The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-03

such explanations and defense'
In its issue of June II. on The Car
/ negie Foundation and the George Wash
/ ington University" the Independent
| comments upon the work and mission
OF the university were so friendly that
I have asked this opportunity TO say
! certain things about its work and mis-
sion which ought now 10 be said.
In the rehearing, which in due time
will be asked at the hands of the trus-
| tees of the Carnegie Foundation, and
/ which. in justice to the cause of higher
education at the National Capital, will
/ surely be granted when the full facts
| are presented, the university authorities
/ are confident that-in regard 90 our re-
| quirements for admission and gradua-
/ tion-it will become as clear as MONDAY
| that the executive committees recent
/ action was taken upon an entire misap-
! prehension Of the situation: and that.
as soon as the university complies with
/ the rule of the Foundation with refer
| ence to the minimum of productive en-
dowment. the George Washington Uni
versity will be restored to the list of
| accepted institutions" For-with due
! regard to varying local conditions-the
/ purpose of Mr.. Carnegie's princely en-
dowmeut of a Foundation for the Ad-
vanCement of Teaching was. surely, to
/ encourage, and never to cripple. insti-
/ tutions that were earnestly striving TO
/ serve their own localities, and. with
| equal sincerity, were endeavoring to ad-
/ vance the standards of higher educa-
| ton. It Is an excellent thing to have
/ a giants strength, but it is suprenlely
! important for such an educational Titan
to use that strength gently and with
discrimination.
Cou-t Most
Rigid Scrutiny.
We covet the most rigid sc,utiny-far
/ more complete than the courteous rep
resentative of the Foundation was able
/ to give during his recent two days visit
/ And we are serenely confident that a
more minute inspection of our actual.
| everyday work, and a fuller considera-
/ ton Of the special functions performed
/ by the George Washington University
1 TO its local constituent win show that
the progress made by this university
| during the past I'VE years-in the direc-
/ ton of that advancement" of educa-
/ tional standards which the Carnegie
/ Foundation Is seeking gradually to bring
about in all parts OF this unevenly de-
veloped land of ours-has had few par
aIleIs In the history of higher educa-
/ ton in America.
The action Of the Foundations execu-
tive committee was, I'm part, avowediy
based upon what appeared to the COM
mittee as a disproportionately large
| NUMBER of special students in the uni
versity-"more than one-third of the to-
tai enrolment" To US on the ground
the committee seemed to have made the
| serious mistake Of applying, rather me-
/ chanicaIIy, the yard-stiek cf a general
| rule to peculiar local conditions, which
| most educators would say ought to be
| Judged in their own light. and measured
. far more flexible standard.
Al Kinds of
SPECIAL Students"
There are all kinds Of special stu
! dents" One type ought, as far as pos
sible. to be weeded out Of American uni
! versity and college life. Recall the de-
lights Of campus and dormitory, the ath-
letics, dramatics, glee clubs, and all the
| charming camaraderie of student life at
| such Institutions as Harvard, Yale,
| Princeton, Columbia. Brown, Williams.
| Amherst, and Cornell Picture to your
self the hordes Of half-baked young Eel
lows who have shirked their work all
| through preparatory school, and who, If
| the bars were let down, would dearly
love TO take a few special courses at
| college" and enjoy two or more years OF
| dilet-ante loahng in such an environ
/ nya4sst- indicated above In the case OF
I institutions or that type, any sane critic
1 of American university and college life
| would readily admit that the able men
who, from their watch-toWer at 30 Fltth
| avenue are endeavoring faithfully to
/ cOn+uct a nationwide examination ana
testing Of cur universities and colleges
| "a testing that shall help the given
| university or college, and never hamper
It's local usefulness). would only be rem
4 dering a wholesome service 10 such IN
/ stitutions If, when necessary. the Car
| negle Foundation warned them that
| their number Of specials" was Rp-
/ preaching or had passed the danger
| point And in deciding Just when that
| point was reached II would be SAFE, ana
/ entirely Just for the Foundation to base
| such a warning upon the condensed sta
/ tistics of matriculants, and 70 apply
| with an almost mechanical uniformity
| the thumb rule as 10 what would De
! "a dIspropOrtiOnate number Of special
! students" without detailed inquiry into
| ths. exact character of such special stu
! cznts or OF the relations of the institu-
ton in question to It's own constituency.
Local Conditions
Change the Aspect.
But TO anyone with a full knowledge
Of educational conditions at the Ma
tionaI Capital, and particularly the type
OF special students attending the
George washington University. II seems
essentially unscientife, and unjust TO
the community as well as the university,
to Insist that we must apply. far more
! rfgidiy than we are now doing. the yard
| stick OF ''15 points Of high school work
TO those who apply for admission az
/ special students" and who wish II take
amply few subjects, with no lnten-
! non OF working for a degree.
/ There Is verv little IN the student life
/ Of the George washington University %