Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-17
PROF. ROYCE WARNS
AGAINST CARNE Gle
FOUNDATION ADVICE

Middcburv, Dec. 1l-Josiah Royce. the
distinguished philosopher of Harvard
University author of "'Thc Philosophy
of Loyalty" and other works of intcrna-
tional reputation, has taken part i'm the
discussion on Vermont education In "a
letter to President Thomas Of Middle
bury College, published under the title "a
Plea for Provincial independence in Edu-
cation" he urges Vermont to do its own
thinking on educational problems. After
a searching logical examination of meth
DDS oof corporation between the state
and institutions, he says of the Carnegie
report:
Learn from their wisdom. For nobody
can for moment doubt that the Carnegie
Foundation stands for great deal Of
wisdom and OF official advice. But re-
member that all this advice Is likely to be
tainted with two defects. First il is the
advice Of professional standardlzcrs; Soc
ond. II is the advice of those who have
the habits of onicialism. Such defects i'm
ply no degcncracy, either intellectual or
moral, in those who show them They
are the natural outcome Of the habit OF
trying to carry on such enterprises rs a
Carnegie Foundation is. That Fourda-
ton has done great good and will do much
more. Eut when it is asked to advise
the state of Vermont, then ho wary o.
accepting its 'clear-cut' formulas. such
are the formulas that officialism and the
love of standardzng will always give
YOU"
| Concerning the statement of DR.. John
NJ Thomas to the edU ational commits
sion, Professor Royce says: "You make
an extremely modest application to your
| legislators that they VIII not he wholly
guided by advice of the Carnegie Foun-
dalton. so far as that refers to tho clear
| cut policy about higher education which
that foundation recommends wholly
agree with the spirit and. SO far rs
with the letter Of your recommendation
speak In the interest Of the Vermont
tradition and ideal ] speak after read
ing the proceedings that took place al
the time of your centennial celebration
Mt Middlebury in 1900. | speak IN the
name Of the New England country town
Of the New England country college OF
some OF the dearest ideals which oui
whole country knows There were kept
alive Of old by New England farmers
and clergymen, by those who did 81
much to determine the cultivation OF
our new west. by those whose memory
will always be cherished by every Ameri
can patriot So that in my opinion Yol
are right to propose "A method whereby
the state of Vermont may wisely ait
such an institution to keep something o.
Its own Independence not by merely Civ
ing itself over TO private bonefaction. q,
not by simply accepting mechanical stat,
control
MY life has taught mo this lesson;
typical American province. such as you
venerable Vermont long since was sucl
MS my new California has within m!
own lifetime become-such province Il
worth preserving. Your LEGISLATURE vii
do we'll TO appropriate something to
wards the preservation OF Vermont
lmost precious ideals and traditions
These are embodied i'm it's institutions
II know that Middlohury College actual.
embodios an important portion OF thcs
ideals wise state aid given 20
valuable Institution, under suitable safe
guards is certain TO he profitable"