El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-23
. HE Association of American uni I
versities has lately formulated a

Iute the province OF the university In
| this country. This report, representing
| as it does the typical American univer-
! sity. Is an emphatic rebuttal of the
| oft repeated charge that the institu-
| lions of higher learning in this country
| are inferior to those Of Europe. They
| are different in their scope, but i'm
| measurably broader in their range.
! One of the differences Is that the Eu-
| ropean institution is a place for grad
yates only, while the American univer-
sity, in it's college of arts and sciences,
| provides a place for the undergraduate
| to prepare for the regular university
work In other words, the American
! university, in it's graduate classes, is
| doing just the same work in advanced
education as that of Europe, but in ad-
dition IT gives especial training to
meet the needs of undergraduates
Is Broad In other Ways.
The American institution is broader
| in another way also, for while the Eu-
ropean university is confined to the
| four traditional faculties of theology,
law, medicine and philosophy, the
American university has added liberal
work in branches of technical educa-
ton and other elements not former
ly recognized as belonging to the uni
versity. After a thorough investiga-
ton of the universities. of America,
their methods and accomplishments,
ambassador Bryce, of Great Britain,
said recently: Notwithstanding all
that has been said against American
universities and the disposition that the
Americans themselves show to apollo
gize for them, there is to my mind,
no institution in the world today which
is SO nearly fulfilling its full object
as the university of America
The American university has greater
liberty than others because of it's in
dependent origin. AS the United States
has no established church, the large
universities are not dominated by any
sectarianism, whereas most of the uni
versities of the old world were estab-
lished through the influence of some
state church and are still indirectly
influenced by it. There is no lack Of
theological knowledge in the American
university. however, despite the fact
that the country is well supplied with
separate UNCONVENTIONAL religious coll
leges.
Organization is Unique.
The organization of the American
university is unique, in that 1T does not
exist as one national Institution, but
there are at least half a dozen institu-
lions in this country, any one of WHICH
is doing full national university work
and may therefore be recognized as
type. The Standardization of educa-
tional values is now practically uni
form, according to the demands of the
Association of American Universities
Admission to the arts and science col
leges requires at least the completion
of four years general work in the
American high school, and two addf-
tional years of similar work in this
college are required before admission
to any of the professional colleges,
which provide for four years course
in such work as medicine, law, theolo-
gy and engineering.
The fact that European universi-
ties are attended by mature men rath-
er than mere boys is responsible Tor
the difference in discipline and also
the limitations regarding elective stud
les. While a graduate student may
be permitted no small amount of hb-
erty tn the selection of his work. the.
undergraduate must conform to the
which the university has
laid down for him. Many of these TN
enter the university at an
age when they might almost be said
to be in need Of parental discipline
Consequently, the attitude of the Uni
versity of Maine in requiring students
to sign a pledge promising TO refrain
from hazing, frat rushing" and SIM
liar evils is not, perhaps. uncalled for.
although the tendency of the universe
ties is towards personal discretion
CorneIPs Proctor System.
Cornell has lately established the
proctor system as a means Of securing
a closer cooperation between the fac
ulty and the students. The proctor sys-
tenn prevails under different conditions
ar Oxford, where it has existed fcf
ears. The proctor is an cff:Cer repre-
senting the faculty, but entirely with |
out authority, who mingles freely with |
the student body. His influence is al |
ways directed to the pre- yenIjDn Of mis- |
behavior. If serious offeEse occurs, |
he does not report 1t to tie faculty, !
but brings it at once to the notice C |
the student conference which consists |
Of five juniors and six seniors. This |
conference. acting with the proctor, IS |
frequently able to cope With breaches |
of discipline which would formerly |
have brought the student directly be- |
fore the faculty.
Instead of adhering 70 certain time
honored traditions, the American uni
versity Is forging ahead to meet the |
demands ot the time, and each year
lines of vocational training
are being Incorporated into some CT
he schools or colleges of the largest
It is no: dasirabie that
the American university should be a
copy Of the Europein. TO > large de-
gree, the universities Of Europa pre-
bare a leisure class for their future |
ife. The Gnited States Is an ipdrs-
trial nation and miy be sail to have
10 leisure class. Consequently its uri-
rersities must recognize tie national
tendencies and give prominence to
hose studies which bring the greatest
value.
Term is Misuset.
The term university" has heen mis-
lsed in America, partly through lack
II comprehension of all the Eams in
dudes and partly from the ambition
4 some towns to have an Institution CT
highest learning located In its modst
There are still in existence n number
f socalled universities. which are real
y not more than simple colleges,
While Yale college, although undertake
ng all the branches of university
york, long retained the name under
which 1T was Incorporated. Bryan
dawr, too, although exclusively for
women has a o,1rrfor111p1 | (,