第8章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Higher Learning in America",免费读到尾

  Notoriously,thiscontingentis,onthewhole,aseriousdrawbacktothecauseoflearning,butitaddsappreciably,andaddsahighlyvaluedcontribution,tothenumberenrolled;anditgivesalsoacertain,highlyappreciated,loudtone(\"collegespirit\")

  tothestudentbody;andsoitisfelttobenefitthecorporationoflearningbydrawingpublicattention。Corporatemeansexpendedinprovisionfortheseacademicaccessories——\"sideshows,\"ascertainill—disposedcriticshavesometimescalledthem——arecommonlyfelttobewellspent。PersonswhoarenotintimatelyfamiliarwithAmericancollegelifehavelittleappreciationofthegravesolicitudegiventothesematters。

  Duringsomeconsiderablenumberofyearspast,whiletheundergraduateenrolmentattheuniversitieshasbeenincreasingrapidly,theattitudeoftheauthoritieshasprogressivelybeenundergoinganotablechangetouchingthesemattersofextra—scholasticamenity。Itisingreatmeasureacontinuationofchangesthathavevisiblybeengoingforwardintheolderuniversitiesofthecountryforalongerperiod,anditisorganicallyboundupwiththegeneralshiftingofgroundthatmarkstheincursionofbusinessprinciples。

  Whiletheauthoritieshaveturnedtheirattentionprimarilytotheundergraduatedivisionanditsnumericalincrease,theyhaveatthesametime,andlargelywiththesameendinview,endeavouredtogiveitmoreofthecharacterofa\"gentleman’scollege\",thatistosay,anestablishmentforthecultivationofthegracesofgentilityandasuitableplaceofresidenceforyoungmenofspendthrifthabits。Theimprovementsoughtintheseendeavoursisnotsomuchtheincreaseandaccelerationofscholarlypursuits,asafurtheringof\"social\"proficiency。A

  \"gentleman’scollege\"isanestablishmentinwhichscholarshipisadvisedlymadesubordinatetogenteeldissipation,toagroundinginthosemethodsofconspicuousconsumptionthatshouldengagethethoughtandenergiesofawell—to—domanoftheworld。Suchanideal,moreorlessovertly,appearstobegaininggroundamongthelargeruniversities;and,needlesstosay,itisthereforealsogaining,byforceofprecedentandimitation,amongtheyoungerschoolsengagedinmoreofastruggletoachieveasecurefootingofrespectability。

  Itsbearingonthehigherlearningis,ofcourse,sufficientlyplain;anditsintimateconnectionwithbusinessprinciplesatlargeshouldbeequallyplain。Theschemeofreputabilityinthepecuniaryculturecomprisesnotonlytheimperativedutyofacquiringsomethingmorethananequitableshareofthecommunity’swealth,butalsothedutifulprivilegeofspendingthisacquiredwealth,andtheleisurethatgoeswithit,inareputablyconspicuousway,accordingtotheritualofdecoruminforceforthetimebeing。Sothatproficiencyinthedecorouslyconspicuouswasteoftimeandmeansisnolessessentialintheendthanproficiencyinthegainfulconductofbusiness。Thewaysandmeansofreputablyconsumingtimeandsubstance,therefore,isbyprescriptivenecessitytobeincludedinthetrainingofferedatanywell—appointedundergraduateestablishmentthataimsinanycomprehensivesensetodoitswholedutybythewell—to—doyoungmenunderitstutelage。(9*)Itis,furtherandbycompulsionofthesameideals,incumbentonsuchanestablishmenttoaffordtheseyoungmenaprecinctdedicatetoculturedleisure,andconventionallyshelteredfromtheimportunitiesofthemunicipalpolice,whereanadequatebutguardedindulgencemaybehadforthoseextravagancesofadolescencethatcountforsomuchinshapingthecanonsofgenteelintercourse。

