University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-21
Some Successes and Failures Of American Colleges
An Address in Chicago Last Night BY President Hill

intellectual life. This variety OF sub
ject matter not only provides the op-
portunity for each student to secure
orientation in the chief fields OF hui
man experience and thought, and en-
abies him TO choose after experience
his special lines of study for the salts
faction OF his tastes or preparation for
hi, future calling; but it also recog-
iizes the individuality in capacity and
interest OF a great number of students
and associates young men for a num-
her of years with others whose inter-
estS are in some respects common
with and yet in others different from
their own.
so far as its programme OF studies
is concerned, the American college,
at least in our section OF the country,
has shown marked adaptability to the
changing conditions OF society and to
the development of human activity
and thought. If it still lacks adjust
ment to the conditions of our present
civilization, that can not be charged
TO any unwillingness to incorporate
the results OF the latest discoveries
in science or to introduce courSe es that
seem likely to give insight into any
form of social activity.
,..I,,.I. I,y;-J.,
The traditional one-curriclllum col
lege has gone and the transformation
that has taken place is one of the
great and significant educational
achievements since the Civil War
increased it, resources and has under
taken to serve far wider range OF So
cial activities and to minister to
greater variety OF capacity than edu-
Gators OF a generation ago ever con-
ceived possible. This characterization
OF the college must so far be regarded
as one OF its successes.
The college aims more or less con-
scious!y to accomplish some of its
best results by providing an atmos-
phere supposed to favor the promo
tion of intellectual interests and wor-
thy ideals of life through the quality
OF its teachers and students and Their
relations with one another. 1t gives
opportunity for intimate association
with a relatively select lot of persons.
selected not on The narrow bases of
wealth, family history, etc, but on ac-
count OF their character. ambitions.
intellectual interests and standard OF
scholarship. already attained
In the scho!arShip OF its students
the standards have been gradually ad-
vanced until they are approaching re-
spectability, and college facilities are
on the average possessed OF much
more accurate scholarship and greater
erudition in their special fields than
those OF a generation ago. There is
also. | believe, a greater enthusiasm
for scholarship among college teach
ers today than formerly and many a
youth has caught that enthusiasm from
lecture hall or labora,ory and has
come to realize that learning il; not
harsh and grabbed as dull fool. Sup
pose. but musical as Appollo's lutte.
Whether this atmosphere sufficiently
dominates the life OF the COLLEGE TO-
day or whether in its entirety i.e col
lege life is improving in ihi; respect,
with TO consider later on
The college has achieved hre;ty
rich social life. This movement seems
TO be largely indigenous 10 the STU
dents and the natural outcome OF Tic
grouping of large numbers oi youth IN
the later years of adolescence. On
account of the numbers and varieties
of interests represented. student life
has become quite complex and varied,
and student activity accordingly so.
In spite OF eXcesses in certain direc-
tions. of which more will be said later.
it is nevertheless true that for the av-
erage American youth college pro-
vides splendid social environment
better than he can get elsewhere, in
which flourish many of the social quail
tiles that make for social efficiency
as well as enjoyment later on.
Social Life Valuable
NO adequate analysis of the social
side of education has been made. and
nd proper estimate of its value arrived
at, but it is safe TO say that the Ameri-
can college. largely through the efforts
Of the students themselves, has pro-
duced a rich, varied, and valuable so.
cial life whose abuses which cannot
be ignored are probably not inherent
but consequent upon the lack of in
telligent regulation by the faculty and