The Republican journal., 1907-03-07
A Dlctum From the Maine Colleges.

1t may be truthfully asserted that
wave of indignation swept over the en-
tire State Tuesday when the majority
report of the committee ON education,
presented in the house on that day, had
been read and discussed. Speaking of
proposed drastic legislation, none Of
more malignant type has been suggest
ed at this session, at least, than is pro-
posed in this resolve. 1t is worded like
an ultimatum from the three other col
leges of the State, a mandate COUGHING
in legal form certain threats that rumcr
attributes TO cultured and supposedly
broad-minded and liberal educator in
of Maine not many years ago.
Win the house stand for the adoption
of this attempt to strangle we'll
meaning and thriving institution? Will
it permit the stealthy blow that would
deprive Maine of bright and shining
example of modern educational es-
Enlistment such as some Al other
States of the Union maintain? We
think not. Pride in the good old State
is yet too strong to conceive how ma
jOrity of the $50 lawmakers in the lower
body will dare attempt such legislation.
The peoples university must be main
tanned. Limit the size of it's appropria-
ton if you feel that the purse of the
State will not stand for the whole
amount which it has been demonstrat-
ed that it needs, but strangle it, Never!
One fact seem to be lost sight of IN
this B. A. course at the University.
The committee bring out the point
that the University can have this $4O,-
600 year for two years it it does not
RI tn az Il
older colleges.
Bates and Colby can say, you shall
teach no classical subjects because they
are already taught III our own halls"
why may they not with perfect pro-
priety extend their dictum SO as to In
clude courses in general science and
even in engineering? Colby and Bates
already offer such courses; will they, if
the B. A. course is given up at their de-
mand, permit the University to con-
tlnue to grant the degree OF B. S. if the
granting of that degree shall in any
way interfere with their own work in
similar lines? Once admit the right of
any institution or any self-appointed
committee of safety to dictate the pol
icy of the University, and there is no
logical stopping place.
II the legislature allows the Hyde
Potter combination to triumph this
winter educational freedom, SO far as
the university is concerned, is at an
end. II can teach hereafter only what
the older colleges are graciously pleas
ed to allow.
Has it occurred to the proponents of
this proposition that the entire State is
taxed to support the university and
hot TO IL, e -
take away from the tax payer the right
to send his son OF his daughter where
he pleases for an education. Why
should man be compelled either to
give his son technical training or lose
the advantages offered by the State
University? Must he be taxed to sup
port the University and then forced to
educate his boy elsewhere? This is
thoroughly unfair. President Hyde in
a recent speech in Boston is reported to
have said: every college worthy of
the name should offer instruction in
any subject a student may call for"
This is pretty broad program, but it
is none too broad for State University.
If the University is to be worthy of the
commonwealth it must make its
courses of study as broad as those Of
fered elsewhere
Ii the scope of the University is to be
circumscribed and its policy dictated
by men of the Potter type, the State
will lose the only opportunity ever pre-
sented to it of having within it's Dor
ders an institution of higher learning
worthy of it.
Maine is a provincial State, and its
ways of thinking and doing are on the
whole provincial. Its colleges and its
school system are what might be ex-
pected of a provincial community,
good, but narrow. 1t will be of ines
timable value to the State to foster our
institution with large ideals and a
broad outlook. From such an institu-
ton an influence will go forth which
will in time revolutionize the educa-
tional ideals and enable Maine to take a
place consistent with her motto.-Ban-
gOr Commercial