Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-27

III the higher research VI ttle stieUtfSi,
has fallen into disrepute in the colleges.
Let 1t not be thought for moment that
the comparatively trivial device OF a re-
quired study at the beginning OF the
college course could serve the need which
Is here set forth. IL is rather serial
unification OF the studies in each depart
ment, cooperation between different
departments, a progressive movement In
all studies, which shall count on greater
intellectual maturity In upper classmen
than I'm lower classnen. full survey
OF the ends to which such progression
naturally leads. 1t Is such compfehen-
sive treatment OF the college curriculum
In its various aspects which Is called for.
with due regard to an advance through
the college course as regards both Ideas
and the method OF dealing with issues.
Emphasis is laid i'm this paper upon
method as a first consideration In the
organization OF studies like emphasis
might be laid. IL time permitted. upon
the capital content. the dominating IDEAS.
of different materials of instruction. That
is a topic which would richly reward
separate inquiry. Yet the lack of con-
tinuous growth I'm the processes OF
thought and learning is one OF the most
conspicuous deliquencies under the cleo
tive unit system. i'm its purity. and this
one-s sided emphasis has accordingly Its
justificati on"
Prof. Buchner's Paper.
Prof Edward f. Buchner of Johns
Hopkins University also read a paper on
the subject under discussion.
There are some who are suspecting."
he said. that the elective system has
somehow gone too far, and il unneces-
sarily complicating the problem OF
higher education When We have every
kind of knowledge quantified, we have
the elective system. system which is
not totally unrelated In its fundamental
character to the unit system. 1t may be-
however that the latter has within il the
potencies which snail appear as the COR
receive of those limitations which have
become glaring in the former.
THE tendency to telescope the aca-
demic and professional interests. and to
trade off even in the matter Of credits,
marks a serious danger In higher edu-
cation Here the unit system may be-
come a great defense, or 1t may be a
means Of destruction. Every one must
recognize the necessity of shortening the
total time Of schooling for the individual.
but IL the mathematical unit operates in
such a way as to fatten the youth In
order to rob him later, we may call 1t
more than a chance misfortune"
No Limit Upon Freedom.
A paper on 1.-The Use and Limitation OF
a Standard Unit in Estimating the Work
Of Secondary Schools" written by Presi-
dent Henry 8. Pritchett of the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement Of Learn
ing. was read by John G. Bowman. sec
rotary of the Carnegie foundation. Presi-
dent Pritchett said that the unit used by
the Carnegie foundation places no limi-
tations upon the freedom of either the
secondary school or the college. 1t in
wolves the acceptance of the four-year
high school. for which it furnishes an ap-
proximate measure In respect to the
length Of the course and the amount of
work accomplished. a given number Of
| ,ry,if hn cotd thstc dot ri ia
idea OF the scope of the school perform
ance, on the basis Of which the interedu-
cational relations may be adjusted, but
will hamper no one in the development OF
methods or choice of activities. unit
represents a years study in any subject
in a secondary school, constituting ap-
proximately quarter of full year s
work.
After the various papers were read a
general discussion of the unit system took
place. The general impression seemed to
be that the system was good thing.
Washington Members.
Among the local members of the asso-
citation are Miss Edith c. Westcott. prin-
cipal of the Western High School; Mrs.
George A. Ross Of the Washington Col
iege for Young Ladies: E. ]. Hayes OF the
Central High School, Rev. Edmond Walsh.
S. j., and Rev. Francis Goldbach, s. j..
ana Earl john MOn1ls TcSlSti VI 1CoA Be-
town University; Charles W. Needhann,
president of George Washington Unh-
versity; William r. Vance, dean OF George
Washington Law School; Ernest G. Loren
zen of George Washington UNIVERSITY
Frank B. Barber of Bristol School, Elmer
Ellsworth Brown, commissioner OF educa-
ton, and Comm ssioner Henry B. +. Mac
farland. Washington; President w. L:
Thirkield of Howard University. Mr. and
Mrs Thomas W. Sidwell of Friends Sc
lecs School, Alexander S. Summers.
United States bureau of education; Louis
l.. Hooper of Washington School for
Roys, George A. Ross OF Eastern High
School. Frank g. Sigman of the Army
and Navy Preparatory School. Rev. Leo
T. Butler and Daniel 1. Cronin, s. j., OF
Georgetown University.
From Other Sections.
Among those present from out of town
are DIR. Jesse II. Holmes of Swarthmore
| College. Edward Rynearson. director of
! the Pittsburg High School; ]. H.
Morgan, dean of Dickinson College.
Carlisle, Pa; c. d.. Thornburg OF Le-
high University, Lehigh. Pa; Walter r.
Marsh, head master. st. Paurs School.
Garden City n. Y; John G. Bowman,
secretary of the Carnegie Foundation for
| the Advancement of Teaching, New York
city; 8. B. Linehart. secretary of the Uni
versity of Pittsburg; will" Grant Cham
| berS of the University of Pfttsburg,
George A. Hastis. president of Delaware
| College. Newark Del; j. d. Moffat, pres
ident OF the Washington and Jefferson
College. Washington. Pa: John B. keif-
fer of Franklin Marshall College, Lam
caster, Pa: Edward NJ. Hartman, prin-
cipal of the Franklin Marshall Academy.
Lancaster, Pa; Thomas Fiske of Column
| bia University, Louis Reiser of Rutgers
College, Mrs. p. IT. Bagley of Tome In
stitute. Port Deposit, Md: George r.
Fisher Of the University Of Pennsylvania.
Prof Hardin Craig of Princeton Uni
verslty Prof. John r. Sitter of the Uni
versity of Rochester, Arthur Fl. Quinn
of the University of Pennsylvania, John
H. Denbigh Of Morris High School, New
York city; James G. Miller OF Mercers-
burg Academy. Mercersburg. Pa: Charles
A. Richmond. president of Union College.
Schenectady, N. Y: Edward II. Griffin
of Johns Hopkins University, Virgil Pref
lyman, principal of the Horace Mann
School, New York; Francis II. Stod-
dard of New York University. W. Fl.
Crabbe of Shadyside Academy. Pitts
burg, Pa; Prof. Homer Smith Of Col
legeville, Pa the Rev. ]. +. Dunlap or
Albright College. Myerstown Pa; Thomas
Fell, president of St. Johns College. An
napolis. Md; Karl ]. Grimm OF Penn
E. Miller of Johns Hopkins University,
Prof. John L. Stewart of Lehigh Uni
versity, Judson p Welsh, dean Of the
Pennsylvania State College; Joseph
Swain, president of Swarthmore College:
Miss Martha Bomburger and Frederick
E. Darlington of the National Park
Seminary. Forest Glen. Md.