The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-05
DR.. Folwell's Timely Suggestion.


Thanks to the sound good sense Of
Of Minnesota has made an innovation that
will be received sympathetically turnout
the country, and, doubtless, widely cop
led. Specifically 1t seems superfuous
that the faculty and the board of regents
should adopt the following resolution, pro-
posed by DR. .Folwel:
Resolved, that from and after 1904 every
person admitted to this university shall
be examined in reading. writing, spelling
and composing the English language; that
all who fail to obtain credit Of Is per,
cent shall be required to take instruction
as provided, and that no person shall ever
receive any diploma or other certificate Of
merit or proficiency until he shall have
passed such examination and obtained the
specified credit.
The prevalence of erroneous spelling,
ungrammatical composition and inability
to use the English language as a real me-
dunn of communication. long endured at
the university, as well as in other insti-
buttons Of learning, reached the limit
when a candidate for q masters degree
handed In thesis that was returned to
were so poor as to destroy all interest in
it." How, it may be asked, did it hap
pen that such a man ever got a bachelors
degree? The answer is to be found in the
note Of rejection Of the thesis, wherein it
was conceded that the candidate was un-
doubtedy we'll acquainted with his sub
ject. Thru the four years Of the under
srco 5,o -
ficiency in English were pardoned because
he mastered his special subjects: but
when it came to giving a. masters degree
to such an incompletely trained man, the
limit Of liberation was reached. Is this
not a. remarkable commentary on the ten
dency Of the present day in regard to
specialization In the academic course?
Ignorance Of spelling and grammar has
been pardoned to this man because he
was able to master other and later sub
jects
It is apparent from the complaints Of
college professors all over the country that
the University of Minnesota is not the
| only institution in which there has ap-
peared among the students an amazing
| ldSh VI pIOllCicIlCy Ill IlS SllllpleSI elo-
ments of culture. Possibly the appear
ance Of a part of these ill-trained students
| in the universities is due to the growing
practice. Of admitting the graduates of
certain preparatory schools without ex-
animation, but while examination, in place
of certifcation, might keep out these un :
fitted ones. the fact remains that the pre-
paratory schools are the ones that are
the university do not know how to spell
cannot effectively speak and write the
English language and know nothing Of
correct composition. The University Of
such elementary instruction in the schools
that feed it by examining all candidates
for admission, regardless Of their diplomas
from preparatory schools of good reputa.
ton in reading, writing, spelling ant
composing the English language
The new departure at the university, to-
gether with Congressman Tawney's de
termination to investigate the causes O
school appointees to pass the examination
for West Point, make it probable that err,
long we shall have more attention pait
in the high schools to some Of those fun
damentals of education which are nov
neglected, unless the younger genera ton
in this country are inferior to their par
| ents in natural intelligence.