  Thereis,ofcourse,nointentionheretofindfaultwiththisgentlemanlyidealofundergraduateindoctrination,orwiththesolicitudeshowninthisbehalfbythecaptainsoferudition,inendeavouringtoaffordtime,placeandcircumstanceforitsdueinculcationamongcollegemen。Itisbynomeanshereassumedthatlearningissubstantiallymoretobedesiredthanproficiencyingenteeldissipation。Itisonlythatthehigherlearningandthelifeoffashionandaffairsaretwowidelydistinctanddivergentlines,bothlyingwithinthecurrentschemeofcivilization;andthatitistheuniversity’sparticularofficeinthisschemetoconserveandextendthedomainofknowledge。Thereneedbenoquestionthatitisaworkofgreatsocialmeritandconsequencetotrainadeptsintheritualofdecorum,anditisdoubtlessacreditableworkforanyschooladaptedtothatpurposetoequipmenforadecorativeplaceinpolitesociety,andimbuethemwithadiscriminatingtasteinthereputablewasteoftimeandmeans。Andallthatmayperhapsfall,notonlylegitimately,butmeritoriously,withintheprovinceoftheundergraduateschool;atleastitisnothereintendedtoarguethecontrary。Atthesametimeasecurereputationforefficiencyandadequatefacilitiesalongthislineofaspirationsonthepartofanysuchschoolwillserveagoodbusinesspurposeindulyattractingstudents——orresidents——

  fromthebetterclassesofsociety,andfromthoseclassesthataspiretobe\"better。\"

  Butthisisessentiallynotuniversitywork。Inthenatureofthecaseitdevolvesonthecollege,theundergraduateschool;

  anditcannotbecarriedthroughwithduesinglenessofpurposeinanestablishmentboundbytraditiontomakemuchofthathigherlearningthatissubstantiallyalientothespiritofthisthing。If,then,asindicationsrun,thelargeundergraduateschoolsareinduecoursetodevelopsomewhatunreservedlyintogentlemen’scolleges,thatisanadditionalreasonwhy,intheinterestofbothparties,thedivorceoftheuniversityfromthecollegiatedivisionshouldbemadeabsolute。Neitherdoestheworldlyspiritthatpervadesthegentlemen’scollegefurthertheuniversity’sinterestinscholarship,nordotheuniversity’sscholarlyinterestsfurtherthecollegeworkingentility。

  WelltothefrontamongtheseundergraduateappurtenancesofgentlemanshiparethefactionalclubsknownasGreek—letterfraternities。Thesetouchtheprovinceoflearningintheuniversitiesonlyincidentallyandsuperficially,astheydonotinpracticeenterthegraduatedivisionexceptbywayofathinaftermathoffactionalanimus,whichmayoccasionallyinfectsuchofthestaffasaregiftedwithaparticularlypueriletemperament。Theyare,ineffect,competitiveorganizationsfortheelaborationofthepuerileirregularitiesofadolescence,andassuchtheyfindlittlescopeamongthegraduatestudentsoramongtheadultpersonnelatlarge。Butaspartoftheapparatusoftheundergraduatedivisiontheyrequireastrictsurveillancetokeepthemwithinthe(somewhatwide)limitsoftolerance;andsotheirpresenceaffectsthenecessarydisciplineoftheschoolatlarge,entailingamoreelaborateandrigoroussurveillanceandmoremeddlingwithpersonalhabitsthanwouldotherwiseberequired,andentailingalsosomeslightcorporateexpense。

  Muchthesameistruefortheothersocialclubs,notofanadvisedlyfactionalcharacter,thatarelatterlybeinginstalledbyauthorityunderuniversitypatronageandguaranteedbytheuniversityfunds;as,also,andinamorepronounceddegree,forcollegeathletics,exceptthattheitemofexpenseinconnectionwiththesethingsismuchmoreseriousandtheresultingdiversionofinterestfromallmattersoflearningisproportionallygreater。Amongthesemeansofdissipatingenergyandattention,collegeathleticsisperhapsstillthemosteffective;anditisalsotheonemostearnestlypushedbythebusinesslikeauthorities,atthesametimethatitisthemostwidelyoutoftouchwithalllearning,whetheritbethepursuitofknowledgeortheperfunctorytaskworkofthecollegiatedivision。Sonotorious,indeed,isthediscrepancybetweencollegeathleticsandscholarlyworkthatfewcollegeauthoritieslatterlyventuretoavowascordialasupportofthistraininginsportsmanshipastheyactuallygive。Yetsoefficientameansofattractingacertainclassofyoungmenisthisacademicenterpriseinsportsthat,inpracticaleffect,fewschoolsfailtogiveitallthesupportthatthelimitsofdecorumwilladmit。

