The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-09
By FRANK G. CARPENTER.

place In the use Of the classics. The gram
mar is no longer exclusively or largely
taught. Much more attention is now given
the literary side of classical work. and
this has many advantages
But. Doctor Harper. II men get
the same good out of the study Of more
practical things than the dead Ian
Il do not think any other study trains
the mind quite SO well. However. IL good
methods are adopted there is no doubt
but that men can be well trained by US
ing any of the more commcl fields OF
large use Is made of history. political
economy and social cience and Of the
natural sciences. as well as of technol-
ogyi~ .,.,, so,,,n,
American bows to Oxford on the scholar
chips furnished by Cecil Rhodes? VIII
they get az good an education there as
al homer
There are many American boys who
will be able to obtain great advantages
by a three years residence at Oxford"
replied Doctor Harper. Il do not think
1T would be well TO have all of our boys ed
ucated there. 1t would not be a good
thing to have them all educated at one
place or in anv one way.
LAS to whether they are to be benefited
by their Oxford course depends very
1t is a mistake for some boys TO go to
college at all. and it will probably he
found that some Of our young men Will
derive M perceptihle benefits from their
stay at Oxford. But II the selections are
made on the proper basis the experience
of our young Americans in Oxford will
prove to be not only a great factor in their
education but also one in the educational
system of the United States. which will
be the richer because of this new con-
tribution."
TINE REQUIRED.
But. Doctor Harper. do we not devote
too much time to education? Can the
man who expects to enter commercial or
business life afford to spend four years at
coilege?"
That depends upoE two things: First.
upon the age at which he enters college
and. second. the good he Is getting out of
his college work.
IF a young man is not able to enter col
lege until he is n or q and he cannot
therefore graduate until he is . or q,
the question is a serious one for him.
The average boy. however. should be
able TO enter college at not later than II,
and there is no reason why such a boy
should not spend three or four years in
study. whatever is to be his occupation.
He will surely be all the stronger for
business II he has made himself ~acquaint-
ed with the various objects of money. In
surance. etc. which form so large a part
Of the business life of to-day.
"O1 the other hand" Doctor Harper
continued. there Is no good reason why
the present four years of high school
work n the four years Of college work
within less than eight years by 30 per
cent of those who attempt 1t. A few stu
dents can do 1t admirably in six years
and a majority ought to do II in seven
years.
TT would not be wise, however, to
change the standard from four years to
three. because in. this case all would do
II In three. The better way wouid be to
arrange the work in such a manner that
those who are able to go through their
college course in three wears should have
the privilege of doing So"
WHAT COURSE TO CHOOSE.
What course would you advise the high
school boy to take whose career is not 10