The Washington herald., 1921-09-04
College Electives.

X/ALE University announces that It mas ADAM
doned the elective system. But the expiana-
Il ton indicates that It has abandoned only |
what il should never have permitted in the apphca-
,;on of that system Electives first adopted in
this country at Michigan University IN the upper
class courses. The purpose was to enable stu
dents to round out their course by specialization
not permitted by the fixed courses
Through this freedom of choice students could
take more of philosophy, literature, history inter-
national law science whatever they needeo 10
6t Them for the vocation they had chosen. 1t seems
that in Yale this system extended to four years Oh
college life included privileges which enabled STU
dents to gain the required ereons oy eiee'.s
..snaps" and framing a course OF unrelated sub
;ects leading to no specific or definite equipment
for any vocation
i This IL true was Yale's fault, not that OF the
svsteu, nor of the Students who are apt to abuse
anyi privilege, if permitted to do SO. 1t was i@i
from the purpose of electives. 1t was an abuse oi
the svs,em by the college authorities, which was
wholly unnecessary and inexcusable 1t snowed
a tack of interest or understanding OF electives ny
the authorities an indifference to the purposes and
aims of the student body coming there 10 equip
themselves for usefulness in the world
Every student entering college needs help and
o.,,l Guidance in shaping his course of study No
matter how sure he is of his future VOCATION nor
bow confirmed in what he thinks he wants to take
in his course he needs this advice. Otherwise ne
NAV make serious mistakes in his grouping OF stud
ice taking the less valuable and emitting the more
.ss.,t;.1 No student ever should have been, OF
-v.r should be- permitted to select other than
homogeneous course of related studies leaulns ~
certain objective and giving we'll rounoeo
.ou;onent for what he intends to do, with the rign
background
Hinder the old regime students had no choice
If thew selected certain course, all the subjects
!, were fixed for them. Each course eonsistea o
definite specified periods devoted to certain SUP
;.cts A course was homogeneous largely IN IN
t,c, that il was a mental mould into which al
-. uust be fitted It. so far possible, turne
ou, houooeneous products but fitted few for an
sneeiaI field of endeavor. 1t was as lneiasoc
cast iron and chiefly valuable IN making Soun
n.onle do what they thoroughly dishked' tnat 10
which they had no aptitude and to acquire tnat 10
which they had decided mental disability ana
use.
Electives were only intended to inject elasticit
;,,o this system; to adapt courses OF study TO u
,,ud.nss natural equipment but not to let MIN ru
,,,d and browse at will taking mouthtul mere an
.nother there. with a wayward appetite tor wn:
seeu.d easy but leading to no dehnite purpose:
n.,u;t this was a laxness in guidance and an aou
of privilege It is well that Yale has touno
oh,;g.,ions and is taking them more seriously.
.,iiI not. in fact, abandon electives, out VIII
{. them as they were always intended 10 DC useu'
rive elasticity courses OF study tnat stuoe m
have the advantage of developing Individual aoin
and talent to the limit Of usefulness ana ser'i1e'