DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 93 



I have tried to find time to bring this condition before the high school 

 principals and English teachers of the state, as I feel it should be re- 

 formed primarily in the high school. The duties of the department, 

 however, have been so heavy that I have been unable to prepare the neces- 

 sary statements to put before the teachers of the state. I may get 

 this done during the summer. If I fail to accomplish it I believe that 

 it should be done in the near future by my successor. I have discussed 

 the matter with practically all the college English teachers of the state 

 and their conclusions are in harmony with my own. Until the high 

 schools, however, are able to care for the condition, in some way the 

 colleges must care for it in justice to students and to their reputation. 

 It is little short of a disgrace to a college to graduate men and women 

 who are careless in their use of oral and written English. Paren- 

 thetically, I might add that department heads Avill do well to warn 

 every instructor against the use of careless English. Students often 

 quote instructors as using incorrect forms, saying that if men employed 

 by the college for class room work use these forms they see no reason 

 why they themselves should be criticized for using them. 



Again I wish to urge the wisdom of making a separate department 

 of modern languages. The work cared for by the head of this depart- 

 ment during the last few years since the college has increased so largely 

 in attendance has been so heavy as to make practically impossible the 

 study and reading necessary to carry on class work satisfactorily. The 

 office work has been sufficient to occupy his entire time and attention 

 if he had been entirely without classes to teach. The college will con- 

 tinue to grow; the work of the department will continue to increase. 

 For the good of the college it is really necessarf that the modern lan- 

 guages should be placed under a separate head. The economy of the 

 present plan is assuredly a false economy. I trust that the opportunity 

 presented by the resignation of the head of the department will be 

 embraced by the proper authorities and that two departments in the 

 future will serve the necessities that until -this time in the history of 

 the college have been served by one. As I cannot profit by any such 

 action, I can urge it with a freedom which up to this time I have not 

 felt. In justice to the student body, and in justice to the man who shall 

 succeed to my position, the department should be divided without delay. 



I trust that the State Board will soon reach a decision concerning 

 the future of College Hall. If it is to continue as the center of the 

 work in English and modern languages, it should receive the restora- 

 tion and renewal which it has so long needed. Classes meeting in a 

 cheerful and modern class room have a distinct advantage over those 

 meeting in the dingy rooms of College Hall. If I may express a per- 

 sonal sentiment, I feel that College Hall should by all means be re- 

 tained. To raze it would, I feel, be little short of sacrilege. The first 

 building devoted to agricultural education in the United States should 

 be retained as a mile-stone in educational progress and in the modern 

 forward movement of the first and most important pursuit of man. One 

 visiting the campus of Harvard or of Yale cannot but stand in rever- 

 ence before certain of their ancient and venerable buildings. In an- 

 other half century a similar spirit of solemnity must inspire the visitor 

 to this campus as he views the classic architectural lines of old College 

 Hall. Once gone it can never be regained. Without delay I feel that 



