Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-17
THE COWNSMAN
Problems at the University

EIL VoV INApFG III
Problems at the University
UNANIMOUS faculties recommend
- the continuance of Pennsylvania in
It's functions as a public institution
offering equal opportunity to every
citizen of the state and to all others.
And the Gownsman rather takes 1t
that we shall hear little moro from the
little collcgians who are really as few
in numbers as they are small in spirit.
Is there no statesman in this great
commonwealth who can realize his op-
portunity and lead the state to a fuller
recognition Of its obligations as to edu-
cation? ?-bettcr schools. better teachers.
better colleges and universities, not
starved on fraction of what many n
younger and poorer state gladly pays
for education. but fostercd, adequately
equipped, encouraged in practical use
fulness to the making of more efficient
and the raising Of our moral
and intellectual standards.
If Pennsylvania is to stand with her
sister universities of the state at the
head of public education in this state,
then there is need of fostering the entire
educational frame. Colleges can not
flourish with inadequate schools to pre-
cede them nor schools respect univcr- =
sity which is not abreast Of the times.
DCT there arc immediate problems
- at the University which claim i'm
mediate attention. and in the Gowns
mans opinion these are matters of pub L.
lie interest because the University OF
pennsylvania is an institution which be-
longs essentially to the people. And
first and foremost. Pennsylvania has
outgrown its present plant. There
are 10000 students whore 5000 would
be too many. Rooms for instruction.
apparatus, buildings. teachers. are all
too few and the hours of school days
and Saturdays and Of the nights as well
are not sufficient
From ono point of view this is not
uugratifying. Nothing succeeds like
success: and Pennsylvania is successful
because she deserves it. But continued
overcrowding is not conducive to the
continuance of success, and it is well tC
pause. at times. to consider whether this
growth is wholly sound and proportion
ate to the organism
The Gownsman could wish that nc
man or woman. adequately prepared tC
pursue advantageously course in any
department of the University, should b'
debarred the opportunities which HI
seeks. But until adjustment comes be
tween the number of applicants ant
actual physical limitations. some modu'
vivendi must be found,
Nov there are three ways in whicl
~ to limit numbers Fix your limi
and take the first who come: this il
democratic but unSclCctivc. Secondly
raise your fees: this is Sclcctivc bu
undemocratic. Third. pick the best
and this is alone the process which i
alike just and in the spirit of American
Institutions
There is something tu he said for tn
English system that makes every ste
in education a sporting event. 1t teache
u man how to win and how to lose
But the system of ccrtif"ation. nov
in vogue. which is levclng but no
democratic is based on too great
variety of standards TO be OF any rea
value.
The true solution Of Ovcrcrowdng is
OF course. an adequate physical provi
sion and a sufficient teaching force
( Until this shall come. select the best b
an adequate examination system.
! COEDUCATION is another of tn
! ~ lniversity's problems. This doe
not worry the Gownsman nearly 5
much, as he has yet to note any of th
dire calamitics which the little col
lcgians have long prophcsied wOul
Ovcrwhclm the world if women shoul
ever receive any part of their cducatio
simultaneously with their brothers.
That women should have buildir
Of their own at Pennsylvania, their 1jC
voices demand. and the plans Of II
trustees in this respect will dOubtle!
soon be- realized. That the women ,
PENNSYLVANIA should be absolutely seq
rrgatCd in accordance with the cX
pcnSivc systems in vogue in some of OF
older eastern universities is as imDraC
ticablc as it is unnecessary. DOubtlC!
much Of the work Of the under class,
could be advamtagrOusly pursued in sc'
tiOnS made up Of women students ar
, conducted in their own building bl
, thr later electives, the graduate al
the professional schools must Continl
, 10 offer equal opportunities H. irrcspc'
tive of sex aS Of station in life.
A MOTHER problem which races Il
~ universities of the country at larG
and Pennsylvania among them. is (
relation of "nractiral.' technical ~
professional cducatiOn-for these arc
of them Onc--to education in the wild
and more liberal sense. the cducati,
| which nurturcs scholarship. fosters +
| search and leads to discovery in scicn
and achievement in letters.
James Russell Lowell used 10 de
with this subject SummHrily in the de-
milton: ~ university is II place who
! nothing useful is taught" But Il
I paradox has been 50 abundantly =
. futed in tho exceeding usefulness a
, practicality Of our American univcrs
= ties that il i in need Of apology il q
of revision.
! There is difference between q plG
: in which lawyers and doctors are train
: and one in which there is. freed,
G of scientific research without these
e terror purposes. And there is diff
% cncc between nm engineering school ol
{ school Of Business and a school in VIII
. language, literature aud the arts
= pursued disintcrcstcdly for their Cl
turnl values.
II may BE- questioned. however.
p these two varieties Of CduCutiou {
. over be actually separated, or if
o would ho desirable to separate them
We rouId For it is seldom tho subj
which determines the matter. but
, spirit in which it is pursued. A