  Thereisprobablynopointatwhichspeciouspracticesandhabitualprevaricationarecarriedsofarashere。Littleneedbesaidofthethreadbaresubterfugesbywhich(ostensiblysurreptitious)pecuniaryinducementsareextendedtostudentsandprospectivestudentswhopromisewellascollegeathletes;(10*)

  oroftheequallythreadbareexpedientsbywhichthesemembersofthegildofsportsmenareenabledtomeettheformalrequirementsofscholarshipimposedbyshamefacedintercollegiatebargaining。(11*)

  Butapartfromsuchpettyexpedients,howeverabundantandcommonplace,thereisthemoresignificantpracticeofretainingtrainersandhelpersattheuniversity’sexpenseandwithacademiccountenance。Thereisthecorpsofworkmenandassistantstotakecareofthegrounds,buildingsandapparatus,andthereisthecorpsoftrainersandcoaches,masseursandsurgeons,masqueradingunderthecaptionof\"physicalculture,\"

  whosechiefdutyistoputtheteamsinformforthevariouscontests。Onemayfindafootballorbaseballcoachretainedofficiallyasamemberofthefacultyandcarriedontheacademicpay—roll,inauniversitythatpracticesapenuriouseconomyintheequipmentandcurrentsupplyofmaterialsandservicesnecessarytotheworkofitsscientificlaboratories,andwhoselibraryisinashamefulstateofneglectforwantofadequateprovisionforcurrentpurchasesandattendance。Thequalificationsofsucha\"professor\"arethoseofacoach,whileinpointofscholarlycapacityandattainmentsitwouldbeastretchofcharitytosaythatheisofquiteaneutralcomposition。Still,underthepressureofintercollegiatecompetitionfortheservicesofsuchexpertlanistae,hemayhavetobevestedwiththehighestacademicrankandconcededthehighestscholastichonours,withcommensuratesalary。Expediencymaysodecide,partlytocloaktheshamefulnessofthetransaction,partlytomeettheexactingdemandsofacoachwhoseprofessionalserviceshaveahighcommercialratinginthesportingcommunity,andwhoispresumedtobeindispensabletotheuniversity’sduesuccessinintercollegiateathletics。

  Themanifestaim,andindeedtheavowedpurpose,ofthesemanyexpedientsofmanagementandconcessionstofashionandfrailtyisthecontinuednumericalgrowthoftheundergraduateschool,——theincreaseoftheenrolmentandtheobtainingoffundsbyuseofwhichtoachieveafurtherincrease。Tobringthisassiduousendeavourintoitsproperlight,itistobeaddedthatmostoftheseundergraduatedepartmentsarealreadytoolargeforthebestworkoftheirkind。Sincetheseundergraduateschoolshavegrownlargeenoughtoaffordasecurecontrastasagainstthesmallercollegesthatareengagedinthesamegeneralfield,itiscomingtobeplaintouniversitymenwhohavetodowiththeadvancedinstructionthat,fortheadvancedworkinscienceandscholarship,thetraininggivenbyacollegeofmoderatesizecommonlyaffordsabetterpreparationthanishadintheverylargeundergraduateschoolsofthegreatuniversities。Thisholdstrue,inageneralway,inspiteofthefactthatthesmallerschoolsarehandicappedbyaninadequateequipment,areworkingagainsttheside—draftofareligiousbias,withacorpsofunder—paidandover—workedteachersingreatpartselectedondenominationalgrounds,andareunder—ratedbyallconcerned。Theproposition,however,takeninageneralwayandallowingforexceptions,istoomanifestlytruetoadmitofmuchquestion;particularlyinrespectofpreparationforthesciencesproper,ascontrastedwiththeprofessions。

