Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 3 1 7 



cing, with proper modifications, such parts of their plans as 

 are suited to our pecuhar situation and character. The first 

 and great improvement which we wish to see made, is an 

 elevation in the standard of attainment for admission. Un- 

 til this is effected, we shall only expose ourselves to inevitable 

 failure and ridicule, by attempting a general imitation of for- 

 eign universities. 



One of the pleas frequently urged in favor of a partial ed- 

 ucation, is the alleged want of time for a more enlarged 

 course. We are well aware, as we have already observed, 

 that a thorough education cannot be begun and finished in 

 four years. But if three years immediately preceding the 

 age of twenty-one be allowed for the study of a profession, 

 there is abundant time previous to this for the attainment of 

 all which is now required for admission into the college, in 

 addition to the course prescribed for the undergraduates. 

 Though the limit of age for admission is fixed by our laws at 

 fourteen, yet how often have we been pressed to dispense 

 with the rule, in behalf of some youth who has completed 

 his preparation at an earlier period; and who, if compelled 

 to wait till he has attained the requisite age, " is in danger 

 of being ruined for want of employment?" May we not ex- 

 pect, that this plea will be urged with still greater earnest- 

 ness, when the present improved methods of instruction in 

 the elementary and preparatory schools, are more and more 

 accelerating the early progress of the pupil ? 



But suppose it should happen that the student, in conse- 

 quence of commencing his studies at a later period, should 

 be delayed a little longer, before entering upon the duties of 

 his profession ; is this a sacrifice worthy to be compared with 

 the immense difference between the value of a limited and a 

 thorough education ? Is a young man's pushing forward into 

 business, so indispensable to his future welfare, that rather 

 than suspend it for a single year, he must forego all the ad- 

 vantage of superior intellectual discipline and attainments ? 



We well know that the whole population of the country 

 can never enjoy the benefit of a thorough course of educa- 

 tion. A large portion must be content with the very limited 

 instruction in our primary schools. Others may be able to 

 add to this the privilege of a few months at an academy. 

 Others still, with higher aims and more ample means, may 

 afford to spend two or three years, in attending upon a par- 

 tial course of study, in some institution which furnishes in- 



