The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-11

ROANOKE. VA, May Ill r. John
Alfred Morehead president of foa-
noke College, gave out the following
statement acre Wednesday regarding
tho significance of the Elson S history
incident at that institution:
Having returned TO Roanoke Col
iege 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 EisYn's History Of
the United States. While the trustees
of the college issued a comprehensive
statement on March Z, and while later
the faculty published careful dehni-
tons OF cur position. I seems evident
that there Is stiil misrepresentation as
TO the real attitude OF this institution.
FOR this reason. and also because of
the wider significance that the his
tory incident may have, l have de-
cided to present my personal view Of
the principles involved In their reia-
ton TO educational work.
The trustees passed resolutions ex-
pressing loyalty To the South, depre-
eating sectional agitation. declaring
Tor full and free investigation in
search FOR the truth. They stated
clearly the principle that Il professor
should have freedom TO seiece his own
taxi books and to determine the other
means and methods Of his work of in
structian
The test Of the satisfactortness of .
professor was, in their view. not his
text books. but the actual wrk of his
department in its real substance and
results. bisepprovat was expressed of
certain passages Of the book in auea-
ton. but the professor Of history was
sustained Al his suggestion. Elson's
TEXT was discontinued. This was done
nor because there was any danger
whatever of errors about the SoI1th
being taught, as the book was in The
hands of competent aud impartial
professor but out of Difference to the
1eellnsa aroused In the minds OF Com
ieoefate veterans, and in the interest
Oh harmony The resolutions of the
: trustes were adopted with only two
aissenting votes Among the affirma-
i've voters were prominent Confeder-
ate Neterahs, including gentleman
! VINO was In Pickett's charge at Gettvs.
burg. Elson's book has not been useo
AT Roanoke College by the professor
as text for reference since March
9 ne FACULTY is in perfect accord
: with the action or the trustees. one
| student was taken out OF college, on
account of the controversy. INT fva
: nave peen added to the enrolment
since the March meeting So rnunh
for the facts of the situation At
Roanoke College.
: Vital Principles Invoked.
II seems to us that vital prfncf-
pies are involved in this controversy.
f1rst OF alt is it not clear that a col
lego mnst honestly e@eand for the
truth. if II is to be an ethical as
wet as an intellectual force in the
development OF its students? The stu
> oehts must feel that the college in It's
professors Is sincerely devoted to the
truth In all departments and at any
COST Thus only will they have re-
spect fer their instructions, and will
themselves learn the vital lesson oil
intellectual honesty. The ideal of the
: college. AS Of the scholar. must be-
honest investigation and sincere in.
> 5truetion, IL there Is to be real schoI.
> arship and real college work
There cannot be LOYALTY to tbs
truth iii scholarly work without free
g dom to Investigate, to think, to re.
: | view all phases of subject--tht
, | truths, the half-truths. and the un.
truths about it-and to form and Il
4 express independent Judgments. Thi,
, N the principle OF academic freedom
, Ii goes without saying that 1t need.
A 10 be carefully guarded in Its appli
+. | cation. But 1t Is a vital prinrinIe
|
!, iessor should not only be allowed
!. freedom. but his exercise Of IT II
: scholarly endeavor and method SHOULD
a be required. 1t seems to me that tn,
!. general tendency III educational worl
:. In Gil grades is to emphasize til,
- teacher rather than the mere text
:, book or the text book method 20
e teaching. Especially In college OF
= university work, the determining EN-
phasis Is placed upon the professo
as the authority. not upon his mean
Of work. He Is a specialist, an OK
\ pert. who justites himself by hi
u work and by its results. As an Illus
traton OF the maintenance OF III,
principle of academic freedom / ma,
cite what occurred some years ago A
Yale igersaty. Tne PROFESSOR q
I economics was an aggressive antap
onist of the theory OF protection ans
an advocate OF free trade. Ii /. per
tectly apparent that he was not In
= harmony with his environment Bu
= he was retained as u matter of prip
ctple, although the result was that h,
: taught the sons of protectionists tn,
. | contrary doctrine. In the present ties
= case. Roanoke College was more for
, tunate When the matter first cam,
up in the autumn, took occasion I,
assure myself that. following freel,
! his own convictions, DR.. Thorstenberg
!. | Of our department or history, woult
: teach no errors against the South
whatever text book he used Some
, personal facts may be of interest DR.
Thorstenberg Is the son Of Swedish
parents. who came to this country
after the Civil War was over Ii,
Is an alumnus of Bethany College
: Kansas. He won the A. b., A. Nj. anc
. Phi. ID. degrees at Yale University
All of his special preparation ha,
v been in the subjects OF history ane
! social science, He accepted his pres
emit position at Roanoke College in tn.
summer of 1907, coming here from
the University Of Oklahoma. w,
know him to be an impartial scholar
This is the vital point
; Guide to True Conclusions
ut should also be remember tha
the student, ut the college age, has
an inQuiring, independent mind. IL,
wants to know this and understand
that. The wise professor will not In
-dH!se in eoncsainents. He will re.
view impartially all tho facts. the al.
legged facts. and the misrepresenta
tons. hts aim VIII be by compre.
hnnsive study To guide 1ile student &c
just and true conclusions. But he will
/ not only endeavor to add to the stu
ent's sum OF knowledge and to i'm
prove has mental discipline. but ht
will also famiiiarize him with wise
methods of scientitle Investigation
=" Having i'm mind the actual prtnci,