  Thecausesofthisrelativeinefficiencythatseemstoattachunavoidablytotheexcessivelylargeundergraduateestablishmentscannotbegoneintohere;inparttheyareobvious,inpartquiteobscure。Butinanycasethemattercannotbegoneintohere,exceptsofarasithasanimmediatebearingontheadvancedworkoftheuniversity,throughtheinclusionofthesecollegiateschoolsintheuniversitycorporationandunderthesamegovernment。Ashasalreadybeenremarked,byforceofthecompetitiveneedofalargestatisticalshowingandawidesweepofpopularprestigeandnotoriety,andbyreasonofotherincentivesofanaturemoreintimatetothepersonoftheexecutive,itisineffectamatterofcoursethattheundergraduateschoolanditsgrowthbecomesthechiefobjectofsolicitudeandmanagementwithabusinesslikeexecutive;andthatsoitsshapingofthefoundationsoftheestablishmentasawholeactsirresistiblytofashiontherestoftheuniversityadministrationandinstructionintheimageoftheundergraduatepolicy。Underthesamecompulsionitfollowsalsothatwhateverelementsintheadvancedworkoftheuniversitywillnotlendthemselvestotheschemeofaccountancy,statistics,standardizationandcoercivecontrolenforcedinandthroughtheundergraduatedivision,willtendtobelostbydisuseandneglect,asbeingselectivelyunfittosurviveunderthatsystem。

  Theadvancedworkfallsunderthesamestressofcompetitioninmagnitudeandvisiblesuccess;andthesameschemeofenforcedstatisticalcreditswillgraduallyinsinuateitselfintotheworkfortheadvanceddegrees;sothattheseaswellasthelowerdegreeswillcometobeconferredonthepiece—workplan。

  ThroughouttheAmericanuniversitiesthereisapparentsuchamovementinthedirectionofacloserandmoremechanicalspecificationofthetermsonwhichthehigherdegreesaretobeconferred,——aspecificationintermsofstipulatedcoursesofclass—roomworkandaggregatequantityofstandardcreditsandlengthofresidence。Sothathisneedofconformitytothestandardcreditrequirementswillthereforeconstrainthecandidateforanadvanceddegreetomakethesubstantialpursuitofknowledgesubordinatetothepresentpursuitofcredits,tobeattendedto,ifatall,inthescantinterstitialintervalsallowedbyastrictlydrawnaccountancy。Theeffectofitallontheiranimus,andontheeffectiveprosecutionofthehigherlearningsbytheinstructors,shouldbesufficientlyplain;butincaseofdoubtanycuriouspersonmayeasilyassurehimselfofitbylookingoverthecurrentstateofthingsastheyruninanyoneoftheuniversitiesthatgrantdegrees。

  Nothingbutcontinuedworkdayfamiliaritywiththissystemofacademicgradingandcredit,asittakeseffectintheconductandcontrolofinstruction,andasitsfurtherelaborationcontinuestoemploythetalentsanddeliberationofcollegemen,canenableanyobservertoappreciatetheextraordinarylengthstowhichthismatteriscarriedinpractice,andthepervasivewayinwhichitresistlesslybendsmoreandmoreofcurrentinstructiontoitsmechanicaltestsandprogressivelysterilizesallpersonalinitiativeandambitionthatcomeswithinitssweep。

  Andnothingbutthesamecontinuedcontactwiththerelevantfactscouldpersuadeanyoutsiderthatallthisskilfullydeviseddeathofthespiritisbroughtaboutbywell—advisedeffortsofimprovementonthepartofmenwhoareintimatelyconversantwiththefacts,andwhoaremovedbyadisinterestedsolicitudeforthebestacademicgoodofthestudentsundertheircharge。Yetsuch,unmistakably,arethefactsofthecase。

