Putnam patriot., 1927-04-15
tI;ed by our institution v higks


 common life is tremendously import ant, but it is not the chief object of the college, and Is far better gained elsewhere Food is also important. but we do not insist that refreshments be served in our churches. Physical exercise is important. but we do not provide gymnasiums in connection with our libraries Religion Is i'm p0rtant but we do not hold services in our art galleries. Life is best stu died in the great laboratory of the world, and it matters not fl after four years of academic surroundings spent apart from life. the graduate enters the world a little naive. a little un- sophisticated Life quickly remedies those deficiencies If he has not ae- quired worldly wisdom. the youth brings out Co the world, in compen- sation. the priceless gift of enthu- siasm for the things of the spirit and the world repays him soon enough with the hard cash of experience. That enthusiasm is not acquired through any conscious striving after responsi- bilitics or premature craving for service Youth IS the time for dreams and not for carrying burdens for aspirations and not for obligations.
 The College, Purpose
 Should the college ft students pri- marily to earn living If so, thea whg have professional sch0ols2 That aim is the function of the latter, an essential one for some calllngs ike medicine and engineering and desire able fnr many others like manufact- uring and banking Why should ths college abandon the purpose t alone can fulfill and copy the business zcH5oI2 That it k beginning 10 do zp undoubtedly due t5 the advent of new type of student who wants degree. but who does not want q liberal education He sees ua Use iu languages or literature. but wants practical subjects The college should say 10 such a one Ny dear young man. your desire Is perfectly natural and even laudable, but we haze not the commodity you want Step tn next door where our good friends the technicians have just the article you are looking for. Perhaps the youth objects But want bachelors degree as the badge of q cultured gentleman. II will help me in my business, and want four years of college life into Che bargain before settling down to any serious work. l am told it h most agree able To this the wise old college should answer ou may indeed pass four very pleasant years be- meath my cioistercd shades. but we cannot abandon our own wares to deal in those you desire, for then no one would dispense them at all. If you want our degree. you must at least try t0 acquire the liberal and humane point of view it recognizes, for iu that .c specialize That the college aee uBt all making this reply Is due t1 mistaken zeal for numbers and power, or to a false democracy which would eutitie every free born American citizen Co E. A degree Certainly some pre-goea= tioual subjects are both desirable and unavoidable. such as chemistry for the future physician. and economies for the fiuancier but they are at the same time liberal subjects for the future lawyer or minister Sales maHship. on the other hand. or the art Of writing scenarios for he mo vits. would hardly seem Co be liberal subjects from any angle whatever. useful as they are said to be If tho vocational ideal continues to gain ground We shall have an institution where the test of every course offered will hc its utility. and as SO many things are useful We may anticipate bachelors of the arts Of poultry rais= ing, of publicity. and of broadcasting. while such useless branches of learn ing as philosophy and the classics will be preserved. if at all. for a group or eccentric individuals who are incapable of interesting them selves in commercial pursuits. Except for this minority of outcasts. the college iu the present meaning of the word. will disappear, and very valuable American institution will have ceased to exist
 Intellectual Training The Aim
 But surely character forming k a legitimate aim for higher education for the college to concentrate upon. the reader exclaims Here We are on firm ground for no one denies that character is the ultimate objective of all education Moreover. this was recently affirmed by a prominent educator in one of cur universities. Yes, indeed, character is all-import tant and education considered as l lifelong process may dc we'll Co re- gard II us the principal goal But college education considered as a small part of the total process could not achieve that very ann If character building were Co become the man purpose of the course. Dean Angler of Yale. m letter Co the parents ut new students a few years ago, ct tackled that speeious fallaey by saving that intellectual development was the colleges first business. and that the formation of character was a by product X storm of protest met this frank statement of rather obvious fact Sentimental America dislikes to hear uusentimental truth. But a by product Is not necessarily ef lesser value than the main object of a process toai tar s a hy-produet nf making illuminating gas. and who will say that it's countless deriva- tiVes are of less importance than the gaseous disuliate Character form lnr Is so subtle an art that too di- rrci approach is fatal to the purpose fu hand lfumpiue "A cOllege Adyertis-