The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-25

graduate teaching and hamper real
research. through the multiplication OF
mechanical seminars, dissertations, and
the Ike. The care ana expense OF a
good graduate school can be borne only
by few large universities.
Professional education also Is ham
nered b. an enormous duplication Of
Facilities resulting In great financial
waste and often in competition in
low entranc. requirements and poor
instruction. Some States have four.
1--WE. seven and nine schools Of 4ngi-
necrinS each. Neg York City alone has
gin. aud Pennsylvania has thirteen.
five of these having less shan forty
students each. Fortunately the .msi-
necring societies and tho foundation
are now cooperating to bring about
proper standards
bulletin Of the foundation in 1910
described evsry one Of the $50 medi-
"a! schools in the United states and
suggested general plan OF reform.
The present report lists twenty-five
unworthy medical schools That have
passed out OF existence during the last
year. unable 10 stand the ligh, OF pub
licity. An equal Dumber OF worthy
institutions have made great advances.
In legal education there is an i'm
F'S'cHlSAl instruction ana an In
creas!nS emphasis on better standards
by authoritative bodies like the Amer
lean Bar Association. but poor schools
Sill turn out three times as many
lawyers as the country needs. and one
half Of our States have no adequate
educational requirement for admission
TO tho bar. The miscarriage OF justice,
the laws delays. the cost OF litigation,
public disregard OF law ana disre-
sg- ft,ii rI la al ~,
no small degree from this multiplied
ton OF ill-trained lawyers. The bar Is
peculiarly responsible. since IL alone OF
all professions practically axes its oHn
requirements FOR admission 10 practice.
In theological education the report
points gu; hitherto unnoticcd increase
IN attendance since the recogn;z I'd de-
cline which terminated in 1905. i
study OF the attendance In theological
scminar!es disproves the claim that
denominationai colleges are tn. chief
source from which students enter the
seminaries. In the colleges themselves
tnerc II noted Il genuine gain in reli-
g!ous education. due 10 decline in
,hr severity of both ioctrinai teaching
and scientific opposition and to new
emphasis on the fundamentals of reli-
gious faith and living.
Politics still plays a large part in
VIZ appointment anu OlSIuISs Al OF stat :
university boards, pTesidenta and pro-
fessors and in lobbying for Legislative
funds. Public criticism of recent &C
,ion OF this sort in Kentucky and Okla
homa. however, indicates J. movement;
toward a more careful constitution Of
governing boards. The inau ence OF
organized alumni also needs 10 he more
carefully directed, so that instead Of
insisting on low athletic ideals. as re-
Gently In Michigan and Alabama. il
shall become a real educational nlu-
encs.
In general the sense OF public obii-
cation TO the cause OF education ap
pears 20 be stronger and more wide
spread than ever. but the time has
plainly come when private ana local
initiative need more guidance from tho
point OF view OF the State and Of tn.
nation. Education is the most impor-
tant interest in any nation, and Is no
where 80 important as in a nation IN
which every citizen assumes full polit-
ical responsibility.