500 



sciJSJsrcE. 



[Vol. VI., No. 148. 



prescribed studies gained less than 60 per cent, 

 ten years later one-half of the seniors obtained 

 four-fifths of a perfect mark in four electives. 



Two objections may here be raised; viz., that 

 the selected courses will have but little connection 

 with each other, and that the easiest ones will 

 always be the favorites. An answer to the first 

 objection is contained in the fact that nearly 

 one-half of the last senior class chose at least three 

 closely related courses. The charge of ' soft ' 

 courses is the stock objection to the elective 

 system, and seems, a priori, a sound one. The 

 subjoined list of the courses which in 1883-84 

 were most largely attended by seniors and 

 juniors, shows that, when choice gets full play, the 

 factor of interest may make a severe study popular. 



The courses were : Mill's political economy, 125 

 seniors and juniors ; later European history, 102 ; 

 history of ancient art, 80 ; comparative zoology, 

 58 ; political and constitutional history of the 

 United States, 56 ; psychology, 52 ; geology, 47 ; 

 constitutional government of England and the 

 United States, 45. Are not these studies just those 

 which should be the most iDopular ? 



It may be asked how such wise selections are 

 secured, and we answer, simply by making them 

 deliberate. In June the students must choose 

 their studies for the next year, and notify the dean 

 of their choice. Until Sept. 21, any elective may 

 be changed, on notice sent to the dean. During 

 the first ten days of the term no changes are 

 allowed, but afterwards for a short time they are 

 easily effected. For the remainder of the year 

 no change is possible, except for urgent reasons. 



By these means the faculty tries to avoid waste 

 of time over unprofitable studies. Of course, not 

 seldom unwise choices are made ; but is not that 

 true to an even greater extent in the case of pre- 

 scribed studies ? Moreover, the wastes of prescrip- 

 tion affect chiefly the energetic and original stu- 

 dents, while under the elective system it is 

 especially the shiftless and dull who suffer, that 

 is, men who cannot be much harmed by any sys- 

 tem. 



Then, how much the instruction under the two 

 systems differs ! W^hen studies are prescribed, 

 the teaching becomes often a secondary affair, and 

 the pupils have to be urged to work. Under the 

 elective system the student feels that he has some- 

 thing at stake, and a higher style of teaching be- 

 comes possible. Theses are read, and original 

 works consulted. During 1860-61 only 56 per cent 

 of the Harvard undergraduates consulted the col- 

 lege library ; during 1883-84, 85 per cent. 



Then, again, under the new system at Har- 

 vard, attendance at lectures is not compulsory ; 

 though, of course, a lengthened absence would 



not be permitted. The results obtained from 

 trusting the students have been satisfactory. In 

 the last senior class the total absences, whether 

 from sickness, misdeeds, or other causes, amounted 

 to but 16 per cent of the total number of recita- 

 tions. Colleges requiring attendance seldom show 

 better results. 



But when studies are elective, professors are 

 benefited equally with students. Teacher and 

 taught are brought closer together, a common 

 sympathy animating both ahke. The professor, 

 too, gets to see himself as others see him, and, if 

 inefficient, his class soon dwindles away. Both 

 professors and students are, in fact, put on their 

 good behavior. 



But why introduce the elective system so early 

 as the freshman year? First, because the youth 

 of eighteen needs just such a happy influence on 

 his character as the system gives ; second, because 

 the loss of time incident to learning to choose can 

 best be borne in the earlier, that is, least valuable, 

 coUege years ; while, last, the change from school 

 to character methods is too important to be marked 

 by the mere passage from one class to another. 

 A change of residence should mark it. A charac- 

 ter-college, then, while no place for the indolent 

 rich, is best suited for the democratic many, to 

 whom the elective system gives an opportunity for 

 mental and moral expansion which no compulsory 

 system can afford. 



W^e must, however, remind the reader that the 

 system is not yet perfected, and has stiU many im- 

 perfections. Convinced, as we are, of the sound- 

 ness of its method , we invite criticism, which should 

 now tarn to the important work of bettering its 

 details of operation. 



ENSILAGE IN ENGLAND. 



In a return to the house of commons, entitled 

 ' Ensilage commission, evidence, part i., Prelimi- 

 nary report and minutes of evidence,' and in a 

 ' Return of the replies to questions relating to silos 

 and ensilage put by the agricultural department, 

 privy council,' which have lately reached us, the 

 latest information is contained in regard to the 

 views held in Great Britain as to the value of silos 

 and ensilage, and the practical successes and 

 experiences with this still somewhat experimental 

 method of preserving and feeding various kinds 

 of green food to stock, in an undried condition. 



The evidence obtained voluntarily by the par- 

 liamentary commission from thirty-eight witnesses, 

 including Sir John B. Lawes, Viscount De Che- 

 zelles, and the owners and occupants of many 

 large estates, then agents and tenants, and the 

 inventors of different forms of silos, not excluding 



