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University of Georgia Board of Trustees |
The Minutes of the Trustees of the University of Georgia
Beginning August 2nd, 1878
Wm. L. Mitchell.
Secretary.
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University of Georgia
Athens, August 2nd, 1878
The Trustees of the University of Georgia met in stated annual session in the College Library at 10 o’clock A.M. and were called to order by the Senior Trustee present in the absence of the President and vice-President.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Chancellor Rev. H. H. Tucker, D.D.LL.D.
Upon calling the roll the following members answered to their names; viz:
Messrs. Mitchell Miller, Lewis,
Hill, Brown, Toombs,
Yancey, Jackson, Pierce,
Crawford, Billups, Hall,
Barrow, Thomas, Cobb,
Harris, MacIntyre, Stephens,
Sheer.
And during the session the following members appeared and took their seats, viz:
Messrs. Vason, Beckwith, Lawton, and Colquitt.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Dr. Miller took the chair and called upon the Chancellor for the annual communication, which he read as follows:
To the Honorable
The Board of Trustees of the
University of Georgia.
Gentlemen - The celebrated John Randolph, having once previously offended his constituents by some of his votes and speeches in Congress, was informed by friends that the excitement against him was so intense, that he would incur the risk of personal violence if he appeared among the people of his district. Notwithstanding this, he made an appointment to address his fellow-citizens, at a given time and place. A seething multitude of enraged people assembled, no to hear him but
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Chancellor’s Report
to crush him. Suddenly he appeared before them, and by a strange magnetism awed them into silence, and began his address by saying: “When I was a little boy, my mother taught me this: ‘that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.’ And it is my conviction, after many long years of observation, that the fear of man is the height of folly.” The sequel of the story need not be told, for the wisdom that his mother taught him, and the experience which his knowledge of the world gave him, and the honesty & courage of his manly heart, made him invincible. I’ll not know that there is anything in the present circumstances parallel to those just related of the statesman of Roanoke, further than this: that grave and important statements are to be made, which ought to be made in the fear of God, and not in the fear of man. That which I feel it my duty to say, I shall say, gentlemen, in a spirit regardless of consequences, but, at the same time, with due respect for those who may differ with me in opinion, or who may question the correctness of my statements.
The number of students in the various Departments has been as follows:
Franklin College _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 70
State College of Agriculture, etc. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40
Law Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6
Total in Athens _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 116
At Dahlonega _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 304
In Medical Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _50
Total Number in all Departments _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _470
There has been a steady decline in most of the Departments for several years past, and it is worthy of remark that every year the character of the decline is the same; that is, the heaviest falling off is in the State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and the lightest has been in Franklin College. The reason of this I stated last year, and will now only repeat that the public had formed expectations of the State College which could not possibly be realized.
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August 1878
Supposing at first, that an almost illiterate boy could be transformed in a few months by means of what is called practical education into a scientific agriculturist or engineer, the people sent in their patronage to this College like a flood. Discovering their mistake, and that a student of very low grade of culture could learn no more here than he could at a common academy, at one-fourth the expense, a strong reaction took place in the public mind, and the people not only discontinued their patronage, but were led to underestimate the real merits of the institution. First, they expected too much; now they give credit for too little. It will probably take several years for the public mind to adjust itself to the facts; which are, that valuable and thorough instruction may be, and is, given in this Department; and that, on the other hand, no short-hand method has been discovered by which a lad wholly untaught can be manipulated into an educated and scientific man in the course of two or three years. I repeat the very words of my last report, when I say, that a certain amount of general culture is necessary to fit a man for anything. Special education can be begun only when a reasonable amount of general education has been completed. When people learn this; when they learn that a youth must be at least fairly if not thoroughly trained in such preliminary education as can be obtained at a good academy, before he is qualified to pursue to advantage the higher studies of this College; and that even then, at least three years more will be required to complete a fair scientific education; and that after all this, several years of schooling in the great world itself will be necessary to teach the student practical wisdom, and how successfully to apply his theories; I say, when the people learn all this, they will be prepared to appreciate that most excellent department of the University known as the State
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Chancellor’s Report
College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. Until then the people are doomed to disappointment; and until then the Department will probably continue to decline in public favor. Even what I have now said will, perhaps, make the Department more unpopular for a time than ever. But occupying the position that I do, at the head of the highest institution of learning in the State, I feel it my duty to teach the public no less than the students; and to lay a broad and solid foundation in sound truth, on which this valuable Department may grow up to usefulness and glory. Its early and temporary prosperity was based on false grounds; of course such a superstructure, built on utter misconception, must fall to ruin. Let the people learn the real merit, and the real purpose and scope of this Department, and send their sons to it properly prepared to profit by its extraordinary and most splendid advantages; & let them cease to expect the semi-miraculous results heretofore vainly hoped for; and let them learn to realize that thorough-breds can be had only by thorough training; and the result will be that this identical institution, which is now the subject of so much cavil and complaint will be, as by right it should be now, the pride and boast of every intelligent citizen of Georgia.
