The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-01
Voice Of the T. ople


4 b. a. course may be summed up In
two propositions.
1.srhat tho change is for the good
or the university.
2. That tho change is for the good
OF tho public.
j. He argues that this change will
i get tho university out OF the dry rot
from which 1t has been suffering; that
1T Will promote temperance among
the students; that tho university Is
little known abroad; that the present
b.. a. degree by having Latin compul-
sorry Is an inverted Pyramid: that
gloomy representations had been
made should tho works OF Racine and
Goethe be preferred to those of Virgil
|and Horace; that changes have been
tnado frequently In the courses here
toforo; that tho faculty favor the
change, and that tho alumni arc not
experts in education; that the change
will bring to the university those who
otherwise will not come. and SO tho
university will be benefited.
Notwithstanding tho attitude in
which those who oppose this change
are put by tho humorous references to
them, It may be we'll to consider the
question from their point OF view.
In tho proceedings OF the "vlsitors
OF tho university on Monday, the 4th
OF October, 1924. ut which there werc
present Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, James breckenridge, John FL.
Cooke. George Loyal and Joseph c..
Cabell." among the resolutions adopt-
ed was tho following:
"Theso diplomas shall BIO OF two
degrees-tho highest OF doctor. the
second OF graduate. But no
diploma shall be given to any ono who
has not passed such an examination In
tho Latin language as shall have
proved him able to read tho highest
classics in that language with ease,
thorough understanding and just
quantity; and IL no DO also prof.
Gent in the Greek let that. too be
stated in his diploma.
"The intention being that tho repu-
tation OF the university shall not be
committed but to those who, to an
eminence IN some one or moro OF the
sciences taught in 1t, add a proficiency,
basis OF good education, and are intis-
pensable to III up the character OF a
werks Lbrsav rd1,1an Vol Jetfersons
It may be old fogeyIsm. but there arc
many men at this time who feel that
kno owl OF Latin is still essential to
degree OF b. A.. from the University
OF Virginia should mean q swell edu-
Gated man. Not that man Without
me knowledge OF Latin may not be a
much more useful man than one with
1T. for such man might build the PAN
anna Canal. or make a flying machine,
idIhough not entitled to n b. A. degree.
This argument would put cooking in
place of astronomy In the degree.
The proposed change at the univer-
sity Is not new In Virginia. The same
thing was attempted at William and
Mary College after the Revolution. The
Latin languages and instituted modern
languages. The reason given was that
the admission of the learners of Latin
ana Greek filled the college with chill
dren. This rendering 1t disagreeable
ana degrading to young gentlemen nl-,
ready prepared for entering on the sci
ences, they were discouraged from re-
mathematics and moral philosophy.
| Which might have been Of some service
became very little. The revenues. too,
were exhausted in accommodating those
] ments of sciences.-Jefferson's Works
supra, page 200.
Whatever of advantage the history
| OF william and Mary may show for sub
4 shutting the modern languages for the
ancient languages, one thing is GER
tam, that the Latin course Mt the Uni
Versity OF Virginia Is no child's course
and the study of 1t by children there
| OF the university.
| I have cited Mr.. Jefferson's opinion
on this question, not as conclusive
upon 1t. but as most persuasive. or
1 course, time makes many changes nee
| essary, but time has not yet supplanted
| the noble works of classic Greece and
Rome. and it is not likely SO TO do.
Snt,i thls Is done the argument used
i r.. .JpffarS0n ac moi ant
me argument is made that other
universities have done 1t. The answer
tot to that is that they may have reasons
tion of the University OF Virginia is
/ that OF a great classical school. 1t
cannot compete with the other great
universities In teaching the sciences.
owing to lack of equipment and funds
And so, In the Judgment OF many COM
petent persons. any step taken to aban-
| don It's work along classical lines is
surrendering Of the pre-eminent po-
sition which it holds.
If the board of visitors chooses to
dispense with the studies at the uni
versity which may properly belong to
the colleges. of the State. many Will
course they pursue, let them relnem-
/ Der that the university is the head
of the public school system OF the
state, and no step taken without that
large class Of its patrons.
4 There are many university alumni
1 who have no degree, but whose diploma
in a given school has enabled them to
secure many of the good places of the
country open for high attainments.,
II. The second position taken is that
.the change is for the good OF the
i public"-(a) that it is better for the
i Individual student: (b) that It Is bet
4 ter for the greater number of students.
(a) In regard to the individual stu
/, dent, the language above. quoted from
Mr.. Jefferson, in which he enumerates
Il the benefits of the ancient classics,
seems to apply. Matthew Arnold de-
d fines culture as Knowing the best that
4 has been thought and said In the
4 world, and culture truly is one Of the
i things to be desired of all men. Her
A bert Spencer is quoted as answering n
Il inquirer whether the sciences or the
. languages should be taught by asking
the question. should tailor make
:. coats or trousers?
Il (b) AS to tho benefit to the greater
number of students. much that has
Il heen said above applies: but suppose