This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... none, even of our highest scholars, could sustain the examinations required of a senior wrangler or first class man in these universities.... By adopting... a system of equivalents, we may confer degrees upon a given amount of knowledge, though the kind of knowledge which makes up this amount may differ in ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... none, even of our highest scholars, could sustain the examinations required of a senior wrangler or first class man in these universities.... By adopting... a system of equivalents, we may confer degrees upon a given amount of knowledge, though the kind of knowledge which makes up this amount may differ in different instances. Thus, for instance, suppose a course should be prescribed, containing a given amount of Latin, Greek, Mathematics, and Natural and Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, and Rhetoric, as the basis of requirement for degrees. In determining upon equivalent courses, a certain amount of some other study might compensate for Latin, or Greek, as a certain amount of some other study might be a compensation for the higher mathematics, or intellectual philosophy, and so of the rest. An arrangement of this kind would seem just, and to us it seems not to be impracticable. The objection that would arise to this plan, would probably be its effect upon the classics. It will be said, that we should thus diminish the amount of study bestowed on Latin and Greek. To this the reply is easy. If by placing Latin and Greek upon their own merits, they are unable to retain their present place in the education of civilized and Christianized man, then let them give place to something better. They have, by right, no preeminence over other studies, and it is absurd to claim it for them. But we go further. In our present system we devote some six or seven years to the compulsory study of the classics.... And what is the fruit? How many of these students read either classical Greek or Latin after they leave college?... Is there not reason to hope, that by rendering this study less compulsory, and allowing those who have a taste for it to devote themselves...
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