  Whiletheinitialmoveinthissterilizationoftheacademicintellectisnecessarilytakenbythestatistically—mindedsuperiorofficersofthecorporationoflearning,thedetailofschedulesandadministrativeroutineinvolvedislargelyleftinthediscretionofthefaculty。Indeed,itisworkofthischaracterthatoccupiesnearlythewholeoftheattentionofthefacultyasadeliberativebody,aswellasofitsmanyandvariouscommittees。Inthesemattersofadministrativeroutineandpunctiliothefaculty,collectivelyandseverally,canexerciseadegreeofinitiativeanddiscretion。Andthesedutiesaretakenasseriouslyaswellmaybe,andthemattersthatsocomewithinthefaculty’sdiscretionarehandledinthemostunambiguousspiritofresponsibledeliberation。Eachaddedmoveofelaborationistakenonlyafterthedeliberativebodyhasassureditselfthatitembodiesaneededenhancementoftheefficiencyofthesystemofcontrol。Buteachimprovementandamplificationalsounavoidablybringstheneedoffurtherspecificationandapparatus,desiredtotakecareoffurtherrefinementsofdoubtanddetailthatariseoutofthelastpreviousextensionsofthemechanism。Theremedysoughtinallsuchconjuncturesistobringinfurtherspecificationsanddefinitions,withtheeffectofcontinuallymakingtwospecificationsgrowwhereonegrewbefore,eachofwhichinitsturnwillnecessarilyhavetobehedgedaboutonbothsidesbylikespecifications,withlikeeffect;(12*)withtheconsequencethatthegradingandcreditsystemissubjecttoaceaselessproliferationofevermoremeticulousdetail。Theunderlyingdifficultyappearstobenotthatthecollectivewisdomofthefacultyisbentonitsownstultification,asanunsympatheticoutsidermighthastilyconclude,butthatthereisinallthedeliberationsofsuchabodyatotaldisregardofcommonsense。

  Itis,presumably,notthattheconstituentmembersarequitedevoidofthatquality,butratherthatnopointintheirelaborationofapparatuscanfeasiblybereached,beyondwhichaworkingmajoritycanbebroughtconscientiouslytoagreethatdependencemaysafelybeplacedoncommonsenseratherthanonfurtherandmoremeticulousandrigorousspecification。

  ItisatthispointthattheAmericansystemoffellowshipsfallsintotheschemeofuniversitypolicy;andhereagaintheeffectofbusinessprinciplesandundergraduatemachineryistobeseenatwork。Atitsinceptionthepurposeofthesefellowshipswastoencouragethebesttalentamongthestudentstopursuedisinterestedadvancedstudyfartherandwithgreatersinglenessofpurposeanditisquiteplainthatatthatstageofitsgrowththesystemwasconceivedtohavenobearingonintercollegiatecompetitionorthestatisticsofregistration。

  Thiswassomethingoverthirtyyearsago。Afellowshipwasanhonourabledistinction;atthesametimeitwasdesignedtoaffordsuchastipendaswouldenabletheincumbenttodevotehisundividedenergiestoscholasticworkofakindthatwouldyieldnopecuniaryreturn。Ostensibly,suchisstillthesolepurposeofthefellowships;thetraditionaldecenciesrequire(volubleandreiterated)professionstothateffect。Butinpointofpracticaleffect,andprogressively,concomitantwiththeincursionofbusinessprinciplesintouniversitypolicy,theexigenciesofcompetitiveacademicenterprisehaveturnedthefellowshipstoaccountintheirownemploy。Sothat,ineffect,todaytherivaluniversitiesusethefellowshipstobidagainstoneanotherforfellowstocomeintoresidence,toswellthestatisticsofgraduateregistrationandincreasethenumberofcandidatesforadvanceddegrees。Andtheeligiblestudentshavelearnedsotoregardthematter,andarequitecallouslyexploitingthesysteminthatsense。

  Notthatthefellowshipshavealtogetherlostthatcharacterofascholarlystipendiarywithwhichtheystartedout;buttheyhave,underbusinesslikemanagement,acquiredausenotoriginallyintended;andthenew,competitiveuseofthemisunequivocallytheirmainusetoday。Itwouldbehazardoustoguessjusthowfarthedirectoratesoftherivaluniversitiesconsciouslyturnthefellowshipstoaccountinthisenterprisingway,orhowfar,ontheotherhand,theyareabletoletself—deceptioncoverthepolicyofcompetitivebargaininginwhichtheyareengaged;butitwouldbedifficulttobelievethattheirrighthandisaltogetherignorantofwhattheirlefthandisdoing。Itwoulddoubtlessalsobefoundthatboththepracticeandtheanimusbackofitdifferappreciablyfromoneschooltoanother。Butthereisnoelementofhazardinthegeneralizationthat,byandlarge,suchcompetitiveuseofthefellowshipsistodaytheirchiefuse;andthatsuchisthefactisquiteopenlyavowedamongtheacademicstaffofsomeuniversitiesatleast。

