New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-08
To tho Editor OF The Tribune.


Sir: In your article THE Underpaid Pro-
fessor" you have touched sore spot not
only on the professors cuticle, but on Ameri-
can civilization as we'll But you have not
fully diagnosed the case. American colleges
and universities have lately been subjected to
much criticism on the score of inefticiency IN
teaching and relative unproductiveness In the
realm OF higher scholarship. A good deal OF
this criticism is deserved, but the critics
have in many cases been blind TO the causes
Chief among the causes are: % The dead
weight that the professor has TO make head
against In the indifference TO scholarship on
tho part Of many students and the incompe-
tence on the part of many others. He is ex-
pected to coax, wheedle, cajole, prod or drive
to the achievement of degrees a considerable
number of students who in the wrong
place. Some are in college simply because
they were sent there, college diploma being
regarded as quite tho proper thing and al
fording the entree to social or vocational
success; Others more to be pitied, are either
congenitally incompetent or are handicapped
by the necessity of earning their way through
The professors main business, it is quite
generally held, Is TO see that nearly every
body gets through.
Perhaps it is assumed that the Declaration
Of Independence means that all American cit
liens are equally entitled to degrees at the
expiration of the designated times. At any
rate, the American professor, in contrast with
his European colleague, is loaded down with
pedagogic and disciplinary tasks that con-
sumo most Of his time and energy. He has
but little surplus Of either to be used for
scholarly investigation.
(2) The general lack OF public respect for
high scholarship makes the professors work
to considerable degree thankless one. Il
have noted during the last four years that
the most contemptuous epithet that some of
his critics could find for Mr.. Wilson was "the
professor" Since he has come back" this
epithet seems to have fallen into disuse).
CD The first and second causes, powerfully
reinforced by the meagreness Of the prospec
tive income, keep out of the calling many
young men of dynamic personalities and high
abilities who would otherwise be attracted
to it, and lead to the ranks being filled
largely by mediocre men. The calling of a
college professor does not allure TO IL the
proper share Of the exceptional talents of the
country's youth. conscientious professor
will not encourage brilliant pupils without
Independent means to enter his calling. With
mediocre men teaching unwilling or incom-
petent youths how can the results be other
wise than mediocre?
What are the remedies7 You say the pro-
fessol is too meek. SO he Is, outside his
classroom. But then his story is "the short
and simple annals of the poor" He has no
wares to vend In the public market, except
truth, enlightenment, mental integrity and
the appreciation of the finer and rarer prod
ucts Of human civilization. There does not
seem TO be very strong demand for such
wares in our present money-msd, machine
made social life. Nearly every person wants
a motor car, but how many really want to
enjoy poetry, physics, history or philosophy
Precious fewl
So long as "blgness" remains the ultimate
American criterion of success there Is little
hope for improvement. The disposition Of
the funds and the determination of the poll
cie3 Of colleges and universities are in the
absolute control of boards of non-scholars
the trustees), advised by the president, who
may have been once exposed for time to
the "unworldly' and "unbusinesslike" infec-
tion of mere scholarship and instruction; but,
ness manager and envoy plenipotentiary of a