New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-10
pR1NCEToN's PRECEPToRs.

Princeton's experiment in the intensive train
ing of its students by preceptors has proceeded
so far that one of the university faculty, Pro-
fessor Hiram Brigham, has seen fit 10 sum up
tentatively its methods and results as observed
within his own field of history, economics and
politics. Apparently the plan has not been ap-
piled generally to all courses of Professor Brig
hams department, nor presumably throughout
the university, but e1perimentally to certain
selected subjects Even thus, SO great strain
is put upon the teaching force that it has had
to be increased 30 per cent In numbers by the
addition of q group whose rank is assistant
professor but whose title is preceptor The
function OF these additional teachers IS init
mate personal and sympathetic They mediate
between august learning and the youth who
shrinks from it. They are to supply the per-
sonaI element in instruction, the contact be-
tween teacher and pupil which the size Of
classes and the divinity which hedges about
the PROFESSIONAL rostrum make impossible I'M
der the usual university system
The average man who has spent four years
in a university looks back upon them with
some misgivings. He feels no shame, perhaps
rather little amused self content, that during
his long domicile with learning he should so
successfully have avoided its acquaintance but
he marvels that his instructors should have
allowed him TO escape from culture SO easily.
He played blind mans buff with education for
four years, acquitted himself with credit and
received a certificate. perhaps cum laude of his
proficiency in the game 1t is to increase the
influence on students of sojourn at the uni
versity that the preceptorial system was de-
vised. The students meet the preceptor In
groups of four or five. He does not quiz, Iect-
ure or mark. He is the guide, mentor and elder
friend in intellectual conversation wherein
oil Sharp-Witb result m pro
fessor Brigham:
Heretofore, somewhat regardless of human
nature, have expected the undergraduate TO
take real interest in subjects which We're so
far he concerned, rarely, if ever, the
topics of conversation. The monologue of the
lecturer may be amusing, but 1t can never be-
come real conversation However. this Is OBJ
tainable when there gathered together in
formally four or five men who have all been
reading about the same things This Is what
happens at the small weekly conference in the
preceptors study. The discussion is about the
reading; 1t is free and informal Every one
has to talk, and before he knows II he gets
the habit the habit of talking about intellect
ual matters. discussion begun In the pre-
ceptors study is continued at the club. A topic
which was before unspeakable nuisance be-
comes a matter of live interest; there is a new
object in reading. Almost every one likes to be
able 70 talk on the subjects his friends dis
cussng The result is that the conversation
around the club tables in Princeton Is actually
undergoing marked change IN It's character.
ANY college graduate can appreciate what
an undergraduate revolution must have been
effected when students have got "the habit Of
talking about intellectual matters" The shop"
of the classroom finding its way TO the smOk-
ing rooms of the college clubs! Football yield
ing its primacy in conversation! Why, indeed,
the forming OF the habit Of intellectual con-
versation and capacity for it-that is educa-
ton. 1t is the upbuilding of mind, the exalta-
ton of interests, the establishment OF intel
lectual habits OF life, which are connoted by
the old cultural" conception of education, at
any rate and which the youth of the land have
been half-heartedly seeking and in the main
wholly missing amid surfeit of unitarian
opportunities. In this way. by making intel
lectually stimulating many subjects potentially
useful the charmed circle of the humanlties
NAV be broadened. OF this effort to "estab-
''lish sound, healthy, manly interest in intel
"lectual matters Professor Brigham thinks that
80 far as one can read the signs, the ultimate
results will be such to delight and sur
prise even the most ardent supporters OF
President Woodrow Wilson" Further deVeL