  Asasequelandsymptomofthisuseofthefellowshipstipendsinbargainingforanenlargedenrolmentofadvancedstudents,ithasbecomeamootquestioninacademicpolicywhetheralargernumberoffellowshipswithsmallerstipendswillgiveamoreadvantageousnetstatisticalresultthanasmallernumberofmoreadequatestipends。Anadministrationthatlookschieflytotheshort—termreturns——asiscommonlythepracticeinlatterdaybusinessenterprise——willsensiblyinclinetomakethestipendssmallandnumerous;whiletheconversewillbetruewhereregardishadprimarilytotheenrolmentofcarefullyselectedmenwhomayreflectcreditontheinstitutioninthelongrun。Up—to—datebusinesspolicywillapparentlycommendtheformerratherthanthelattercourse;forbusinesspractice,initslaterphases,iseminentlyguidedbyconsiderationofshort—termgains。Itisalsotruethattheaveragestipendattachedtothefellowshipsofferedtodayisveryappreciablylowerthanwasthepracticesometwoorthreedecadesago;atthesametimethatthecostofliving——whichthesestipendswereoriginallydesignedtocover——hasincreasedbysomethinglikeonehundredpercent。Asfinalevidenceofthedecayofscholarlypurposeinthematteroffellowships,andasaclimaxofstultification,itistobeaddedthatstipendsoriginallyestablishedasanencouragementtodisinterestedscholarshiparelatterlybeingusedtoinduceenrolmentintheprofessionalschoolsattachedtotheuniversities。(13*)

  Onefurtherpointofcontactandcontaminationisnecessarytobebroughtintothisaccountoftheundergraduateadministrationanditsbearingonadvancedwork。Thescholasticaccessoriesspokenofabove——clubs,fraternities,devotionalorganizations,classorganizations,spectaclesandsocialfunctions,athletics,and\"studentactivities\"generally——donotinanyappreciabledegreebeardirectlyontheadvancedwork,inasmuchastheyfindnoreadylodgementamongtheuniversitystudentsproper。Buttheycount,indirectlyandeffectually,towardloweringthescholarlyidealsandkeepingdownthenumberofadvancedstudents,chieflybydivertingtheinterestandenergiesoftheundergraduatemenfromscholarlypursuitsandthrowingthemintovariouslinesofbusinessandsportsmanship。

  Thesubsidizedclubswork,inthesepremises,tomuchthesameeffectasthefraternities;bothare,ineffect,designedtocultivateexpensivehabitsoflife。Thesameistrueinahigherdegreeofathleticsports。Thefullroundofsportsmanlikeevents,aswellastheroundscheduleofsocialamenitiesforwhichthepolitesideofundergraduatelife(partlysubsidized)

  isdesignedtogiveatasteandtraining,arebeyondthecompassofmendevotedtoscholarship。Ineffectthesethingscomeinasalternativestothepursuitofknowledge。Thesethingscallforalargeexpenditureoftimeandmeans,neitherofwhichcanbeadequatelymetbythescientistorscholar。Sothatmenwhohavebeentrainedtotheroundofthingsthatsogotomakeuptheconventionalschemeofundergraduateinterestscannotwelllooktoacareerinthehigherlearningasapossibleoutcomeoftheirresidenceincollege。Ontheotherhand,youngmenhabitually,andnodoubtrightly,expectabusinesscareertoyieldanincomesomewhatabovetheaverageofincomesinthecommunity,andmoreparticularlyinexcessofthecommonplaceincomesofacademicmen;suchanincome,indeed,asmayaffordthemeanstocovertheconventionalroutineofsuchpoliteexpenditures。Sothat,intheabsenceofanindependentincome,somesortofabusinesscareerthatpromiseswellinthepecuniaryrespectbecomesthenecessaryrecourseofthementowhomtheseamenitiesofexpenditurehavebecomehabitualthroughtheirundergraduatetraining。Withlikeeffectthementaldisciplineexercisedbythesesportsandpoliteeventsgreatlyfavoursthegrowthoftactfulequivocationandaguardedhabitofmind,suchasmakesforworldlywisdomandsuccessinbusiness,butwhichisworsethanuselessinthescholarorscientist。Andfurtherandperhapsmoredecisively,anundergraduatewhodoeshiswholedutyinthewayofsports,fraternities,clubs,andreputabledissipationatlarge,commonlycomesthroughhisundergraduatecoursewithascantyandsuperficialpreparationforscholarlyorscientificpursuits,ifany。Sothatevenincaseheshouldstillchancetoharbourapenchantforthepursuitoflearninghewillbeunfitbylackoftraining。

