Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-22
President Storms Deprecates
Tendency ofColleges to Spend
to Much on Science
1T HAS INVADED EVERY STUDY
Too Many Colleges Give Only a
smatterins of Many Branches and
Leaves the Student Unprepared for
Usefulness in Any Direction - Edu-
cation Means Specializing.

Special to Times Republican.
Sioux City, April 22-Deploring tho
fact that the average high school, and
in fact the average college tends to
produce srnatterers, and that not
enough attention is given to the scien-
tific method Of studying, DR.. A. B.
Storms, president of the Iowa State
College at Ames, declared in a lecture
before the teachers of the Northwest
Iowa Teachers Association in session
here, that Welt balanced development
is the exception rather than the rule.
The statement was made after a
careful analysis of the subject. What
Constitutes Liberal Education"
in which DR.. Storms deplored the lack
of scientific treatment Of the branches
in the public schools and colleges OF
the country.
Dr. Storms also made the statement
that the average college course is II
dissipation that the student most gene
orally contents himself with bit of
philosophy here and a taste of history
or science there, without attempting to
branch out in any particular line.
Only Brouse in Edge.
The public school course is merely =
preparatory walk thru the woods of
knowledge. and the student should
make an attempt to branch out In some
definite direction, without contentins
himself with browsing about the edges,
and obtaining smattering of all the
branches pursued.
IF the question l am about to take
up were asked a hundred years ago.,
began DIR. Storms, I'VE would be con-
tent with the answer that a liberal edu-
cation is knowledge of mathematics,
supplemented by an equal knowledge
of history, literature and philosophy.
But in these days when specialists
are pursued, when a man In order to
succeed well, must accomplish some one
thing better than another complica-
tions arise in the answer that were
never dreamed of at this tine. Science
has entered into the pursuit of knowl-
edge in the past twenty-five years to
such an extent that this most imports
ant branch can no longer be left out
Of consideration.
F..
nortam that ut has invaded every
study in the curriculum of public
school and college today. Without it
no study can be pursued properly.
There is science in the study of lit
erature There is science in the study
Of history and, in fact, there is science
in the study of every subject taught
in the schools of today.
Science has dominated the whole
field of education. One of the great
advantages of science is that it brings
the pupil into contact with reality.
80 often, however, the college
course is a mere dissipation. 1t too
often consists of securing bit here
and there. This is not education. 1t
is a mere pedatory walk thru the
woods. A man nowadays to be we'll
educated must select some one line
of work, so some definite results may
be acquired at the close of four
years spent in college.
Some time ago received a letter
from farmer in the northern part of
the state. The letter said the farmer
had boy whom he wanted taught
the agricultural course in the shortest
length Of time and at the least ex-
pense.
II replied that the school at Ames
had a plant where mushrooms could
be produced, but generally it was in
sisted that oak trees be grown. said