The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-21

The final word in the George Wash
ington University controversy, so far as
President Charles w Needham is con-
cerned, has been said in the statement
that has been issued by him oil behalf
Of the present adminiFtratiOn OF the af-
fairs of the institution. DR.. Needham
prepared the statement carefully and
submitted il to several of the members
of the board of trustees before its final
draft was completed. The entire history
of the university during the past eight
years is given in this statement. to-
gether with a brief review OF what the
administration has been trying TO do.
Beyond the statement DR.. Needham will
have nothing more to say.
The Statenfet.
The statement Is as follows: THE
discussions in the public press seem TO
call for authoritative statement OF the
educational work and condition Of the
university in order that the people Of
Washington may be advised as to the
real issues.
"First-Prior TO 1902, when the present
administration assumed charge, there
was a day college, with less than
hundred students, and a faculty Of
was also the Corcoran Scientific School
doing undergraduate work in the even
ing. which was conducted by the pro-
fessors of the day college. These pro-
fessors received salaries in the day col
lege ranging from Sl,OUO 10 Sl,eOU a year
and IS per cent of the stud ants tees LOT
the evening work This arrangement
was made between the faculty ana the
university to prevent any haplilty on the
part Of the university for the expenses
H. Ill n
there was some work gwen IN en-
cheering and architecture.
THE law school was conducted by law
yers in practice and judges in service,
no one giving mis- entire time ana dtten-
ito to its maaEemet or TO teaching
This medical school was conducted
in the same way by pracucing physlc-
teachers employed, giving their whole
time to the educational work.
"Second-The first change adopted un-
der the present administration was TO
discontinue the COrcoTan Sclenunc
School. merge il with Columbian Col
Iege, and require all classroom work to
be done before the hours OF IN the
morning and $40 in the afternoon; the
laboratories and libraries TO be kept
open. with assistants, until 10 cloch'
Objects in View.
THE objects in view were 20 unite
the student body and create a spirit OF
unity. ard place all of the college work
upon the basis Of absolute equality The
entrance requirements were advanced
70 conforIn to those of Eastern col
Ieges. Part Of the work taken by full
day students and all the work of the
part-day students was given in the az
terpoon between 4:30 and $780, so that
the two groups came into classroom as
-. s+,-dsrts ernoIoyed during the
day DO not have the same time Tor the
preparation of their class work they
were limited to a less number of hours
uer week This increased the period
within which the halliday students could
earn a degree by one or two years
The erect Of this change upon the
faculty was to put all OF the professors
up0n a salary basis, cutting out the Zee
system In the faculty there were DIFF
f..rences of opinion as 10 the wisdom
of this change.
.sI'hird-The next change inaugurated
was to employ professional teacher ia
The professional schools. In the law
school. four men, exclusive OF the pres
ident, are now employed VINO give their
entire tiUae tC teaching. Ihey teach by
The case method, which requires muCn
time in preparing fer class work and
trained ability to impart know edge
This does not displace or IN any Way
discount the excellent Work zone Dy
LAWYERS and judges of very hlgn stand
ing who are still conducting work IN
the school. It's purpose was 10 esta2llst
in The city Of washington a law schoCl
of the type prevailing IN the best up UNI
versiIies, where men VINO desire the
most thorough training in the law would
be able 10 secure II.
Full Course Established.
a fuu-day law course, beginning ia
The morning, was established. with four
teen hours work per week required.
This was done 10 attract The students
VINO give all their time to study and
desire 10 have it fully occupied. An
afternoon course OF ten hours per week
is given for students employed through
the day.
Thus the needs of the two groups OF
students were met To the studenla CIV
/ ing part Of their time a less num5er OF
/ hours is required, but the same quality
] OF teaching Is provided. BY increasing
1 their attendance TO four years, the aIter-
noon students may cover the entlIt
work, while the fuI-day sIudehts colIl'
pIete it IN three years. The parJ-day
Students may receive the bachelOf OF
{ law CB- L. degree at the end OF lht
third year. This plan mas met VIII
hearty approval from students VINO are
/ se-IOus-Tnfnded and desire TO secure tht
best legal education
/ These changes have raised our stand
| ing in t-1 Association OF American La"
! Schools, and enable. our graduates Jt
/ pass successfully the bar examinations
/ in all the States.
/ "FOurth-The changes IN the medlca
/ school involved practically the same
/ educational problem and were met VIII
/ the same objections as those IN the law
! school The administration advocated
! the extension Of the laboratories and the
/ employment. of specially trained mef
! 10 each the laboratory courses. TINS
/ was done ard resulted IN the employ
/ ment of four professional teachers OF
/ regular salaries to do this work.
The Expense.
The expense involved was the IN
/ crease Of the salary list and the EXPENSE
/ IN establishing and maintaining the lab
| oratOrIes. Another change made was Il
/ increase the clinical teaching, first bl
requis ing men ia their graduating yea
/ TO give their full time TO the work IL
/ order that they might give fun time L
I the clinics This was afterward still
I further advanced by making the schoo
/ a fuu day school, so that students
| would have their whole time. both 70
! laboratory and clinical courses. DI
/ dactic lectures are still continued AM
! should be, but the laboratory and elm
/ icaI teaching IS essential 70 sctenuh
! training.
''The effect Of these changes was to de
] crease the number of students and TIN
income. at the same time Increasing TIN
/ eyueuses. but Dc enables US 10 retdtI
our uositiou In the Association of Amer