The Washington herald., 1912-07-21


lica's academic output the last decade is
confined largely to the great State uni
lversities 10 one of the interesting and
significant facts that come to light In
any extended investigation Of the num-
Der Of degrees given by representative
colleges during that period, says H. T.
Claus, In the Boston Transcript. Another
salient point brought out is that most OF
the Increase has come from the scientific
and professional schools, and that the
strictly arts departments have not mate
rally grown. No absolutely exact figures
are at hand-indeed. II would be an al
most impossible task to obtain them
but an estimate that 5000 men and
women. diplomas In hand, have left the
half q thousand American colleges this
month is not very far out of the way.
Ten years ago the number was about
$1,000. This year the percentage of grad
yates from the colleges of the North At
lantic States, the district that contains
most Of the so-called private institutions.
Is about twenty-five; ten years ago II
was over thirty. This year the percent
age from the North Central division. the
district that shelters most of the big
State universities. is nearly fifty; ten
years ago II was about forty. Looked at
from any angle. the situation is bound to
resolve itself into just this: that the pub
lie institutions. the colleges that are
really OF the people and supported by the
people. are fast outrunning the older and
privately endowed rivals in the race for
popularity.
East "Over-colleged."
It may be argued that such a condition
Is entirely according to reason. and that
the East Is already so ''over-colleged"
that educational growth is diffused, dis
tributed, and consequently not notice
able II may very well be that some of
our New England colleges have reached
the limits of their development with
present financial conditions and are clos
ing their doors TO many students. But
there is the additional fact, too impor-
tant TO be overlooked. that the State
college, with its open-door theory and its
steady and consistent attempt to meet
every need of the community and to
minister to the very last want OF the
average student. Is carrying out the pol
icy that wins. And II may further be
noted that II the same rate of progress
obtains in the next decade as obtained In
the last the endowed colleges. Of the
East will find their former absolute su-
premacy in peril.
That the situation Is already under
stood and its dangers appreciated is at
tested by the efforts OF several of our
institutions to remove some OF the ad-
mission barriers that have so long stood
In the path OF the boy who has neither
the means nor the inclination TO go to
a special fitting school and who wants
to enter college directly from the pub
lie high school. Harvard revising its
entrance requirements. frankly admitted
that the move was in the interest Of
popularity, stated openly that it wanted
orA @hat
sought to be once again a real national
university. In a sense. II has already
gained its end and even better results
many be confidently expected in the fu-
ture
Harvard NationaIized.
Meanwhile, Yale is in a peculiar d.
lemma. Like Harvard. II has seen its
representation from beyond the Mis-
sissippi slowly dwindling and its place
in the hearts OF the Westerners being
usurped by the State universities. And
though knowing that its rigid admission
exactions are the cause OF this condi-
ton. 1t finds no immediate and royal
way out of the difficulty. While con-
Tossing that the Harvard plan appeals,
It refuses to adopt 1t for fear OF being
accused OF copying. President Hadley
only recently stated that II Yale had
thought of the Harvard method first IL
might have put Il into operation. While
extremely anxious to nstionalize itself.
Yale positively declines to lower its
standards of scholarship. The one ave-
nue. open seems TO lead to some sort of
change in admission requirements. Along
this avenue the university is about to
travel, though manner and method as
well as means are yet to be determined.
Princeton. a third member OF the East
ern big four" has only lately made
some important concessions to the boys
from the public high schools, and many
OF the smaller New England colleges
have followed or are preparing to follow
In its footsteps. There is no need of
explaining these new entrance require
ments, and the, matter is brought up at
all only to make It clear that the en-
dowed institutions are not going to give
up their leadership without struggle.
But II may we'll be questioned whether |
relaxation of or modification in admis- |
sion requirements will of itself serve as =