New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
LONDON NOTES.
CompuEsory Greek at Universities
Italian Operd.

London November 80.
The two great universities are considering this
al the question of adapting the conditions OF
,hsr education to the requirements OF a
--o.tical age Optional Greek is the bold and
,,-ehensive recommendation of syndicate
~,o,uted TO suggest changes in the studies
"a examinations at Cambridge. and the Sen
80 ziI be called upon TO sanction or reject the
-.,nosaIs at the end OF this week AT oxford
=. congregation OF Resident Masters of Arts
s.s,ussed yesterday compromise measure pro-
sing for exemption from Greek of certain
l.sses Of students at the entrance or pass
.c,nations The exemption was limited TO
.,ss intending 10 study mathematics and nat
ii science for honors and as substitute TOT
r.sk either French or German was required
,h an additional subject for responsions III
-. NJ the other of the special studies 10 WHICH
-, vere to devote themselves. These pro-
.t.,s met with resistance at each end OF the
..ssuic line. There were the ultra-conserVa-
- ,rbe considered Greek indispensable to a
neral education and offered strenuous opposi-
,o any changes In the teaching and ORDER
- examinations at the university. There were
-. progressive scholars, who favored exemp-
,,on from Greek but held that the compromise
ana not 20 far enough and that nothing should
10
10 make a comprehensive change. which would
he logical end permanent. Relaxation OF the
traditional requirements for the benefit OF STU
dents Of mathematics and science would be a
sentative apnlication Of the principle or ultllty'
en- long as students of philosophy history law
utera+ure and language were required 10 retain
--selx like the candidates for honors in classical
,ro6uo+ions and Htera humaniores. The con-
servafives and rational progresslves between
Them have hung up the reform at Oxford. at
LEAST for few years. The proposals nave
been voted down after ar animated debate by
= majority Of SO in total Of 1854. At Cam
bridge there will be clearer issue between I'M
rrorressive conservatives. who are unwilling to
have any change in the classical system, and
,be advanced men, who are convinced that the
universities are behind the times
The Cambridge syndicate has made point Of
,onsutng the leading schoolmasters and profit
Ing by their experience. It has ascertained that
the Two great universities are already out Of
line with the chief preparatory and national
schools as well as the other universities notably
London Birmingham. Manchester. Leeds. Liver
pool Sheffield and Wales. Not only has Greek
BECOME an optional study in a large majority Of
the schools and universities. but the course of
Instruction has been broadened so that respon-
SONS or previous examinations for Oxford and
Cambridge no longer represent the average
standard of attainment IN secondary and higher
saucaton The Cambridge reformers recognize
the necessity for relaxing the requirement for
Creek and for including other studies as optional
and alternative. They propose a division of the
previous examination into three parts. all Of
which must be taken, at one time or another by
candidates for degree. except rs exemptions
sre granted. The first part will include ancient
and modern languages, and two are required:
hut both Latin and Greek are not to be COM
pusory. they have been since 1922. Greek
may be dropped and German or French substi-
tued for IT, but the examination papers In the
modern language will be difficult as those in
The ancient languages. The second part is to
consist Of mathematical studies, and the third
part will comprise English composition as a
compulsory requirement. and two optional
studies out Of four - English history, two
branches Of natural science and Scriptural
knowledge without the Greek text-as an fndis-
pensahle condition. Exemptions from Greek are
not confined 10 students Of mathematics and
natural science, but are granted to all students
IN broadening the scope of the previous exam
nations the syndicate believes that the stand
Afos OF education will be raised rather than
0"efeo ana that the university will adapt itself
N-S OOHIiiIuouS progress made during the last
uan century in the state schools and provincial
universities The defenders of the old system
are IN one respect practical They assert that
english educators know how to teach Latin and
''eek AFTER university experience of a thou
1Hu years and that il is almost the only thing
ey can do thoroughly we'll. Why abandon
H ground" they ask, where we are strongly
"uehched? We don't know how ia teach mod
III languages or natural sciences so as TO get
Wy Fsa intellectual discipline out Of them. we
" -n0erstand how to make Latin and Greek
~ea"e and disciplinary forces in modern life
and Why should we seal, rev az nc
Oas~ anu u'''ileu meth
Al the meeting OF the Oxford Congregs+,o,
ueIe was set debate between the leaders ~,
81 sloe- and the resident masters Of arts ,,ba,
'ouel was over. passed down one gangUav Or
' oIher WheFe their names could be pricked ore
|the proctors. President Warren of Magd.Ia,,
ooAege advocated the cause of haIfvya,, -
"'n' ana replied in detail to the arguments IN
pamphlet by the Provost of orieI who ad-
4sed inaction until the experiment Of ,nal,tr,,
a.sek optional could be tried at Carobri5e,a
Inc all pieadings for tentative connnror,,ses
0 presidents speech was half hearted .h
es' point In It being that Oxford conser,,a+,sr
maze timely concessions to prevent Cam
eAefeinlsts from going into excuses The
'4iiiSe ne explained. would be q safe
- - Ss3Ilst radical separation Of policy be-
- lHe '"o universities by which the literary
- would be sent more and more to OK
-. Gnu cambridge would be, in vulgar par
s"@fnped with science. It would enable
go 80 ana limited class, who took honors in
-. ucs or natural science. to have an al
,..e Ior Greek, and IT would also place
Illusions illusions On more rational and therefore
80 ano aefensible basis. because the standard
IN IN De raised Sir William Arson. the
warden Of All Souls Led the co.,.s-..s - -,