Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-14
STUDY PLANS GO BACK
Columbia Purposes 1ndepend|
Work by Juniors and Senior
They Are TO Report Twice Yea
The student Then VIII show Evi
dence of His studies by
mn Essay.

MS annual report to the UNIVERSITY
plan for Undergraduate study which
II Is adopted, will completely revoluti
lie the present system of education
Columbia and will mark an entirely
stage in educational DEVELOPMENT in
country. The report has lust beeen m
puo'ic anu IN so TAR as the new sche
Is concerned was eagerly discussed
the professors on Morningside HeigI
says the New York Sun.
In DR.. keppels own words the con
ence program which he purposes to
tablish at Columbia Is not unlike the
putations of medieval universities
student after completing two Years
regular college work, notifies the r
lstrar or the course which he intends
pursue during the junior and senior veg
and then he takes up that course in
pendently. His study may be in the ella
room with other Students or he NAV
low out the work privately. coming
twice a year before q Conference of
professors and there discuss the res,
of the work he has followed
This is the plan according to I'D
Keppel and is the outcome of m,
thought ly Profs. ]. f. Woodbridge. JIG
Erskine and c j. Keyser
students who are ready to enter
Junior class Of Columbia College nj
elect what has beeen tentatively chr1
ened the Conference program ri
years residence will be necessary for|
degree. there being no provision for l
vanced standing. The course Of study
u Il
but the aim Will be to represent amoI
the teachers the principal divisions
knowledge. A certain number of prof.
sors have already offered to conduct,
addition to their present programs. d
three-hour course continued through Il
years None of these courses are to
ell mentary the students being expect
| to familiarize Themselves by private stu
with the elementary parts of the subj
not already covered by their previous q
| legiate work.
| The students are not to be grad
They may freely enter all courses,
must notify the registrar as to [
courses which they plan to offer W
the approval of the Instructor toward
| degree.
Each student is to appear at lie;
twice a year before conference OF
the instructors and students OF the gro
ana to present by means OF an essay
| otherwise evidence of the progress of
studies This conference which in n
Is not unlike the disputations of the r
dieeval universities, ts to be held we,
ly. 1t Is designed to be the educatio
-
or attendance on lectures prescribed
the degree are 20 be considerably /
than under the present program, it be
the expectation that participation In @
preparation for the conferences will ia
up a considerable part of the studer
time and energies.
"A fixed charge Of SIS per half year
proposed. with the understanding tina
student may, at his option, pursue a
collegiate courses outside the conferel
program upon payment of an approx
ate additional fee. Each student is
present to the faculty, not later Ii
April 10 OF the year OF his graduation.
essay on a topic proposed by himself q
approved by the committee in charge
least one year before graduation. I
essay must show mastery of the to
| with which II deals
This proposal. as will be seen. invol
an educational experiment made posi-
through the voluntary cooperation of
group Of university professors, with
view to proving with a picked group
students that the cause of liberal stl
may be advanced more effectively in
| pniu ctf
separate college. because of the wi
range from which the teachers may
chosen.
"One OF the first questions which ari
Is as to what the effect of such a p
would be upon the present honors y
gram. This latter, 1t seems to me- pre-
Uses too we'll to be lightly cast asi
That the two may be combined is.
course, possible"
Dean Keppel also discloses some int
esting data as to the scholarship of b
coming from we'll to do and rich famil
as compared with those from poor fai
lies and foreign families in the city.
writing of the boys who do not elect
take up law or one OF the other prof
sions this Is what the dean say-
with US the majority in hts socc
division are serious minded and are
ing creditahle work In the largely
critical huhbub which is being raised
day regarding American college life
fact Is usually overlooked that pract!ca
all the trouble Is with the social
"hoaters," the boys who look upon al
demic tasks a. an ,,nwarranted intrusi
upon their lecture That this element
Columbia College Is fortunately both ;
tually and relatively small gives US
better chance of saving those of tn
who are worth saving, and the group
| cludes some precious human material
many cases the boys brain is cl,
enough, and his attitude is merely
result of previous bad handling In sch
, or more often at home.
Current opinion as 10 the elements
the college community which are dol
the best collegiate academic work is
from accurate. Our high stand studer
for example, are found much moro co
monty among the well to do and e'
the rich than is popularly supposed. a
on the other hand some of our most n
ugent BOYS are sent to college AZ gr
, personal sacrifice on the part Of their p
ents. Another general impression is tn
particularly in metropolitan institute
the best work is being done to-day
boys of foreign paren'age Here aga
In spite of the fact that only the PICK
boys among the latter are likely to co
to college at all, the work OF the OIL
American strain compares very raw
ably"