Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-01

THERE is a new and encouraging
l. tendency in the technical institutions
and courses to broaden the technical
training by the introduction Of more
liberal studies.
This is one of the hopeful aspects
Of the higher educational system in this
country as seen by DIR. Samuel Paul
Capen, director of the American
Council of Education.
Through the work he has been doing
for the last few years Doctor Capen
is in close touch with the life of the
colleges and universities.
The council Of which he is head is the
directing body Of the work and plans
of the higher educational institutions
and Is made up Of the best trained and
broadest educators in American col
legiate life.
IT believe in preserving the integrity
of the liberal arts institution" said
Doctor Capen. "and am heartily in
favor OF the present tendency to
liberalize technical training as far as
possible.
1.-THE war was an eye-opeher on the
question of the merits and ability Of
the great body Of young men from the
straight liberal arts colleges. 1t proved
beyond doubt the usefulness Of lib
eral arts education and showed to the
world the unexpected adaptability of
the noptechnically trained college man.
Need Liberal Courses
Zone result of this has been a move
to break away from the extreme special
ization Of technical and vocational
training. In one sense Of the word a
purely technical course, no matter how
fine it is. is not an education. Our
engineers and chemists and trained
men need to be grounded in liberal
courses if they are to come to their
best in the world.
"There is no doubt that the nom
vocational colleges are going to have a
hard time holding their own in the next
few years and probably even longer.
The technical and vocational type Of
training has an immediate appeal that
Is being heard on all sides today. 1t Is
n strong appeal to the general public
and especially to the young, because
TO be practically trained and fitted to go
into the world and make a livelihood
today is an attractive prospect.
"In spite of this popular leaning,
which is particularly evident at this
time. the need of liberal education
4.
not insist that our young men should all
study Greek and Latin. My point is
that they do need the immeasurable
advantage of truly liberal training in
} the broad sense Of the word.
"If it were possible, both on the
score of time and money, for every
Young man who is planning to become
|, an engineer or chemist or a business
. expert first to complete liberal course
at college, I would say that he should
by all means grasp the opportunity. He
would be better engineer and finer
man in the end
! Headquarters in Capital
Doctor Capen, who is a graduate of
Tufts College and holds degrees from
Harvard, the University of Pennsyl-
yania and Lafayette, has his head
, quarters in Washington. Through the
surveys Of the conditions and needs OF
, the colleges and universities made by
: his bureau and through his constant
association with college presidents and
: educators, he Is thoroughly familiar
with another prominent, not to say per
picking, problem of education every
where in this countryside question OF
. professors salaries.
; "The greatest problem before our col
leges and universities today is how t.
keep the right type of men in the teach
, ing profession" commented Doctor
Capen, "and II the situation does moi
) work out to satisfactory end the re
suit will be that the best men will b,
driven from their chairs in the colleges
and that men Of parts will no Longer
come into the profession. Thousandi
Of college professors have already gon,