  NOTES:

  1。Cf。GeorgeT。Ladd,\"TheNeedofAdministrativeChangesintheAmericanUniversity,\"reprintedinUniversityControl,byJ。

  McKeenCattell;especiallypp。352—353。

  2。Cf。GeorgeT。Ladd,asabove,pp。351—352。

  3。Apartfromtheexecutive’sneedofsatisfyingtheprejudicesofthelaityinthismatter,thereisnogroundforthiscompetitionbetweentheuniversities,eitherinthepecuniarycircumstancesoftheseveralestablishmentsorintheworktheyaretotakecareof。Somuchisadmittedonallhands。Butthefactremainsthatnootheronemotivehasasmuchtodowithshapingacademicpolicyasthissamecompetitionfortraffic。Thecauseofitappearstobeverylittleifanythingelsethanthatthehabitsofthoughtinducedbyexperienceinbusinessareuncriticallycarriedoverintoacademicaffairs。

  Criticsofthepresentr間imeareinclinedtoadmitthatthecollegesofthelandareingreatpartsoplacedastobethrownintocompetitionbyforceofcircumstances,bothastotheacquisitionoffundsandastotheenrolmentofstudents。Thepointmaybeconceded,thoughwithdoubtandreservation,asappliestothecolleges;fortheuniversitiesthereisnovisiblegroundofsuchrivalry,apartfromunreflectingprejudiceonthepartofthelaity,andanambitionforpopularacclaimonthepartoftheuniversitydirectorate。

  4。Anincumbentofexecutiveoffice,recentlyappointed,inoneofthegreateruniversitieswasatpainsafewyearsagotospeakhismindonthishead,totheeffectthatthemembersoftheacademicstaffareemployeesinthepayoftheuniversityandundertheordersofitspresident,andassuchtheyareboundtoavoidallcriticismofhimandhisadministrationsolongastheycontinueonthepay—roll;andthatifanymemberofthestaffhasanyfaulttofindwiththeconductofaffairshemustfirstseverhisconnectionwiththeuniversity,beforespeakinghismind。

  Theseexpressionswereoccasionedbytheunderhanddismissalofascholarofhighstandingandlongservice,whohadincurredthedispleasureofthepresidentthenincharge,byovertcriticismoftheadministration。AstoitsgeneralfeaturesthecasemightwellhavebeentheonereferredtobyProfessorLadd(UniversityControl,asabove,p。359),thoughthecircumstancesofthedismissalofferseveraldetailsofamorediscreditablecharacterthanProfessorLaddappearstohavebeenawareof。

  5。Thestrategicreasonforthisisthedesiretoretainforgraduateregistrationanystudentwhomightotherwiseprefertolookforgraduateinstructionelsewhere。Theplanhasnotbeenfoundtoworkwell,anditisstillontrial。

  6。Atleastonesuchbusinesslikechiefofbureauhasseriouslyendeavouredsotostandardizeandcontroltheworkofhisstaffastohaveallcoursesoflecturesprofessedinthedepartmentreducedtosymmetricalandpermanentshapeundertheformofcertifiedsyllabi,whichcouldthenbetakenoverbyanymemberofthestaff,atthediscretionofthechief,anddrivenhomeinthelectureroomwiththeaccreditedpedagogicalcircumstanceandapparatus。Theschemehasfounditswayintoacademicanecdote,onthelighterside,asbeingaprojecttosupplystandarderuditioninuniformpackages,\"guaranteedunderthepurefoodlaw,fullysterilized。andsealedwithoutsolderoracids\";towhichitisonlynecessaryto\"addhotairandserve。\"