Corroborative of the truth of my remarks is the fact that the largest patronage the State College ever had was in the second year of its existence. In the third year, which was before the present administration was inaugurated, and while the institution was in first hands, the decline began; just as I think it ought to have done. I risk nothing in saying that the great majority of the students in attendance at that time made a mistake in coming here, and would have done better if they had remained at home, and would have done better if they had remained at home, and attended the ordinary schools in their respective neighborhoods. While here, they were instructed mostly by Tutors in the merest rudiments of education; and they could have received such instruction just as well, or better, at home. In two short years the good sense of the people discovered the
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August 1878
Mistake, and they wisely withdrew their patronage. Perhaps, if suitable steps were taken, this patronage might be regained; but having seen one bubble burst, I am by no means inclined to blow up another. The State College is really a magnificent institution; its officers are accomplished and it appliances superb; but it is wholly unadapted to the wants of ordinary school-boys; and if its patronage can be increased only by enticing lads of this class to attend. I shall hope that there will be no increase. The truth is, there is very little demand in Georgia for thorough scientific education; and while the institution retains its present and proper character, its legitimate patronage must necessarily be small. Its past popularity was largely fictitious; the delusion has vanished; and we may rejoice that we are coming now to a foundation of solid facts.
Franklin College has suffered a much smaller decline. It is an old institution; its character is known and understood; and as no new and wild expectations have been raised, none have been disappointed. As to the general decline in the number of students in all Departments, I can only repeat the same old story, but none the less true for being old. Continued and increasing financial depression affects all the higher and more expensive institutions of learning.
The Controller Generals’ report for 1877 shows a decline of more than ten millions of dollars in the value of taxable property in the State of Georgia since the report of 1876; and, taking into account the fact that certain articles are taxed in 1877 which were not taxed in 1876; the decline in value for one year is more than eleven millions of dollars. Nor is the enormous loss in one year distributed evenly among the people; it falls chiefly on the very class whose patronage we might expect. Nor have we seen the worst. The financial failures in the State of Georgia, for the first six months of 1878, are larger by far than during the same
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Chancellor’s Report
period in 1877.
To ignore such palpable and far-reaching facts as those just stated in accounting for our diminished numbers, would show a strange degree of unfairness or thoughtlessness. I take it for granted that the mere mention of these facts will suffice to give them due weight.
Still, it may be replied that other institutions have not suffered in like manner. A careful examination of the facts will show, I think, that this is a mistake. There has been a general decline in the patronage of the higher institutions of learning; we are simply sharing the common misfortune. True, there are some apparently exceptional cases, and these can be easily accounted for. Our own Department at Dahlonega may be cited as an example. Its patronage has been largely increased. Does any one suppose that that Department is held by the public to be superior to the Departments at Athens? Or that it is equal to them? Or that it is in reach or in sight of them? By no means; it is cheaper - a fact in which there is immense attraction; and it is well known that in elementary branches, and also in some that are higher, a student can be satisfactorily taught. Many persons in their poverty have abandoned the idea of giving their sons such superior advantages as can be had at Athens, and send them to a cheaper place, where after all, they can learn as much as they have time and ability to learn. A large number of students there, are of such a class, that if we had them here, we should be obliged to organize them into grammar school classes, just as was done here in the second year of the life of the State College, which is the only year in which (in the sense of large numbers) it ever prospered. The tide has simply turned, and the flood that came here during that single year now flows appropriately to Dahlonega.
Emory College, in a neighboring county, is another exception. But the distinguished and gifted gentleman who presides over that institution has made much personal effort to obtain students; effort of a kind which
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August 1878
would not be expected of any officer here.
Denominational colleges have an advantage over us in this respect; what would be proper and successful with them, would be neither proper nor successful with us. By such means as this, perfectly legitimate under the circumstances, but from which our conditions debar us, Emory college has been sustained.
Mercer University has had an agent in the field, scouring the State in all directions, and making personal appeals at innumerable firesides; but, notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding its handsome endowment and its huge constituency, the number of students has declined from 150 in 1874-5 to 108 in 1877-8; and that, too, although it has a city of perhaps three times the size of Athens from which to draw local patronage.
The University of Virginia, greatly renowned, reports 363, which is a great falling off from its former years; but examination of the catalogue shows that the number of what we should call college students is about 115 or 120, a number nearly the same as ours. Yet that University is held up as a great success and ours as a great failure! Washington and Lee University reports 116, and Davidson College, N.C., with its handsome endowment, reports 81! The University of Mississippi reports an attendance of 471, which looks large indeed beside our meagre (sic) report of 116. But the catalogue of that institution shows that 260 of the 471 are attendants at a grammar school; and when these, and a number of irregulars and 35 law students are deducted, the startlingly large number of 471 dwindles down to 143! With equal propriety may we include as part of our attendance the students at Dahlonega and Augusta; and if so, we can show an attendance of exactly 470, which comes within one of the great number in Mississippi.
