University Reform. 291 



denied that, in requiring students of all degrees of 

 mental ability and working power to complete the 

 same course of study in the same length of time, 

 there is much irrationality as well as some in- 

 justice. This evil, which is so seriously felt in 

 American colleges, does not afflict the universities 

 of England and Germany, where the class system 

 is not in use. To obviate it, however, it is for- 

 tunately not necessary to resign the advantages 

 which that system alone is competent to secure. 

 Partly by allowing greater option in the selection 

 of studies, partly by extending the privilege, at 

 present occasionally granted to students, of taking 

 their degrees one or two years after the termina- 

 tion of the regular course, sufficient recognition 

 can be given to differences of mental capacity, 

 without essentially infringing upon the individu- 

 ality of the successive classes. Here, then, is a 

 clear case in which a judicious reform might at- 

 tain all the ends sought by a sweeping revolution, 

 without incurring the grievous detriment which 

 the latter would inevitably entail. We believe 

 that the same principle will apply in nearly every 

 case ; that it is possible to secure all the most 

 valuable benefits conferred by European systems, 

 without sacrificing the fundamental elements of 

 our own ; and that, by uniformly shaping our 



