The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
THE three year college course is de-


lege. Worcester. Mass, in an article
in the CLARK College Record. President
Sanford says:
an the old days when college educa-
ton was sought by small number OF
students of nearly uniform sort--can-
didates for a narrowly selected arlstoc-
racy OF education--and in subject mat
ter consisted OF narrow range OF stand
ard topics, It was possible not only to
have a fixed curriculum within any
given institution but that all institutions
should conform closely to single estab-
lished type But that day has gone.
never to return. Higher education Is no
longer the privilege of the few, 1t Is the
immediate practical need of the many,
and we must have not only as much
elasticity within the Institution as Is
compatible with sound intellectual train
Ing but also a high degree of differen-
tiation from institution to institution.
In this desirable variety Of educational
machinery there is surely place here
and there for the straight three year
course
1.-THE question of the propriety Of the
three year course comes down ultimately
to the question whether on the one hand
1t meets the needs of a sufficiently large
portion OF the youth which 1t should
serve and on the other whether 1t Is pos
enough to justify the bachelors degree.
The fact that so many young men now
take advantage of such three year OPP
portunities as exist indicates that II does
meet n real need. The question whether
a course worthy of the degree can be
given deserves little further considera-
on Let us first, however. remove GER
tain grounds OF possible misapprehen-
sion. The question of the three year
~ q
merely cutting Off the fourth year Of the
present four year course and giving the
degree for the first three years or their
equivalent That would clearly be pric-
ing the degree at 75 cents on the doiiar.
Nor is it that of attempting to do. even
under favorable circumstances, In tnree
years as much as might be done under
equally favorable circumstances IN 1our'
which Of course would be absurd. II Is
a very different matter, namely, that Oh
Doing under favorable circumstances In
three years that for which, as higher
education is now organized, four years
has usually been allotted.
Fitting school or Finishing School
1.-The college has two distinguishaole
but by no means mutually exclusive
functions: For those of its graduates
who enter upon professional or univer-
sity study II is fitting school: for those
who go no further 1t is finishing
school" The first of these functions is
largely-but not wholly-a matter or
mastering the elements OF certain
sciences and the acquisition OF certain
scholarly tools-so much physics, chem
fstry and biology or so much political
and social science. logic and ethics, to-
eether with a reading knowledge Oh
French or German. There is no ques-
,x,bo mai
quirement, a student by little extra
effort can master all these things as
perfectly in three years as IN four. ana
you will find that the supporters OF a
shortened college course have usually
had this fitting school function chiefly
in mind. Those, on the contrary, VINO
oppose the shortening are usually those
who look upon the college as finishing
school," as the last chance which many
young men ever have for attaining. I'M
der guidance. a general broadness OF
view and an outfit of cultivated inter-
ests. These are not altogether matters
of acquisition. but largely matters OF
growth, for which time is an important
factor. To those who have this function
chiefly in mind any abbreviation OF the
course represents dead loss
Can the process of growth and assirnf-
lation be hastened or is II wholly outside
question OF the three year course on its
cultural side. l reply that in my judg-
ment it can be FASTENED for some stu
dents and by some teachers. An inten-
sive three year course-the performance
of four years work and the getting OF
four years growth in three years-is
not for EVERY young man who desires or
would profit by a college course. There
must be selection. Nor is every teacher
g,,,r oh tna h yorp
Dull and uninspiring teaching mhy have
place in the world, but II is not at any
rate in a three year college. There is
no doubt in my mind that growth as
great as that normally made in four
years may be made in three years under
favorable conditions and that three
year institution may be able 10 do for
its students on the cultural side as well
as on the international what may be
regarded as the full work of a college
course.
Making College n Mans Job.
But let me not stress this point too
much. Let me rather concede that in
this matter of time for growth the three
year course IL at a partial disadvantage.
that II has the defect OF its virtues.
do this the more readily because l have
to offer what seems to me a more than
com0ensating offset The complaint
against American college training has
been that college graduates as a class
were irresponsible lacking in serious
purpose and unable to do anything
thoroughly and we'll The reply that
college men have responded maSnifi-
Gently to the call of war is not wholly
to the point We are all proud of them
and they will carry our hearts with
them across the water but their re-
Spouse is testimony to their enthusiastic
idealism. not a refutation Of the charges
against their training for the less in
spring DE- ties of peace. In the main
the comp are well founded, and
the college graduates who succeed have
TO learn after leaving college the re-
sponsihility. the seriousness and the ac-
curacy which they did not learn there
The reason Is easy to understand The
only way to teach responsibility Is t.
give young people genuine responsible.
ties to bear; the only way to cultivate
seriousness Of purpose is to make the
whole situation serious the only way
TO get things thoroughly well done Is tc
insist on full sized standards, not merely
on college standards, in the product Get
ting college course ought to be made a
mans job and when 1t Is made mans
Job we shall get something like ma.
turity at the end of It.
The great compensation which the
three year college has as against tn,
four year college as the latter IL now
organized il that il is very much ensie>
In the former to cut out the distractions
and the Incidence and to make the things
which the college has to give the seri.
ht,c % he