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Chancellor’s Report
The vast number of students said to be at Vanderbilt University has excited the astonishment of many. The number reported is 405, and it is the fact that four hundred and five names are actually printed in alphabetical order in the catalogue! The same document shows, however, that one hundred and ninety-two of the 405 are in the “Medical Department,” which is nothing more than the Medical College at Nashville, which was an old, well established institution many years before the corner-stone of Vanderbilt was laid. Thirty-one of the 405 are members of the “Law Department,” and this too, like the Medical Department, existed long before the University was thought of, and both are mere attaches (sic) of the University, or rather the University is an attache (sic) to them, for they have the prestige of seniority and of independent existence. Fifty-three more of the 405 are in the “Theological Department”; ministers of the gospel, and really not college students at all; when all these spurious figures are deducted, the collapse that takes place reduces the huge number of 405 down to the not very astonishing figure of one hundred and twenty-nine! So, when the touchstone of analysis is applied, we see that Vanderbilt, with all the charm of novelty, and with all its millions, and with all its really magnificent appointments, far surpassing anything at the South, and with all its other varied attractions, shows a number of students very little larger than ours, which is so much ridiculed!
An examination of the catalogues of many of the institutions said to be marvelously prosperous would show, I think, that the case last under consideration is a specimen case; and that when the bottom facts are reached, there is not so much difference between their success and ours as people, catching up idle rumors, have been led to suppose.
Considering certain difficulties with which we have had to struggle, the only surprise is that we have done so well. The frightful evil which I mentioned last
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August 1878
year, namely, that the institution seems to be in a state of continuous real or threatened revolution, still exists. I do not know that I can excuse myself any better now than in my Report of last year, and, therefore, quote from that document the following language:
“The great decline in the number of students is not owing wholly to financial causes. It arises partly from the fact that public confidence in the institution is shaken by the perpetual changes made in its management. This begets a feeling of unrest, disquiet and suspicion. Where everything is unstable it is natural to suppose that something is wrong, and radically wrong. A line of policy is no sooner adopted than it is set aside, and another is put in its place. There is too much legislation. In innumerable instances it matters but little what the law is, so it is only permanent. If wholesome regulations were adopted, once for all, or at least for a decade, and if these were left untouched, things would soon adjust themselves to each other, and confidence would be restored.
“It is believed, too, that the Faculty are mere tenants at will, - liable to be displaced at any moment, either with cause or without; and every year speculation is rife as to who will compose the Faculty for the succeeding year. The friends of certain parties hope to find places for them in the Faculty by displacing others, and this makes every officer a target for the shafts of the envious; many things are said, the object of which is merely to empty a chair that it may be filled by another, but the effect of which is to damage the whole institution. If this out-cry is ignored, then the public are led to believe that the institution is not properly officered; if it is listened to, then a role of never-ending change is inaugurated, and the management of the institution
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Chancellor’s Report
passes from the hands of the Trustees to those of anonymous, and, of course, irresponsible writers in the newspapers. While an officer is here, a cry is made by interested outsiders to have him dismissed; when he is dismissed or made so uncomfortable that he resigns, a cry is made by his friends to have him back. Thus it is that the officers are more like the lodgers at a hotel, then like citizens with a domicil(sic).
“The people seeing this uncertainty in the tenure of office, suppose it to arise from a want of confidence in the officers, and, consequently, they too lose confidence, & are unwilling to patronize the institution. The only remedy for this, is for the Board to see that the chairs are filled by suitable men, and to let the public understand that no changes will be made. Indeed as a choice of evils it would be better to retain a small proportion of incompetent officers, rather than that the whole institution should be racked by perpetual earthquakes. But this is not necessary. The Board can always judge of an officer by his work. If he does it well he should be retained at all hazards, and in spite of any clamor that may be raised against him. If he shows himself to be incapable, or negligent, or unadapted to his position, he should be promptly displaced, without regard to the displeasure which such action might give to his friends, and however numerous his friends might be. The public should learn that the decisions of this Board are unaffected by outside influences, and that they are supreme and final.” It may be a mere repetition, in substance, of what has been said in this extract, but I cannot refrain from saying further, that the position in which the officers are supposed to be placed inviting attack, and encouraging war upon them, the result has been that ceaseless war has been waged; the war has always been merciless, frequently scandalous, and sometimes unscrupulous. An officer could so far unbend his dignity as to reply to scurrilous attacks, nor to
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August 1878.
attacks of any kind; and hence column after column of this kind of literature has been launched upon the public, and people have imagined because it was not answered and contradicted, that it could not be. This has been kept up for four years. Is it any wonder that the institution has suffered. The wonder is that it has been able to stand at all! Such perpetual dropping would wear away a rock. Yet the very men who have so industriously kept up this ceaseless cavil are left to be frequently making the anxious inquiry, “What can be the matter with the State University?” And our very best friends, by frequently making the same inquiry, and by injudicious defense, though with good intentions, sometimes do us great damage, so that we often exclaim, “Save us from our friends!” And many times have we thought that if all the world, including alike friends and foes, would only bless us with the charity of silence, and let us alone, we should ask no more.
