Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
Press Condemns Collegiate
Rejection of Classical Basis

with some few exceptions, the press
OF the country deploreS the action OF
Yale University, conservative educa-
tional institution, In offering the bache-
lor Of arts degree without the require
ment of Greek and Latin. The Hart
ford Times sees grave cause for regret
If the rattle of the typewriter Is ever
to mean the doom Of the stylus" while
the st. Louis Post-Dispatch exclaims,
The Cincinnati Tfmes-Star declares
that "f many universities by their en-
phasis upon practical studies have
come to resemble apprentice schools,
that is the dictate Of the times" The
Atlanta Journal upholds languages
which supplied the heart blood Of our
own tongue" and refers to system
of virtually no literary background for
a literary diploma"
The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel sug-
gests that the colleges should make
up their minds as to whether they
should specialize in backslappers or in
individuals possessed Of intellectual
self-reliance, and concludes, I'VE have
no objection to colleges and universities
admitting the rank and file OF idlers
for a good time under the elnns, pro-
vided the public doesn't pay the bull.
But these should be given some kind OF
a special, second-rate degree-wtth the
A. B. reserved for those who really
have made something Of an art OF
learning"
1T is significant Of new trends in
higher education" in the impartial
Judgment of the Pasadena Star-NeWs,
while the Roanoke Times is convinced
that sit is futile to resist the modern
tendency to put the emphasis upon the
49,, 0kt Ne
sas CITY Times draws the indictment:
Explanations Of Yales action In elm
mating the requirements Of Latin ana
Greek for any undergraduate degree
seem to us to be inadequate. The real
reason the classic languages are dis
appearing from the plan OF study In
American universities Is that they never
found place in American politics.
Nothing that is not useful in politics
can survive, which Is why almost
everything has ceased to serve In that
art except money. There was time,
as late as the last century, when q
member of the British House Of Com
mons, heSitating over a word in q
classical quotation, underwent the hui
initiating experience of having the
whole House rise to give 1t to him. We
suppose the delinquent member was
defeated at the next election. But II
any member of the American Congress
has any Latin or Greek he Is careful
to conceal the fact"
"Our universities asserts the
YOUNGSTOWN Vindicator, "are admitting
so many young people who have no In
terest in learning that they must lower
their requirements, with the result that
even the more earnest students do not
receive the education and training
which were formerly the mark Of
Post comments: ITO I'LL the void, they
are going to let the student take mod
ern languages. What will French,
Spanish or italian be to him without
a knowledge of their basic root, Latin?
But, as we say, there is little use heap
ing up words The thing Is done and
faculties are the least changeable of
human institutions. IT'S a pity, though,
Yale couldn't have given classical cul-
useful to Babbitt, 1882; not, of course,
during his active business career Ito
which everything must be sacriflced),
but after he has made his pile and Is
settling down to collect libraries or buy
first editions"
GAS civilization grows more complex"
says the Hartford Courant, ut may be-
come necessary for the boundaries of
learning to close In. It Is hard to see
such restriction, however, as a cause for
rejoicing The student who does not
master Latin or Greek can find its
equivalent in mental training and in
f1rst-hand knowledge Of culture not
his own only in learning Chinese. San
skirt or some other dificult language.
Such arduous attainment would give
similar breadth, yet not the close un-
derstanding and intense meaning to
ture which a study Of It's models weaves
into D bright tapestry Of allision and
association. A yrse in the his.pry Of