Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-05
Country Hopes for Details
Of Meiklejohn Experiment

Brief reports of the work Of the ex-
perimenta1 branch of the University OF
Wisconsin, together with the announce
ment of recommendation by its pro-
moter that 1t be discontinued, have
served only to arouse national curiosity
as to the results attained. The avowed
purpose under the leadership of DR..
Alexander Meikle John has been to mold
the first two years in college under a
type of community study, so that a
more complete view of the field of
knowledge might contribute to the sue
cess of the later years.
Students had no fixed classes and
their study lines were highly elastic, ~
says the Cleveland Plain Dealer. cat
the end OF FIVE years of operation along
this line, results are to be studied by the
faculty and a decision reached whether
this new method of instruction Is to be
extended. That is the scientific method
applied to education. The laboratory
work done, the next step is to make de-
auctions and draw conclusions. The
processes of weighing the results of the
experiment will be difficult. Students
who have gone through it have accumu-
lated a certain fund of information and
have made progress along the road to
education. How much they would have
made by an alternative method no one
can say. But the educators who have
been in touch with them probably have
definite opinions on that point. IRE
spective Of the conclusion at which they
arrive, the University of Wisconsin will
be entitled to much credit for under
taking so interesting an experiment and
seeing it through. And the conclusions
will be Of wide interest in educational
circles"
THE object" according to the Dayton
Daily News, twas to try out a college
course in which students would develop
industry and initiative in freedom, es-
Gaping the lock-step drive Of conven-
tional classroom work. AS q distinct
method of study this appears not to
have sufficiently marked success to
justify its continuance. The university
as whole has adopted certain changes
suggested by that experiment 1t has
had a certain liberalizing effect on the
institution as whole. AS such 1t has
doubtless been worth while. In truth,
most of the numerous experiments now
under way here and there in the effort
to find the way to more effective train
ing and development of youth adds
something or other to our fund of
knowledge and wise practice in educa-
ton. Let the experiments go on"
X &Tx
at Is necessary to wait until such
time as the products Of the experiment
tai college can be compared with ordi-
nary college students" suggests the New
Castle News in a discussion of the re-
suits. The News continues: This eX-
pertinent in education might prove
either that the old way is inefficient
and unsuited to modern conditions or
that a better substitute has not been
N1- Yy,SII rI 4I,oA
one system Is about as good as another,
the intelligence and capacity for work
Of the pupils compared being equal.
Although not satisfied with the results
Of the system in use, the public Is skep-
teal of radical departures from the old "
Influence Of Abraham FleXner's COM
ments on American university methods
Is seen by the Richmond News Leader,
which recalls that he was exceedingly
severe" on the Wisconsin experiment.
The News Leader continues: Perhaps
Flexner had nothing to do with Meikle-
johns conclusion that the five-year ex-
pertinent should not be carried on, even
though, as FleXner said, it enabled
some students to escape the deadly
lock step of the classroom. But If FleX-
ner did not cause the abandonment of
this experiment, it may be written down
with some assurance that, after only
four months in print, his book has
caused many university president to
blush in a new consciousness of his
educational folly. Overwhelmed by the
post-bellum army of students, under
pressure to be practical and willing, in
many instances, to stage any Side-show
that would attract new endowment,
most of the American universities have
passed through the most infertile dec
ade since the beginning of post-grad-
uate university training in America in
1876. Flexner has indicted them for it,
and has convicted them of it."
X X
Whatever happens" declares the Co
lumbia Is. CO. State, I'VE hope that
the experiment-tremendously noble
in purpose'-will at least leave the in
tellectual and spiritual soil upon which
1t was worked out to some kind Of end
ing, richer and more fecund, at least of
ideas, spirituality, and that Greek power
and felicity of straight and high think
ing. We trust, at least, that it has not
ended in glorious failure. 1t must have
inspired some of the fresh young minds
that were daily brought into warm
touch with the most vital and Illus