The San Francisco call., 1908-04-06
STANFORD PLANS
TO ELIMINATE
ALL 4PR[PS'
Faculty Confirms Statement
Made in the North by
President Jordan
Far Reaching Change, However,
Cannot Be Made Inside
of Five Years
Cutting Off the Freshmen and
Sophomore Years Is Ten
tatiyely Discussed

hoS AoA iSoSihiiS SuoiASSo III dtS
educational methods of the principal
California universities are pending,
has come to light through the state
ment of DR.. David Starr Jordan at
Spokane that Stanford university is
preparing to eliminate entirely the
freshmen and sophomore years from
the college course. It was stated last
night by one of the trustees of
Stanford university that the governing
body of the college at Palo Alto
might ask the state university to go on
a similar basis. President Wheeler of
the University OF California said last
evening, however, that the matter had
not been considered by the institution
at Berkeley.
readjustment OF the educational sys-
tenn of the state, by which the fresh
man and sophomore year work now
given in the universities would fall
upon the high schools, preparatory
institutions and academies. recent
powers the secondary schools to add to
their curriculum such courses as are
now covered in the first two years OF
| university study
CONSIDERING THE CHANGE
While the matter is not intended to
be one of immediate accomplishment,
plans are being sketched ahead for the
change. Although the trustees of
Stanford university said yesterday that
they had as yet taken no positive ac-
ton on Doctor Jordan's plan. they
stated that the project had been de-
bated informally at several meetings.
Not only has the idea of creating at
Stanford school for junior and senior
students been planned by Doctor Jor-
dan, but it is stated on good authority
that at the present time a finance COM
mittee. composed of members of the
faculty included in the advisory coun-
ell. has been appointed by Doctor Jor-
dan, and is considering the proposed
change from financial standpoint
Doctor Stillman. acting president.
however, will not confirm this.
This state of affairs comes as a com
plete surprise to the undergraduates of
the university, but the members of the
faculty generally are aware of the
dan. According to the dispatches from
Spokane, Doctor Jordan says that
within five years all sophomore and
freshman classes will be abolished at
the university. Furthermore. the execu-
tive head of the university indicates by
his statements that all the so called
culture courses will be dropped from
the curriculum and only professional
ones retained
APPROVED BY TRUSTEES
All action taken recently by the
board of trustees seems to Indicate that
Doctor Jordan has acquainted them of
his intentions and they have met with
favor.
Dr. J. M. Stillman. head OF the chem
istry department OF Stanford and act
ing head of the university in the ab-
sence OF Vice President Branper and
DIR. Jordan, classes the proposed change
as one originated at this university by
DR.. Jordan, but one which is not pecu-
liar to this coast, but the general idea
prevalent at this time among the facul-
ties OF all the large universities Of the
middle west. DIR. Stiilman when seem
yesterday expressed no surprise at the
fact that DR.. Jordan had suggested that
some change was contemplated, but
was unaware that anything definite
had been done by the faculty which
would warrant the factor of time en-
tering into the plan.
NOT A NEW IDEA
THE matter has been considered.
said DR.. Stillnan, informally by the
faculty upon several occasions. The
matter was perhaps first brought up
il you could say 1t had been brought
UP at abby DR.. Jordan more than
year ago. IT is not an entirely new
idea The plan which believe DR..
Jordan has in mind is very similar to
that which is being tried out at some
of the universities of the middle west.
and especially at the University OF Chi
cago. The matter is now, believe, in
the hands of the executive committee
When asked whether anything def-
mite had been done by the faculty DR..
Stillman said:
ITO the best OF my knowledge the
matter has not come before the faculty
OF the university authorities in any
definite form. 1t is and has been con-
sidered considerably, however. / don't