SECRETARY'S REPORT. 19 



SECONn TEAR. 



Autumn Term.. — Sliop Practice, Al^-cl»va, Drawins:, Natural IMiilosopliy. 

 Sprinq Term. — Shop Practice, B()uk-kce[)iiii; ami Ikisiiiess Furnis ami Law, 

 Trigoiioiiietry, Natural riiilosophy. 



Summev Term. — Slio]) Practice, Drawing, Mecluinics, Elementary Chemistry. 



These two years of study will constitute an Apprenfice Course in the Mechanic 

 Arts, ami it is believed will lit those who complete it to enter the miinufnctur- 

 ing establishments of the State with such discipline of mind, of hand, and of 

 eye, and with such knowledge of the principles underlying mechanical trades 

 that they may soon become intelligent and expert workmen. An additional 

 course of two years covering, it is ho|)cd, something of the modern languages, 

 the higher branches ot Mathematics, of Eugincering and of the other Sciences 

 that bear upon the higher phases of mechanical industries will be arranged as 

 Boon as needed. 



The course in Agriculture jcnuiins much the same as last year. 



The following letter from the president of the Rose Polytechnic Institute 

 is so concise and forcible a presentation of a questioi\ of vital importance 

 wherever it is in contemplation to establish a school kindred to our own, that I 

 take this method of preserving it for the use of those whom it will benefit. 



It is on the question — 



INUKTHNDENT AGRKJULTUUAL AND TKCJINOLOGKJAL SOIIOOLS V.<<. AGRICULTURAL 



DEPARTMENTS OF UNIVERSITIES. 



ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE. 



PuKBi dent's Room, 

 Terre Haute, huL, FcbriKtry In, 1SS5. 



My Dear Sir,— I have yom-s of February 11 at this moment, and. as I have formed 

 a (U'fhiitc opinion on (ho matter you diseuss, will not delay an answer. 



A s<'liool of toclmolot;y, espocially if its leading- depai tinent is uiecliaiiies, un((ue»- 

 tionably does better work when alone than when associated with other schools in a 

 universitv. 



I can only indicate some of the reasons for this— reasons drawn j)artly from exi)eri- 

 enee and |)artl}- from the nature of tilings. 



Eur()|)e:in experienee is iieavily in fuvor of separate establishments for technology; it 

 la almost impossible to lind tl'iere a strong university with a teelmologieal annex. 

 Usually the univ(>rsities and polytechnics arc not found in the same towns. 



In the United States, the first two schools of technology were at West I'oint and at 

 Troy, each independent, and eacli still floin-ishing. T he next were at Cambridge and 

 New Haven, eax-b Joined to a college : the Lawrence school of Harvard University at 

 Caiiil>ri<lge lias l)ec"oine practically extinct, and (lie Shellicld school a(, New Haven has 

 accpiired a sul)stantially independent foundation as a sciiool oC pure science. 



Next in order come the institutes of tec^hnology at Boston, Hoboken, Worcester, o'to., 

 each heavily endowed and liefriended by the most sagacious business men, who saw 

 that independent schools of technology are wdiat the times reiiuire. 



The reasons drawn fn^n th(> nature of things are cogent, but are specially convincing 

 in the minds of those wiio hav(^ iiacf mtinuite knowledge of tiie voung men of the 

 country. Jn all universities the fact is that the courses whic-h lead to the highest 

 literary degrees absorb the best minds, even to the depletion of the .set^tions that enter 

 the other courses. This at least is the ex])licit statement of some eminent university 

 professors, und it is perfectly reasonable. 



If purely literary courses and ]iurely technological coiir,ses are placed side by side in 

 a university, the trddilional splendor of the on(> will cast a, delusivf' glamour over it, 

 BO that young )nen whose real interests lie in the other are beguiled t<> a wrong choice. 



There is no rwuson why courses in agriculture and in the mecihanic arts should not 

 flourish side by side. 



Yours truly, 



CHARLES O. THOMPSON. 



