4o8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



is given too often by one whose profession is along that line and the 

 student is apt to think that it is only business, any way. But at best, 

 instruction in morals conies to only too little, as one may see in profes- 

 sional schools. In those, the whole training from the very beginning 

 tends to enforce the doctrine that a keen sense of honor is essential in 

 professional life, yet one finds that in all professions — without any 

 exception whatever — there is too great evidence that training in this 

 respect has done little to overcome the natural tendency of mankind. 

 Unless the surroundings, whence the student has come or amid which 

 he lives, are such as to strengthen the moral tone, the man is likely 

 to gain little in college, while the many special and unavoidable 

 temptations of college life increase the danger of losing much that he 

 already had. 



There is need of notable changes in college affairs. 



The waste of time in preparation for entrance is prodigal. The 

 requirements for admission to the classical course in New York state 

 when the writer entered college in 1858 were practically the same as 

 now in Latin and Greek ; there have been added almost a year of mathe- 

 matics and, nominally, three years in English. The word nominally 

 is used advisedly. The modern requirements are arranged with great 

 show of importance and consist of study of some examples of fine 

 writing; but they are a wretched substitute for the severe drill in the 

 use of English, which was an important work in all private schools. 

 The average city boy in the 50's, beginning systematic study when 

 eight years old, usually completed preparation for college when he 

 was fifteen and very many times when fourteen ; it was believed at that 

 time that the preparatory schools had attained the limit in the way of 

 lengthening the period, and it was recognized that an ordinary boy 

 could complete preparation by the time he was thirteen, without any 

 strain on his health or interference with recreation. The now prevail- 

 ing anxiety for the health of pupils, the craze for " short lessons well 

 prepared" and the desire for continuing receipt of tuition fees have 

 added unnecessarily three years for preparation. The padding of high 

 and grammar school courses with unessentials to the utter neglect of 

 such essentials as reading, spelling and the proper use of the English 

 language may be justified by the necessity for holding pupils as long 

 as possible to provide opportunity for more teachers of the higher 

 grades, but it is not justified by the product. Boys are not so well 

 trained at eighteen as they were fifty years ago at fourteen. They do 

 not think, they do not know how to think; the modern method seems 

 intended to prevent all necessity for mental exertion and the text-books 

 are as easy as padded crutches. The mental drill which should be 

 given to the youthful pupil has to be given in the freshman class at 

 college. The college authorities should demand less in mass but more 



