LATIN VS. GERMAN 395 



It is thus seen that with an increase of language preparation there 

 is an increase in the quality of the work in English, but that in so far 

 as there is shown a difference between the value of German and Latin 

 the advantage is with German. 



Grouping the students' grades in English (1903-1907) after the 

 method used when the grades of all departments were considered (Table 

 I.) we have: 



It might be questioned whether in group 3B the considerable num- 

 ber of students who have had 2 years' German and 4 years' Latin might 

 not be responsible for the higher English grades. Omitting those 

 with 2 German and 4 Latin we have group 3C in which it is seen that 

 the percentage of high grades is changed but little and is still far better 

 than the corresponding Latin group 3A. 



It is thus plain that, in so far as our experience gives light, and 

 contrary to the old superstition, a year's German helps a student's work 

 in English more than a year's Latin. 



3. Is the student whose language preparation for college is German 

 as likely to persevere until graduation as the student whose language 

 preparation has been Latin ? 



The classes of 1907 and 1908, as given in the last catalogue, were 

 taken for study. Of these students the entrance records of 45 were 

 available, the others having entered from other colleges, etc. At 

 entrance these two classes numbered 95. 



Classes of 1907 and 1908 



Latin 



German . 



Years at Entrance. 

 Average per Student 



2.83 

 1.04 



Years at Graduation. 

 Average per Student 



3.04 

 1.31 



Per Cent. Increase 



7.4 

 26.0 



Erom Lake Forest's experience we must conclude that the student 

 whose high-school language preparation has been German is more 

 likely to stay through the college course than the one whose language 

 preparation has been Latin. 



4. It has been claimed that the students from the better class of 

 families study Latin rather than German. It is hard to characterize 

 just what is meant by " better class of families." Perhaps the financial 

 condition represents this as correctly as any one criterion that may be 

 used for measurement. 



The scholarship lists for last year and this year include a total of 

 80 names, duplicates not counted. 



Latin German 



Average entrance credits, scholarship students 2.96 1.04 



Average entrance credits, all students last five years . . 2.91 1.16 