It is an evidence of the intrinsic merit of the University, and of its wonderful resistive however, that it has been able to withstand the combined effect of convulsions within and ceaseless attack from without. Its friends and enemies seem to have combined to open upon it a destroying fire in front and in rear, and yet it still lives; and has power and vitality enough, if it were only let alone for a season, to recuperate entirely and recover all its former prestige.
If your honorable body will put the faculty on a solid foundation, and take some pains to make the public understand that you have confidence in them, and that you intend to retain them, and protect them, and sustain them, I have not the shadow of a doubt that
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Chancellor’s Report.
the number of students would be speedily increased. If you cannot conscientiously give such support to the present Faculty, then I earnestly recommend that you remove all of them, including myself, or so many of them as may be necessary, and fill their places with more suitable men.
A great misfortune that besets the Faculty is, that they have not sufficient control over the domestic affairs of the institution. I give the same illustration of this that I have been in the habit of giving. Over and over for years past, the request has been made that the giving of medals in and by the Societies be prohibited. Untold disorders spring from this insignificant source, absolutely uncompensated for, by any good result whatever. The Faculty are, and always have been, unanimous in their disapprobation of it. Yet it has been continued, and the Faculty have been held responsible for the demoralization that it produced. I am happy to say that this evil has worked its own cure. Its consequences became so damaging that the students themselves abolished it of their own accord. But they have the right to restore it, and when its evils have been forgotten, they may do so. I do not ask that any action in this particular case be taken; but I do ask that all laws and parts of laws which deny to the Faculty the complete control of the everyday life of the institution be repealed.
I am also of the opinion that the presiding officer of the Faculty ought to be a member of the Board of Trustees, or, at least, that he should be allowed to occupy a seat with them and participate in their deliberations. The Faculty who know, or who ought to know, more about the institution than all the rest of the world together, are absolutely excluded from it councils; and the Trustees, who are with us only three or four days in the year, and that, too, not when the institution is in working order, but on a holiday occasion, legislate on subjects concerning which
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August 1878.
They have little or no information. It is not surprising that much of this legislation should be exceedingly embarrassing to the Faculty, and injurious to the best interests of the institution. It would be a miracle if it were not so. True, the Chancellor is permitted to make an annual report, but experience has shown that many of his suggestions are either overlooked or misunderstood, or, without careful inquiry as to their value, set aside. The Faculty need a living advocate to be present with this body, to explain and urge their views. My distinguished predecessor, Dr. Church, was a member of this body, and the president of it. At that time the Trustees and the Faculty were happily “en rapport.” Such, I think, has never been the case since that day; and the institution can never be in healthy condition until these two bodies are in such relation to each other that they can act in concert.
In my report of last year, I expressed my disapprobation of what is known with us as the “University System,” and called attention to some of the many evils with which the introduction of that system, some years ago, has afflicted us. I also recommended a return to the old and well known system called sometimes the “Curriculum system,” and sometimes the “College system.” I suggested, at the same time, that three parallel curricula might be established in such a way as to satisfy the demands of those who desired varied education, and yet avoiding the difficulties and confusion into which the “University system,” so called, had plunged us. To my great gratification, your honorable body appointed a committee to take the matter into consideration, instructing said committee to confer with the Faculty on the subject. At the request of the chairman of that committee, the Faculty presented to him a statement of their views, which may be found in the printed document herewith
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Chancellor’s Report.
submitted. An examination of that paper will show that there are two reports, one from all the Faculty except myself, the other from myself alone.
