The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-23
LATIN DEST| NED
TO TAKE BACK SEAT
Will Be supplanted in Modern
Schools by Scientific
Studies.

Latin will be gone as source of gen
eral culture within thirty years, accord
ing to the opinion of DIR. P 3. Bar
ringer, president of the Virginia Poly
technic Institute, expressed yesterday
at the initial meeting of the agricul-
tural section of the department of
manual training, a part Of the State
Teachers Association. DR.. Barringer's
convictions were strikingly at variance
with those of a distinguished educator
of the State who has recently ex-
pressed the opinion that Latin is the
basis for all true culture.
DR.. Barringer's topic was Relation
of the State College of Agriculture to
the Agricultural High Schools" He
is never afraid to say what he thinks,
and he said 1t on this occasion.
Quoting from the last report of the
United States Commissioner of Edu
cation, the president of the state Ag-
in 1908, 100000 persons of school age
in the country. OF these. 100000
were in the schools. Nearly 100000
of these were in the common schools;
10000 in the high schools. and. ESQ.,
600 in the colleges. 1t was. therefore.
evident to him that the high school
was for the elect alone. Further, con-
sidering the fact that so many students
never receive more than one years
instruction in the high schools, 1t is
doubtful If the high school students
can furnish the freshmen for the coll
leges.
Insufficient Preparation.
Basing his arguments on this
premise. DR.. Barringer told OF the
many boys who go to college and can
not keep up with their classes, after
getting what the high school has to
give. Lack of training is frequently
the cause. The father, perhaps feels
that the high school nearest him has
done all 1t could do. The situation
is hard on the boy, but the result will
be that the school will be made better.
THE upbuilding of the high school,.
said DR.. Barringer, rs the most i'm
portant problem of public education
in Virginia to-day. The college can
not work with profit on any but we'll
prepared material. Perhaps the high
school is irhpracticable, too manifestly
a preparation for the college. There
fore. there should be a progressive
course, the first year being conducted
mainly from the standpoint that 1t will
be the last for the boy, with a gradual
strengthening In the other years.
Tt is not possible In four years" he
said. ito give an agricultural course
and at the same time prepare the stu
dent for college. Because most OF the
students will never go to college. the
high school should train mostly for
the problems of life" Studies multiply.
he said, and it will be necessary n
drop something.
Latin Is Going.
Thirty years ago." remarked DR..
Barringer, Greek and Latin were con-
s1dered necessary. Now Greek over
Latin would not get two votes in this
audience. We hold on to Latin be-
cause of the aversion of most man -
throw out all the ballast at one tima
But Latin will go. like Greek. as the
load of vocationals grow. Latin is
taught more poorly every day. and the
youth who looks to an original tonrue
for the humanities might profit now
by the purchase of a pony. Within
thirty years. I believe, Latin Will he
gone as source of general culture
and will be confined to certain classes
as Hellenic Greek Is to-day.n
i. g, Wood, of Evington. presided
over the meeting of the agricult,,ral
section, which was the first Of all the
different bodies to get to WORT, Two
sessions We're held at the Mechanics
lnstitute-at 1880 and a 9 p. NJ. Dr..
s. W fletcher, Of Blacksburg, is score.
Tyler Agrees.
Opinions similar to those of DR.. Bar
ringer We're expressed by II. M. Tyler,
OF Chester. from the committee an
pointed to consider the coordination
Of the agricultural and academic
courses. Mr., Tyler said that an in
creasing number of people regard the
classic course as unnecessary, and he
that It's elimination will be
inc result. He said that In agricultural
hlgh schools English should be taught
and emphasized. ind that science should
be In the place .sof classics in the
master of arts courses
]. r, Hutchinson, Of Middletown,
presented the Importance OF agricul-
tural high school teachers getting the