The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-22
Against a National University.

A special committee of the American
Association OF University Professors has
completed preliminary study OF the
proposal that the United States should
establish a national university. A strong
majority of its members do not favor
the establishment Of such university
as anything like teaching institution
In this they only strengthen conviction
which we had expressed some time ago,
but in this year when fresh pressure is
being brought TO bear in the Congress in
favor of a regular, degree granting in
stitution new consideration of the OPP
posing arguments is required. The fun.
damental objection to such national
university is much the same as that
which lies against Re proposal OF q
state university ft/ Massachusetts,. In
a country in which endowed institutions
were the first in the field and where they
have had more than century for con-
tinuous growth to their present propor-
tions, the superimposition of national
university would be bound to result in
more or less duplication of energy, ex-
pense and facilities, just as a state uni
versity, not entering in the pioneer stage
of a commonwealth, but coming after
the problem of higher education has been
solved in another way, would represent
a similar duplication.
The American Association Of Universe
ty Professors does not deny that the
further enlargement of the powers and
status of the United States authority
in education might be desirable. On the
contrary, ii remarks the splendid edu.
cational facilities already existing at
Washington, in the library and in vari-
GUS government institutions, and 1t would
court any suggestion tending to make
those facilities more readily available
TO all. and more perfectly a clearing
house for all institutions of learning.
Having rejected the idea OF teaching
however, this special COM
mittee shows no regard at all for one
idea, which had been advanced as a
strong point in favor OF the establish |
ment OF such national university. The |
hope Of its proponents, that it should be- |
come the pinnacle. the browning jewel of /
our educational system leaves them en- /
tirely cold. Instead of welcoming il, 1
they foresee very undesirable results, in 1
The bureaucrat ization of our educational /
system, a. likely to follow upon il. Aud 1
again their fears seem justified, a. the 4
logical consequence OF an attempt to
,reate tremendous national Institution
~ fat. in the absence Of its existence as
he product OF many long years OF slow
md natural growth.
Undoubtedly the strongest point raised
" any member Of the committees dis
enting minority Is that which suggests
he need OF a national institution. which
hould especially train men for various
branches 81 the governments service.
The professor who raises this point re-
marks that there are many universities
o-day a. vertising special preparation
or the consular service. In nearly all
ases. b. saws. they are unable to offer
n a general Institution any really ade-
uste training for such a branch ~ this.
nd further that since there are only I
bout twenty-five new appointments in /
he consular service each vear. The adj
ertisement b ten universities Of sure