On one print there is quite a divergence of views, but on the essential point there is no difference of opinion whatever. The evils complained of by me are admitted; the remedies suggested by me are accepted. It is agreed by all, that we should have a system of close curricula, exactly such as you, gentlemen of the Board, were accustomed to in your own college days. All the new-fangled notions, which have been our scourge for the last seven years, are expurgated. True, we shall have six courses of study instead of one, and the student can select which he will of the six, but, having done this, he has no further option. It is as if six trains of cars were drawn up at a depot, the traveler buys his ticket and selects his train. After that he is in the hands of the conductor. In the working of this plan, after it gets fairly on foot, I think there will be no difficulty, and I think it will remedy all, or nearly all, the evils complained of in my last report. The plan proposed by the Faculty is precisely the plan proposed by me in that report, except that six curricula are prescribed instead of three. I question the wisdom of this, and, if I had been supreme and alone in the premises, I should have limited the number to three, but in deference to my honored colleagues I yield this point, and accept the six curricula. It is, after all, a matter of minor importance. The real point, in fact, the only point in issue is, whether we shall, or shall not have a system of fixed curricula. On this point the Faculty and myself are a unit. When this is said, substantially all is said. The difference between the plan on which we have been working, and that which we now propose, is in substance about this: that in the former case the Faculty adjusted themselves to the wishes of the students; now the students
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August 1878.
must adjust themselves to the wishes of the Faculty. The institution passing over from the control of boys to that of men, must, I think, by greatly benefitte(sic).
The resolution of your honorable body under which this action of the Faculty was taken, is as follows:
“Resolved, - That the subject of a return to the curriculum system and the abandonment in whole or in part of what is known as the University system, shall be referred to a select committee of five, to report thereon at the next annual meeting, consulting the Faculty as to said report.” With the text of the this resolution before me, I have taken the affirmative, and have argued in favor of a return to the curriculum system, and of the abandonment of what is known as the University system. My esteemed colleagues, it appears to me, have lost sight of the text, and have argued to show that the curriculum system and what is known as the University system, are substantially the same thing; or, at least, that the former can be so administered as to make it identical with the latter, and they urge that it be so administered. That is, (according to my view) they retain the name while they change the thing. Here is where I differ with them; I would change both the name and the thing. If it be possible to get rid of the name I think it would be wise to do so, for the name is associated with nothing but confusion and disorder. If the name be retained, the suspicion will still linger in the minds of the people that the chaos which that name once described still remains, and the sooner it is understood that the reign of confusion has ceased, the better it will be for us. It is unfortunate indeed, that changes in the University should be so frequent, but in my opinion, nothing would be more
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Chancellor’s Report.
popular just now, than a new departure; and the more complete our departure is, in name as well as in fact, from the quagmire in which we have been floundering for the last seven years, the more popular it will be. This whole subject, however, is discussed in the printed document above referred to, where both sides are fairly represented; and to that document I most earnestly ask your careful attention. Both parties are willing to rest the case on the argument there set forth. But whatever may be the decision of the minor issue there discussed, I shall always feel that the most valuable and important act of my whole professional life, was that in which I called attention to the evils of our so-called University system, and inaugurated the present movement, which, whatever may be my destiny, I know must result in benefit of incalculable value to the University of Georgia. To have been its chief officer is comparatively a small matter, for that position may have been occupied unworthily(sic); but to have been its benefactor, whether so recognized or not, is matter of thankfulness and joy.
At the last meeting of this Board, the following resolution was passed:
“Resolved, that upon the certificate of the President of the North Georgia Agricultural College that a young man there graduating has undergone a satisfactory examination in all the studies required by the University of Georgia for a Bachelor’s degree in any named department, such graduate shall be entitled to receive such degree from the University.”
In consequence of this resolution a certain correspondence took place between President Lewis and myself, which best explains itself, and which is herewith submitted. The meaning of the resolution, as I interpret it, is that the certificate of the President of the North Georgia Agricultural College must show that students who have actually graduated at Dahlonega, have made attainments exactly the same
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August 1878.
in variety and in degree as those who graduate at Athens. Under present conditions this is manifestly impossible; and, consequently, when I was applied to by President Lewis to confer the degree of Bachelor of Arts on some eight or ten young gentlemen who had pursued their studies at Dahlonega, I declined doing so. The Board of Trustees, however, of the Department at Dahlonega, in the exercise of a right conferred on them by law, did confer the degree of Bachelor of Arts on these young gentlemen; and called on me, as the presiding officer over the University in all its Departments, to sign the diplomas awarded, and to deliver them. Having advised with the Professor of Law, I decided that it was my duty to comply with this request; and I, accordingly, in my official capacity, did sign the diplomas, and did deliver them. But the diploma was not the diploma of the University of Georgia; it was the diploma of the North Georgia Agricultural College, and I did not act in the premises under the resolution above quoted. I would have taken the same action if that resolution had never been passed, which, as matters now stand, is likely to remain a dead letter for some years.
I beg to call your special attention to that resolution, and to the misunderstanding which arose from it; and I would respectfully suggest that it would be well either to repeal it, or to pass another explaining or modifying it, so as to prevent the occurrence of trouble in future. I think that if the interpretation put in it by me were declared to be the true meaning the result would be all that could be desired. It would be well, however, to specify that in ascertaining that attainments of the students at Dahlonega the same examination papers must be used which are used in Athens.
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Chancellor’s Report.
