Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-05-25
A PROBLEM IN SOUTHERN EDUCATION
Or. MOrehead Speaks Of the Wider Sig
nlflcance Of The EIsOn's History Incident
AT Roanoke College.

Having returned to Roanoke College
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 trustees of the col
iege issued compre hensive statement
on March 7th, and while later the fac
ulty published careful definitions of our
position, it seems evident that there is
still misapprehension as to the real at
titude of this institution. For this rea-
son and also because of the wider sip-
nIfcance that the history" incident
may have, l have decided to present nv
personal view of the principles involved
in their relation to educational work.
The trustees passed resolutions ex-
pressing loyalty to the South, depreca-
ting sectional agitation, declaring for
full and free investigation in search for
the truth. They stated clearly the prin-
clple that a professor should have free
dom to select bis own text books and to
determine the other means and methods
OF his work of instruction. The test of
the satisfactoriness of a professor was,
in their view, not his text books. but
the actual work of his department in
its real substance and results. Disap-
proval was expressed of certain pas
ssges of the book in question, but the
professor of history was sustained At
his suggestion, Elson's text was discon-
tlnued. This was done, not because
there was any danger whatever of err
rors about the South being taught. as
the book was in the hands of a conpe-
tent and impartial professor, but out of
Difference to the feelings aroused in the
minds Of Confederate veterans, and in
the interest of harmony. The r9solu-
tions of the trustees were adopted with
only two dissenting votes. Among the
affirmative voters were prominent Con-
federate veterans, including q gentle
man who was in Pickett's charge at
Gettysburg Elson's book has not been
used at Roanoke College by the profess
sor as text or for reference since
March 7th. The faculty is in perfect
accord with the action of the trustees.
One student was taken out of college
On account 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 Col
lege.
1t seems to US that vital principles
are involved in this controversy First
OF all, is it not clear that q 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 its students?
The students must feel that the col
lege in its professors is sincerely de-
voted to the truth, in all departments,
and at any cost. Thus only will they
have respect for their instructors, and
will themselves learn the vital lesson of
intellectual honesty. The ideal of the
college, as of the scholar, must be hon
est investigation and sincere instruc-
tion, if there is to be real scholarship
and real college work.
There cannot be loyalty to the truth
in scholarly work without freedom to
investigate, to think, to review all
phases of a subject-the truths. the
half-truths, and the untruths about it
and to form and to express independent
judgments. This is the principle of aca-
demic freedom. 1t goes without saying
that it needs to be carefully guarded in
its application. But it is a vital prInci-
pie. A man worthy to be q college pro-
fessor should not only be allowed free
endeavor and method would be required.
1t seems to me that the general tend
ency in educational work in all grade,
is to emphasize the teacher rather than
the mere text book or the text method
of teaching. Especially in college or
university work, the determining en-
phasis is placed upon the professor IS
the authority not upon his means of
work. He is a specialist, an expert,
who justifies himself by his work and
by its results. AS an illustration of the
maintenance of the principle of academ-
ic freedom l may cite what occurred
some years ago at Yale University
The professor of economics was an ag-
gressiye antagonist of the theory of
protection and an advocate of free
trade. 1t is perfectly apparent that he
was not in harmony with his environ
ment. But he was retained as a matter
of principle, although the result was
that he taught the sons of protectionists
the contrary doctrine. In the present
test case. Roanoke College was very
fortunate. When the matter first came
up in the autumn, took occasion to as
sure myself, that following freely his
own conviction, DR.. Thorstenberg, of
our department of history, would teach
no errors against the South, whatever
text he used. Some personal facts may