylor OF Vassar College declared that
the Harvard University three year course had its
merits. but it had been found that the hard work
necessary often injured the health of the student
II was too short a term, he thought. for the
student TO take in all the advantages of college fe
and the longer time was necessary for the ma
t1Tity OF the student. If a shortened course was
wanted by some he said. why impose il on those
who wanted a liberal education? The four years
course was the product of experience and the pace
wes-set for the &c student. In the discussion
which followed no one opposed the views of these
speakers.
Last night a reception was given for the visitors
by President Butler and the faculty of Columbia
This took place in the Brinckerhoft Theatre at
Barnard College. President Remsen of Johns Hop
kns, the president Of the association. lectured last
night in Earl Hall on Reforms Needed in Educa-
tion." He said in part:
The fundamental defect in our educational svs-
TEN at present is complexity. We expect more and
more from the scholar There should be limit
Much Just complaint is entertained FOR sprea ding
TOO much work in education The REQUIRE.
ments have reached unreasonable point Work
would be better done If demands were less we
asking tee much Of the student. Pupils are
subject 10 too great pressure. How TO remedy this
is the problem before all educators. The three
wear course. and even the two-yeer course as ad-
vocated BY some. do not touch the root of the
problem. They do not reach this complex situa-
ton.
The college students now often found deficient
in knowledge of their mother tongue. No reputable
college degree Is a sign or a good knowledge OF
English acquired
I am not advocating the German method but
think we should carefully look into this subject
ard II we find that the German boy can acquire
as good an education. IL not better twenty Years
than American boy can in twenty-five or
twenty-three years, the outlook for Americans IS
system.
There will be another session OF the association
to-day.