Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-05-19
SIGNIFICANCE OF
fLSON'S HISTORY
DR.. Morehead Speaks of the
Recent Controversy at
Roanoke College.

been issued by DR.. Morehead, Presi
dent of Roanoke ollege, in defense
of the recent Elson history:
Having returned to Roanoke Col
lege after an absence of nearly two
months, have given my first leisure
to the study of the agitation against
Roanoke College in connection with
the former use of Elson's History of
the United States. While the Trus-
tees of the college Issued compre-
hensive statement on 7th, and
while later the Faculty published
careful definitions of our position, it
seems evident that there is still mis-
apprehension as to the real attitude
of this institution. For this reason
and also because of the wider signifi-
canoe that the "history'" incident
may have, / have decided to present
my personal view of the principles
involved in their relation to educa-
tional work
The Trustees passed resolutions ex-
pressing loyalty to the South, depre-
eating sectional agitation, declaring
for full and free Investigation in
search for the truth. They stated
clearly the principle that professor
should have freedom to select his own
text books and to determine the other
means and methods of his work of
instruction. The test of the satisfac-
toriness of a professor was, i'm their
view, not his text books, but the act
ual work of his department in its real
substance and results. Disapproval
was expressed of certain passages of
the book in question, but the profess
sor of history was sustained. At his
suggestion, Elson's text was discon-
tinued. This was done, not because
there was any danger whatever of en-
rors about the South being taught, as
the book was in the hands of COM
petent and impartial professor but
out of Difference to the feelings
aroused in the minds of Confederate
veterans, and in the interest of har-
mony The resolutions were adopted
with only two dissenting votes.
Among the affirmative voters were
prominent Confederate veterans, in
cluding a gentleman who was in
Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. Ell
sons book has not been used at Roam
oke College by the professor as a text
or for reference since March 7th.
The Faculty is in perfect accord with
the action of the Trustees. One stu
dent was taken out of college on ac-
count of the controversy, but five
have been added to the enrolment
since the March meeting. So much
for the facts of the situation at
Roanoke College.
1t seems to us that vital principles
are involved in this controversy. First
of all, is it not clear that college
must honestly stand for the truth, if
it is to be an ethical as we'll as an
intellectual force in the development
of it's students? The students must
feel that the college in its professors
is sincerely devoted to the truth, in
all departments, and at any cost.
Thus only will they have respect for
the instructors, and will themselves
learn the vital lesson of intellectual
honesty. The ideal of the college, as
of the scholar. must be honest inves-
tigation and sincere instruction, if
there is to be real scholarship and
real college work.
There cannot be loyalty to the
truth in scholarly work without free
dom to investigate, to think, to re-
view all phases of subject-the
truths, the half truths, and the un-
truths about it-and to form and to
express independent judgments. This
is the principle of academic freedom.
1t goes without saying than it needs
to be carefully guarded in its appli-
cation. But it is vital principle. A
man worthy to be college professor
should not only be allowed freedom,
but his exercise of it in scholarly en-
deavor and method should bs requir-
ed. 1t seems to me that the general
tendency in educational work in all
grades is to emphasize the Teacher
rather than the mere text book or the
text book method of teaching. Es-
pecially in college or university work,
the determining emphasis is placed
upon the professor as the authority
not upon his means of work is a spec
ialist, an expert, who justifies him.
self by his work and by its results.
AS an illustration of the maintenance
of the principle of academic freedom
l may cite what occurred some years
ago at Yale University. The profess
sor of ecopsmics was an aggressive
antagonist of the theory of protection
and an advocate of free trade. 1t is
perfectly apparent that he was not
in harmony with his environment But
he was retained as a matter of prin-