It appears to me that the expenses of the University, in many particulars, might be greatly reduced, & that the money thus saved might be judiciously applied in other directions. For example, there are five officers, to wit: the Chancellor, the Professor of Ethics, the Professor of Belles Lettres, the Professor of History and the Professor of English Literature, whose duties could be discharged by three men, or, if a fourth were needed, the place could be filled by a tutor at a very small salary. Three would probably suffice, and the salaries of the other two might be saved.
The President of the State College has an extra compensation of two hundred and fifty dollars. This expenditure is wholly unnecessary. One presiding officer is far better than two, however excellent the two may be. If the law requires that the State college shall have a President as a district officer, let the Chancellor be elected to that office, without extra pay, and thus save the two hundred and fifty dollars. It is proper for me to say, that the relations between President Charbonnier and myself are, and always have been, and I doubt not always will be, of the most agreeable character. I have never seen a man in my life with whom I could work more harmoniously; and if the State College must have a President other than the Chancellor, and if I had the power to select one, Col. Charbonnier would be my first choice. But it is needless to waste two hundred and fifty dollars; and this is worse than wasted, for the reason that one chief officer is better than two.
The office of Inspector of Public Buildings is also a needless one. The duties attached to that position might and ought to be discharged by the Chancellor, and that without extra pay; and thus two hundred and fifty dollars more might be saved.
The Overseer of the Agricultural Farm is paid a salary of one thousand dollars, besides which he has his house rent free. It is no part of his duty to instruct students, nor has he ever instructed one. His only duty
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August 1878.
is to oversee a farm, so called, of thirty acres, half of which, or more, is under cultivation. It does appear to me that one thousand dollars and house-rent is an enormous price to pay for a mere overseer of a thirty acre farm.
An inspection of the Treasurer’s books will show that more than eighteen hundred dollars has been expended on this farm during the present year, in addition to the salary above spoken of. True, a part of this was for a new roof on the building, and a part was for an extra amount of fencing; the rest was for current expenses. Taken altogether, the outlay has been enormous, and if any benefit whatever has accrued therefrom to any of the students, I am not aware of it.
Besides all this, the Professor of Agriculture receives a salary of two thousand dollars, and while it is true that he has taught geology and natural history, yet, as a matter of fact, no student has studied Agriculture this year. As to the management of the farm, I am not a competent judge; but I am informed that land ought to be broken up in the autumn, or, if not, then in January or February or March. If I am correctly informed, no plough was put into the ground on the University farm untill(sic) about the middle of April. The cotton, I suppose, ought all to have been planted by that time, and the corn long before. The growing crop is said, by judges of such things, to be very poor, perhaps the poorest in the neighborhood; and this, I suppose is just what might have been expected.
My opinion is worth very little on agricultural matters; but the glaring facts which I have stated, & the immense expenditure which has been made, are enough to attract the attention of any one, and I have felt that I would not be discharging my duty as presiding officer of the University without bringing them to your notice. Possibly, I may have misstated the facts; I hope it may be so, though I have not done it
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Chancellor’s Report.
intentionally. Possibly, I may have done injustice to some; if so, I shall be in haste to repair the injury as soon as possible; but I must express my conviction that many hundreds, if not several thousands of dollars have been wasted during the past year on the Agricultural Department; and my further conviction, that not one iota of benefit has been received from it by anybody.
I trust that the whole subject will be carefully investigated, and if I am found to be in error, I shall promptly acknowledge it, and make my humbles apologies. If the evils I have complained of be real, I doubt not that they will be speedily remedied.
The duties of the Professor of Greek have been admirably discharged by that most excellent and faithful officer, Professor Waddell. But I feel bound to say that the University of Georgia is probably the only institution of equal pretentions(sic) in the United States, or in the world, which has only one Professorship of Ancient Languages. I earnestly recommend the re-establishment of the chair, and the election of a suitable person to fill it. The increased expense need be no objection, for some of the thousands expended in other directions might, in my opinion, be better appropriated in this way.
The chair of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy is also vacant. Professors Charbonnier, White and Little, have discharged the duties of this chair, and deserve thanks for their able and efficient services. But that this temporary arrangement should be made permanent, is a thing not to be thought of.
In this connection it is proper to say, that I believe the Professorship or Engineering is unnecessary for the present, as a distinct chair, and, as such, might be dispensed with. It might be combined with the Professorship of Natural Philosophy, provided that an adjunct Professor were appointed to assist in the two departments. This adjunct Professor might be had for a thousand dollars, and thus half of a Professor’s salary might be saved, and the duties of the two Departments would be just as well discharged. I do not
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August 1878.
say this arrangement would always be wise, but only that it is so under the present circumstances. If the Board will appoint a committee to consult with the Professor of Engineering, I think it will be found that his views coincide with mine.
