Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 303 



In our arrangements for the communication of knowledge, 

 as well as in intellectual discipline, such branches are to be 

 taught as will produce a proper symmetry and balance of 

 character. We doubt whether the powers of the mind can 

 be developed, in their fairest proportions, by studying lan- 

 guages alone, or mathematics alone, or natural or political 

 science alone. As the bodily frame is brought to its highest 

 perfection, not by one simple and uniform motion, but by a 

 variety of exercises ; so the mental faculties are expanded, 

 and invigorated, and adapted to each other, by familiarity 

 with different departments of science. 



A most important feature in the colleges of this country 

 is, that the students are generally of an age which requires, 

 that a substitute be provided for parental superintendence. 

 When removed from under the roof of their parents, and ex- 

 posed to the untried scenes of temptation, it is necessary that 

 some faithful and affectionate guardian take them by the 

 hand, and guide their steps. This consideration determines 

 the hind of government which ought to be maintained in our 

 colleges. As it is a substitute for the regulations of a family, 

 it should approach as near to the character of parental con- 

 trol as the circumstances of the case will admit. It should 

 be founded on mutual affection and confidence. It should 

 aim to effect its purpose, principally by kind and persuasive 

 influence ; not wholly or chiefly by restraint and terror. 

 Still, punishment may sometimes be necessary. There may 

 be perverse members of a college, as well as of a family. 

 There may be those whom nothing but the arm of law can 

 reach. 



The parental character of college government, requires 

 that the students should be so collected together, as to con- 

 stitute one family ; that the intercourse between them and 

 their instructers may be frequent and familiar. This renders 

 it necessary that suitable buildings be provided, for the resi- 

 dence of the students : — we speak now of colleges in the 

 country, the members of which are mostly gathered from a 

 distance. In a large city, where the students reside with 

 their parents, pubhc rooms only are needed. This may be 

 the case also, in professional institutions, in which the stu- 

 dents are more advanced in age, and, therefore, do not re- 

 quire a minute superintendence on the part of their instruc- 

 ters. 



