The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-30
new SYSTEM AT PRINCETON.
PRESIDENT WILSON on THE PLAN
OF INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.
An Impression 20 ne Given 20 the student
OF independence and Initiative and
That He Is Not Merely Getting Les
sons-TeaehfnE BinSiy and In Groups.

That He Il Not Merely Getting Les
sons-Teaehfng singiy and In Groups.
PRINCETON, n. j., April 29.-President
Woodrow Wilson Of Princeton has written
an article which appeared In the Ddi'g
Princetonian, the college newspaper IN
which be explains for the students the
workings Of the new tutorial system OF
instruction which is to be introduced at
Princeton University next fail. The article
SAYS in substance that there will be FEWER
lectures and fewer classroom exercises
In the various courses, In order 70 make
way for personal conference between the
student and the instructor. The present
stah OF the university will take an active
mart In this conference work, and It viii be
the chief business Of the gentlemen who are
To be added to the faculty, 90 that the whole
sspeot Of instruction will be materially
sltered. The etudents will be met by
their instructors either singly or in groups.
when groups are formed they will be made
nm Of men who are found to have sub
stantially the same preliminary training,
the same capacity for work and the same
tastes and aptitudes in what they under
taka. Those who cannot thus be classified
or who stand In any special need Of indi-
vidual assistance will be met singly and
assisted in the way best suited TO them.
II "a expected that each undergraduate
vyiIl be asslQned, for the work Of the depart
uoent which he chooses, to some one pre-
oeptor who win be his guide IN all the read
nj and work OF the department, 90 that the
! course NAV be drawn together, 90 far as he
| 1. concerned, into q Sin gle body and studied
! "A A related group. rather than singly and
! sona,a, civ under different masters. II is
/ b1r,ed that in this way the stuGent may be
rs,isvsd from constant drill in those subjects
which he carries most easily ana N Whioh
| hs meade little assistance. and will be sup
piled with the best possible aids IN tho
parts Of his studies which come harder
10 him and IN which the stimu alton OF o.,
rect contact With trained scholars II Of vital
consequence TO him. The preceptors Wlll
not set the examinationS and will therefore
he more free to covcr the subjects broadly
IN their dealings with their pupils.
! There will naturally be GOOD deal
NJ written work connected with this sort Of
instruction. The students VIII be frequently
called on TO submit brief reports Of one kind
or another TO their preoeptors very much
"a thew do now n the various ttesis courses
| though more informally; and Il IL expected
that All OF this written work will be judged
Of With regard 10 the English In which IL lie
written, As well as IN respect Of its subject
matter, % that the men viii have constant
dTiii IN the corset uae Of the IN glish Ian
Fuaao and IN the development OF their power
Tb2 EsDersi theory Of the system Il that
| college work ought TO be radically different
! ID method from tchool work; that the men
| ouRht not 10 be allowed 10 get the impress
| sion that they are merely getting up tasks,
| learnina the lectures and ideas OF par
tic,iiaT inetrictors, or mastering text books,
but should feel that they are reading up
9real Subiects for their own sake. In
order 10 enable them TO do this reading
inteliiRently they will be direCted by their
preceptors 70 the books which viii best
aouuaint them with the chief matters in
voIved IN their several studies. The leo
tures viii not be % much the subject mat
Ter al their study as incidental ads 10 the
studying they are doing The object Of
the lecturer will naturally be 20 give the
greatest possible amount Of stimulation
and 10 e1pound the more diflcult and the
more Interesting portion Of the subject In
ssuoh a system says President wilson.
souRht certainly 10 give the student a
greater feeling Of Independence and the
distinct impression that he - handling
himself not a. q pupil merely, but Of his
own Initiative though under competent
guides and IN intimate association with
scholarly teachers, who serve him not only
for guidance, but for stimulation Of the bet
i AAa1