I do not see why, with a good economy, a suitable corps of instructors cannot be sustained by the present income of the University, exclusive of tuition fees. I, therefore, repeat the recommendation of last year, that free tuition be given to all; requiring, however, an annual payment of ten dollars, half of which for the increase of the library, and the other half for the repair of the buildings.
Much has recently been said about the desirableness of establishing another Agricultural College at Milledgeville, and yet another at Thomasville. From what I have already said on the subject of Agricultural Colleges, it may be well inferred, that in my opinion, such institutions are not needed. One really first-class institution of the kind, such as we have here, is all that the State can support; indeed, even one is more than could be largely supplied with properly prepared students, even if board and clothing were bestowed gratis as well as tuition. The number of young men who really desire thorough scientific education is small; not a great many could be induced to take it on any terms. Hence the people seem to be calling for what they really do not need. But if by Agricultural Colleges they mean good schools, I am free to say that we can scarcely have too many of them. And if your honorable body can do any-thing to encourage and foster the establishment of such schools, I am sure you will do it.
I should be happy indeed to see the initiative in this direction taken by the University, especially as in this case the schools established would be its feeders and not its rivals.
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Chancellor’s Report.
Financial help the University is not able to give, especially if the plan of free tuition be adopted. Our funds, if scattered in all directions, would be of little service to any body, while, if concentrated here, they suffice to support one grand institution. Certainly it would not be wise to fritter away a splendid endowment into nothingness; certainly it would be a cruel thing, indeed it would be barbaric cruelty, to destroy a magnificent institution like this, in order to build a half dozen academics on its ruins. It would be like the vandalism that pulls down solemn temples to obtain materials for less noble purposes.
But if the moral power of this University, and of its Trustees and friends, were brought to bear upon our Legislature, a system of high schools, possibly one in each Congressional District, might be established as parts of the University, and under the supervision of your honorable body, which greatly promote the educational interests of our people.
I have no matured plan to suggest, but, simply call attention to what has been said in regard to Milledgeville and Thomasville, in order partly to show my sympathy, partly to give some direction to the movement, and partly in the hope that some abler mind may be led to propose something that shall be practicable and satisfactory. Any plan which will build up, without pulling down, will be a blessing to the community; while, on the other hand, any plan which pulls down, in order that it may build up, not only will do no good, but will, at last, accomplish in full the errand of the destroyer.
It may not be amiss for me to say, in this connection, that the term Agricultural College, as applied to such schools as the people need, is a misnomer, and, like all other misnomers, is a misleader. In the first place, such schools are not in any sense agricultural. Practical agriculture can-not be taught at such a
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August 1878.
school, nor, indeed, as I think, at any school; and the sciences which underlie the subject of agriculture are altogether too deep, and too broad, and too high for the capacity of boys at school. All that such boy can do is to learn the beginnings of knowledge, and these are exactly the same for all classes of people, whether farmers, lawyers, doctors, merchants, mechanics, manufacturers, or anything else. To call a school of this kind agricultural is simply to use a catch-word to take the popular ear, and to furnish a pretext for the use of funds intended for other purposes.
In the second place, such schools are not colleges; it is not possible to supply them with the appliances of a college, and if they were so supplied, the appliances would be of no use, for the students are not sufficiently advanced to be able to appreciate them. As already said, the State does not produce suitable students in sufficient number to afford a large supply even to one real college, much less to a dozen. If these mere academics are called colleges, of course they must confer degrees, and boast of their alumni, etc. Thus are the people misled. These so-called graduates are soon found to be not at all superior to those who are not graduates, and thus what is supposed to be education is brought into contempt, and the real graduate, who has received a bona fide degree from a real college, is also held at a discount. Thus the counterfeit, while not lifting itself up, does pull the genuine down. I protest against all pulling down, and against all counterfeits, and against all misnomers. We need no more Agricultural Colleges, and certainly we shall have no more of them in fact, even if we should be unwise enough to have them in name. But some first class academics, where students can be prepared for the most excellent college which we have, are greatly needed;
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Chancellor’s Report.
and to encourage the establishment of these at Milledgeville, Thomasville, or elsewhere, has been the object of the foregoing remarks.
Since this Board last met the angel of death has broken its circle. I cannot close my address without pausing for a moment to pay a tribute to the memory of the Hon. William Hope Hull. Modest, but wise; unostentatious of merit, but pure; of noble impulses, of genial presence, of few faults, let us hope that, through the merits of the Redeemer, he has been accepted of God; and while we lament his loss, let us hope that God, from His great treasure-house of excellence, will supply his place with another, whose counsels may be as true, whose labors as efficient, and whose character as excellent and engaging.
It is also proper for me to mention, which I do with a very sad heart, the death of my esteemed friend & colleague, Professor George Bancroft. He was a good officer, and a good man. He did his duty faithfully and well; he died in the faith, and I have no doubt that his glorious eulogy has been pronounced by the Judge of all the earth.
