The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-10-03
PRESIDENT M'yEY
ON REQUIREMENTS
University Head Deals With
Question of College En-
trance Standards.
IS
GIVEN
Vocational Idea Brought in
to Conflict. With Tradi-
tional One of Culture.

IlOI1dl OLS OF culture.
In the September issue of the
Popular Science Monthly is "a schol-
arly article on the subject. college
Entrance Requirements" written by
DIR. F. l.. McVey, president of the
University Of North Dakota and a
member of the new state board of
education. This article is especially
opportune coming at a time when
students are puzzlins their minds over
the choice of a college or university
and the selection of courses of study.
This selection is a matter to which
thousands Of high school students
throughout the country and thousands
OF college men and women, for thar
matter, nus give serious and earnest
consideration.
Problem Is Complicated.
A phase of the situation that great
~ complexities the solution of the
problem Is the fact that in many in
stances a student beginning his high
school course does not have the slight
est idea what college or university he
will enter four years hence, or he
may not at that time intend to go to
any higher institution of learning.
Accordingly at the completion Of
high school course, a student may find
that he cannot meet the requirements
of the college or university lie desires
to enter. not because the high school
he attended does not provide adequate
instruction and facilities but solely
because he did not select his studies
with a view to meeting the college en-
trance requirements of that particu.
lar institutions.
Another complication is that caused
by the fact that the requirements of
different colleges east and west are
not the same and SO it may be an i'm
possibility for the average high school
to meet the demands of all Of them.
A Broad Point of View.
fOr several years Il marked change
has taken place | n the attitude of col
leges and universities toward the mat
ter OF entrance requirements. The en-
animation of catalogues, articles and
discussions shows clearly the swing
Ing of opinion from the former col
lege view to the high school way Of
regarding the question. 1t is now gen.
orally concede that the relationship
existing between the college and the
secondary school is a part of the
whole system Of education and not a
specific relation between two of the
factors of that system.
The growth of the high school at
tendance and the emphasis upon the
Importance of 1t as a factor have been
brought about by a clearer recogni-
ton Of the high school in its relation
to public education.
Emphasis Upon Citizenship.
me placing of the emphasis upon
citizenship and the efficiency of the
Individual seems to point c%onclusiyelv
to a larger freedom on the part of the
high schools and their management to
meet h specific needs of the group
Of young people who come to their
doors.
The recognition of the mechanic
arts. household science and agricul-
ture together with the attempt to re-
fleet the major industries of the COM
munity have brought the vocational
idea in conflict with the traditional
n of culture.
10 the student of educational prob
lens the middle ground seems the
position to take since it is pos
sfble for young people to secure Z
blending of liberal and vocational
training at the same time and,
through this combination, education
can receive the proper emphasis upon
its social significance. The combina-
ton of the two makes possible a clos
er relationship of the work which the
boy is doing. to the welfare of So
ciety.
The paper includes a table showing
the admission units required in the
Liberal Arts college of the various
state universities. Twenty-iv of
them require fifteen units for admis-
sion. The average entrance require
ments are three units of English, one
Of science, one of history and a half
unit Of MATHEMATICS.
The vocational subjects permitted
amount on an average to two units,
leaving the remaining units to be Sc
lected from foreign languages. mathe-
mates. civics anil history. Universe
ties like Arizona, Kansas. California.
Cornell. Georgia. Iowa and others do
not accept vocational subjects for en-.
trance requirements.
If. however. there can be aroused
In the secondary period of the stu
dents education a larger appreciation
OF his relation to society. some under
standing of the forces Of nature. and
to citizenship, with at least
some glimmer of what it means to
study, the colleges and universities
have all that can be expected or hop
ed for.
The writer believes that II the idea
that SO many points be required for
and certain credits must
be received could he changed for one
which will emphasize the thorough
Of preparation and ability to
think. the whole educational scheme
now existing in America would be ma
improved.
Secondary School Problem,
The secondary school. therefore, !
be given a large opportunity to
out it's place in the scheme of
and to determine for itself. !
more than it has heen able to do thus
far, Just what, scope and methods Of
draining should be intro
duced in its course
Unquestionably. uniformity in the
is desira BILE so far as it means
uniformity III subjects. time. mount
ani speed of instruction but il it
means uniformity of instruction by
requiring individuals the same
without regard to their ac-
.ual needs. 1t is under all clrcum-
to he avoided.
The paper concludes with the state
ment '"rhese universities are a part OF
he school system. and the adjustment
which takes place Will be from the
upwards rather than from the
downwards. but in this adjustment
here is need OF all the wisdom which
the universities may have, as we'll as
|ln ro-Anerafior, .,f oil tha footar. -.