The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-02-05
DEAN HOGG
ANSWERS CRITICS OF TIE uNI-
vERsITV LAW SCHOOL.
Interesting Reply TO Attack on Uni
versity professor-Msthods and
Work Of Law School Explained.

ne louowlng reOly OF Dean fokk
10 crisicisms OF the College OF Law at
the State University is reprinted by
request. IL appeared first in the Uni
versity Athenaeum:
To the Editor OF the Athenaeum:
An article appeared In the Athen-
aeum OF January Goth imputinE to the
College OF Law grave defects in meth
DDS OF instruction. want OF discipline
and decorum on the part OF the stu
dent body. and lack OF adequate IA
ciiities to enable the student TO prose
cute his studies. The author OF the
article registered in this college only
last fall, and is a neophyte in the pur-
suit or professional knowledge. but.
as the source OF this emanation. seri-
ously rejecting on one OF the depart
ments OF the university. is not known
TO the readers OF the Athenaeum. We
are constrained TO review II and cor
rect some OF the errors into which Its
author has unwittingly fallen.
The contribution under considera-
ton TO the organ OF the students OF
the university Is an extended one. and
embodies fourteen distinct charges
against the College OF Law Of ineffi-
cheney properly to effectuate the work
true. those in charge OF our university
having its supervision and control in
hand. have signally and shamefully
failed TO discharge their duties TO a
large body Of students and 10 meet
their responsibilities 10 the people OF
our state.
An examination into the truth OF
these criticisms is therefore not only
due 10 the department Immediately
anected. but 10 all persons in any man
ner connected with the supervision
OF the affairs of the whole institution
We shall make this examination In
spirit Of fairness and candor. free
from all bias OF or prejudice. with a
Just endeavor TO fully present the CON
ditions now prevailing in the College
OF Law. and the methods pursued to
attain the most practical and desir-
able results
proceeding now TO consideration
or the objections made by our critic.
We do not hesitate to say that the
young men who attend the universities
OF Yale. Harvard, Michigan. Pennsyl-
Iania or Virginia 1.-THE schools referred
70 In the article do not obtain "A more
thorough course in law than they do
here. We require about one-third
more class room work on the part of
The students than does any of the
schools Just named. They are all
members OF the Assoc iatiOn OF Amer
lean Law Schools with one execution
anu. conforming 10 its rules and reg
ulations fixing the number of hours
required for graduation. not one OF
them exceeds LOO hours OF class
room work during a course OF three
years. while We now require more
than 1900 hours. Can a student ac.
qIirc more thorough KNOWLEDGE of
tho law in LOO hours than in 500
To ask this question is 10 answer il in
the negative
u Is also said OF these schools that
ihey oner more modern methods OF
instruction" With reference TO this
statement IL Is only necessary TO oh
serv" that only three methods OF in
struction have ever been used in any
law school lectures, textbooks and
cases. The first Of these "a an ex.
elusive means OF teaching the Law has
become obsolete. In Harvard the
case system only - employed. while
~ Yale. Michigan and I,,nnsvIvanis
u - In partial use. and In Virginia
I've textbook method Is almost ex-
ciIs!vely used In our own university
"" instruct the students with the aid
o; the text hook. accompanied by
short explanatory lectures. auizzes
and Illustrative cases selected by IN.
Instructor himself This is known as
ia" Dwighi system. so named after
Theodore ". Dwight. a professor for
thirty wears GsJS-ISgiI. in Columbia
Law College. where thousands OF Law.
Aers were trained under II durinx n 4
administration. and who nave attpsfed
iis efficiency IN the practical AFFAIRS OF
!H" Want of space fOrhids our con
sideration Of the comparative merits
of this and the case system. bur a..
Do ssy that Il Law Is io he treated a.
science. the former - decidedly
preferable 20 the latter
There ar" other features OF Tho WORK
don" 90 pur own College ~ Law Of a
most practical and useful nature 80
signed 10 equip ~" Student sn- his
"fi'" ard court room duties upon Dc.
ndwi--iDn 20 the bar. not found ia any
Other So school in h. United S'sf.e
la"r~ .s 30 college - AZ o-srir.
superior sdtanfaE~- nr 'r. score, -
-i"m ". distraction han fhs. offered
"ur pan universal. This u.'- D..
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