  7。So,e。g。,itisknowntohave,onoccasion,becameadifficultquestionofinter—bureaucraticcomity,whethercommercialgeographybelongsofrighttothedepartmentofgeologyortothatofeconomics;whethergivencoursesinHebrewareequitablytobeassignedtothedepartmentofSemiticsortothatofReligions;whetherChurchHistoryisinfairnesstobeclassedwithprofaneHistoryorwithDivinity,etc。,——questionswhich,exceptinpointofdepartmentalrivalry,havenonebutameretricioussignificance。

  8。Nugatory,thatis,fortheostensiblepurposeofreducinginter—academicrivalryandduplication。However,thereareothermattersofjointinteresttothegildofuniversityexecutives,as,e。g。,theinter—academic,orinter—executive,blacklist,andsimilarreconditemattersofpresidentialcourtesyandprestige,necessarytobeattendedtothoughnotnecessarytobespreadabroad。

  9。TheEnglishpatternofboys’schoolsandgentlemanlyuniversityresidencehasdoubtlessaffordednotableguidancetothe\"Educators\"whohavelabouredforthegreatergentilityofAmericancollegelife;atthesametimethatthegraveauthenticityoftheseEnglishcustomshasatmanyadifficultpassagesewedopportunelytotaketheedgeoffthegentlemen—educators’senseofshame。

  10。Illustrativeinstanceshavelittlevalueasanecdotesandnotmuchmoreascircumstantialevidence;theirabundanceandoutrancearesuchastohavedepreciatedtheirvalueinbothrespects。Yettoanywhomaynotknowofthistrafficbyfamiliarcontactoneortwocommonplaceinstancesmayperhapsnotseemtoomuch。So,afewyearsago,inoneofthegreaterofthenewuniversities,avaluedmemberofoneoftheathleticteamswasretainedatanallowanceof$40amonthasbookkeepertothejanitorofoneoftheboys’dormitoriesonthecampus。Atthesameuniversityandaboutthesametimetwootherathleteswerecarriedonuniversitypayasassistantstotheeditoroftheweeklybulletinannouncingtheprogrammeofacademiceventsfortheweek;thoughinthiscase,tothereliefoftheeditorinquestion,onlyoneofthetwoassistantsreportedathisoffice,andthatonlyonce,duringtheyearoftheirincumbency。These,asalreadyremarked,arecommonplaceoccurrences。Themorespectacularinstancesofshrewdmanagementinthesepremisescannotwellbedealtwithotherwisethanbyacannysilence;thatbeingalsothecourseapprovedbycurrentpractice。

  11。Asingleinstancemaytolerantlybeadmittedhere。Amongtheformalrequirementsthatwouldadmitstudentstoafreepursuitofsportsmanship,atthesameuniversityasabovementioned,withoutimputationofprofessionalism,wasspecifiedtheabilitytoreadatsightsuchapassageinagivenforeignlanguageaswouldsatisfytheinstructorinchargethatthecandidatewascompetentinthelanguageinquestion。Theinstructorresponsibleinthiscase,amanofhighacademicrankandgiftedwithasympatheticgood—willtowardthe\"boys,\"submittedinfulfilmentofthetestacopyoftheLord’sPrayerinthisforeigntongue,andpassedthe(several)candidatesonfindingthemablepassablytorepeatthesameinEnglish。Itwouldscarcelybefairtodistinguishthisepisodebygivingnamesandplaces,sinceequallyingeniousexpedientshavebeeninuseelsewhere。

  12。\"Andthentherecameanotherlocustandcarriedoffanothergrainofwheat,andthentherecameanotherlocust,\"etc。,etc。

  13。MorethanoneinstancemightbecitedwhereastudentwhoseprivatelyavowedandknownaimwasthestudyandpracticeofLawhasdeliberatelybeeninducedbytheofferofafellowshipstipendtoregister,forthetimebeing,asanacademicgraduatestudentandascandidatefortheacademicdoctor’sdegree。Intheinstancesthatcometomindthestudentsinquestionhavesincecompletedtheirlawstudiesandenteredpractice,withoutfurthertroublingabouttheacademicdegreeforwhichtheyoncewereostensiblecandidates。

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