318 Report on a Course of Liberal Education. 



struction in any branch or branches selected by the pupil or 

 his parents. 



The question is then presented, whether the college shall 

 have all the variety of classes and departments which are 

 found in academies ; or whether it shall confine itself to the 

 single object of a Well proportioned and thorough course of 

 study. It is said that the public now demand, that the doors 

 should be thrown open to all ; that education ought to be so 

 modified, and varied, as to adapt it to the exigencies of the 

 country, and the prospects of different individuals ; that the 

 instruction given to those who are destined to be merchants, 

 or manufacturers, or agriculturalists, should have a special 

 reference to their respective professional pursuits. 



The public are undoubtedly right, in demanding that there 

 should be appropriate courses of education, accessible to 

 all classes of youth. And we rejoice at the prospect of am- 

 ple provision for this purpose, in the improvement of our 

 academies, and the establishment of commercial high- 

 schools, gymnasia, lycea, agricultural seminaries, &c. But 

 do the public insist, that every college shall become a high- 

 school, gymnasium, lyceum, and academy ? Why should 

 we interfere with these valuable institutions ? Why wish to 

 take their business out of their hands ? The college has its 

 appropriate object, and they have theirs. What advantage 

 would be gained by attempting to blend them all in one? 

 When in almost all our schools, and academies, and profes- 

 sional seminaries, the standard of education has been en- 

 larged and elevated, is this a time for the college to lower 

 its standard ? Shall we fall back, and abandon the ground 

 which, for thirty years past, we have been striving so hard 

 to gain ? Are those who are seeking only a partial educa- 

 tion to be admitted into the college, merely for the purpose 

 of associating its name with theirs ? of carrying away with 

 them a collegiate diploma, without incurring the fearful haz- 

 ard of being over-educated 1 Why is a degree from a col- 

 lege more highly prized, than a certificate from an academy, 

 if the former is not a voucher of a superior education? When 

 the course of instruction in the one, is reduced to the level 

 of that in the other; to be graduated at either, will be equal- 

 ly honorable. What is the characteristic difference between 

 a college and an academy ? Not that the former teaches 

 more branches than the latter. There are many academies 

 in the country, whose scheme of studies, at least upon paper, 



