The New York herald., 1921-01-17
Getting All Harvard Can Give.

President LOWELL of Harvard Uni
versity is able to make in his annual
report, made public to-day, for 1919
1920 the encouraging statement that
"the epithets Of contempt applied to
high scholars twenty years ago are
now seldom heard, If at ALL" Instead
the number of undergraduates in the
university who record themselves as
candidates for a degree with distinc-
tion appears to be increasing. When
President LOWELL was engaged in
writing his report the number of such
undergraduates was larger than at
the corresponding date in the previ-
Gus year.
This change in attitude among Har-
ward students means that larger
proportion Of the men now under in
struction seek to win the greatest pos
sible benefit from the schools than was
the case twoscore years ago. There
has developed in the student body Il
clearer understanding Of the real pur-
poses and opportunities Of collegiate
education, and in consequence a
stronger ambition to make the most
Of their advantages.
Yet President LOWELL does not con-
slider the fact that contempt is no
longer expressed for high scholars all
that is to be desired. He writes:
Nevertheless, If disrespect for
high rank in college has gone. the
amount of respect with which it is
regarded is not yet satisfactory.
Something may be hoped for az
n result of the general examinations.
which bring in competition on a
wider scale than marks in individual
courses; something may be done by
exhortation on the part of profess
sors something from evidence, much
Of it contained in statistics already
published. that high scholarg accom-
plish later, on the average, more than
their less ambitious classmates But
the real desire for high scholarship
depends upon the attitude of the
alumni and the public.
"If the object OF college is prepara-
tion for life by education, excellence
therein ought to be better than medi-
ocrity; but this the public fails to
understand. In England a mans
career at the bar or in public life is
greatly assisted by taking a high
class Of honors at oxford or at Cam
bridge In France the gateway to
success in many careers is opened
only by n series Of rigorous competi-
tive examinations. Here the great
law firms select eagerly the gradu-
ates of our Law School who stand
highest in rank; but the world does
not value in the same way the high
est scholars in college.
Perhaps this is because scholar
ship in college does not Indicate spe-
cial training for career yet in fact
II means something not less i'm
portant.
"The qualities which obtain the
largest rewards in any profession are
often those believed to be impaired
by broad general education. such as
resourccfulness, the ability to sec
many points Of view, and the capac-
ity for imagination.
IF In college we do not give these
things, at least TO our best scholars,
we are sadly at fault. II we do give
them, high rank in college is an in
dication OF the extent to which the
student has acquired them"
Obviously, the attainment Of high
rank in scholarship by student in
college is more than the qualification
Of an ambition TO possess distinction
among students. IT has severely
practical aspect, and is intimately in.
volved in early attainment Of oppor-
tunity for material success. The ser
vices of the grind are in demand
where those of the fellow who Just
slipped through are not wanted.
These are facts known to the uni