In conclusion, it affords me the greatest pleasure to say, that during the year the students have usually been quiet, orderly, attentive and industrious. Occasions of discipline have been wonderfully rare; and if our record could be compared with that of other colleges, I have no doubt that our friends would be exultant with pride and joy. There have been two little ebullitions of juvenile folly, but these have been sporadic, neither preceded nor succeeded by other disorder, and I have been assured by some of those engaged in them, but nothing was intended more than what was supposed to be harmless sport. Where I have spoken highly of our students I never meant that they were angels; I have only meant that as college students they will compare favorably with any that I ever saw or ever heard of; and, if it be
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August 1878.
thought that this eulogy is too high, all I have to say is, that I and they invite investigation.
In the Faculty, as in all deliberative bodies, differences of opinions have occasionally arisen, but they have always been discussed with dignity and courtesy; and whatever plans have been or may be adopted, there is nothing in the way of hearty and unanimous co-operation.
Commending the University to God, and praying that He will so guide its affairs as to make it a blessing to the State and to the world, I have the honor to be, gentlemen of the Board of Trustees,
Your obedient servant,
Henry H. Tucker,
University of Georgia, July 24, 1878. Chancellor.
----------Supplementary Report, ----------
of Chancellor.
To the Honorable
The Board of Trustees of the
University of Georgia.
Gentlemen,
The report which has been already presented, was prepared some days ago in order that it might be printed in time for your use. Events have transpired since then which require official notice.
The Faculty recommended that the following degrees be conferred.
Master of Arts.
William F. Brown.
Bachelor of Arts.
Richard D. Callaway, Nicholas B. Chennault,
Charles L. Floyd, John J. Huguley,
Daniel I. McIntyre, Thomas S. Mell,
William L.C. Palmer, James G. Russell,
George G. Sale, James B. Shields,
Paul B. Trammell, Benton H. Walton.
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Chancellor’s Supplementary Report.
Bachelor of Chemical Science.
George H. Jackson, Richard J. Mosely,
L. Robert Coates, William D. Dearing.
Civil Engineer.
Bliss Woodward.
Bachelor of Engineering.
Benjamin M. Gross, T. Foster McFarland,
Moses Michael.
Bachelor of Laws.
Philip W. Davis, Thomas W.H. Harris,
Alva C. Lowrey, George D. Thomas,
Henry H. Tucker Jr.
I beg leave also to submit the following Reports, which explain themselves, and to which I respectfully call your attention.
1st, The Report of the President of the State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.
2nd, The Report of the Professor of Law.
3rd, The Report of the Librarian.
In the haste of preparing my former report for the printer, I omitted to mention several things which I beg to mention now.
A small portrait of Dr. Josiah Meigs, the first President of this University, exquisitely painted on wood, has been presented to the University by Mrs. Catharine Gresham of the County of Greene. I was obtained from her for the University by the efforts of my excellent friend the Rev. Dr. John Jones of Atlanta who has written in a letter to Dr. William L. Mitchell a history of the picture, including some items of interest in the biography of Dr. Meigs. I respectfully suggest that the portrait be placed in suitable position in the Library Room of the University; that the thanks of the Board be tendered to Rev. Dr. Jones, and that his letter be spread on the records of the institution; and that some suitable acknowledgement be made to Mrs. Catharine Gresham for her beautiful &
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August 1878.
valuable donation. I beg to say too, that if that acknowledgement were to take pecuniary shape, it would be very acceptable to the excellent and venerable lady; though in justice to her, I must say that she has asked for nothing, and has given no hint that she desires or expects anything. Still I think it would be becoming if the University should show some appreciation of the generosity of a high-born woman in reduced circumstances.
Three years ago I suggested to the Board the propriety of employing Miss Kate Milledge, an excellent artist, to paint for the University a Portrait of her illustrious grandfather Governor John Milledge, the erliest (sic) benefactor of the University and one of its chief founders. I also made an argument sustaining my views; but in the press of business, what I then said was over-looked. I beg now to call attention to the subject again, and to request that a Committee be appointed to negotiate with Miss Milledge, and that bounds be prescribed within which the Committee shall have power to act.
In discharge of my official duty I have employed the Rev. James O. Branch of Savannah, to preach the Commencement Sermon. I request that the usual appropriation be made to defray his expenses.
Just as I was about to close the Report I received information that the Campus is again in a most deplorable condition on account of scarcity of water. There is one well which I am informed will probably yield a good supply of water if it were blasted five or six feet deeper, I beg that the subject may be taken into consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
H.H. Tucker
Chancellor.
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Chancellor’s Supplementary Report.
To the Honorable
The Board of Trustees.
Gentlemen,
By a strange oversight I neglected in my former Report, to state that since the death of Professor George Bancroft, his duties, which were by no means light, have been faithfully discharged, chiefly, by Professor Rutherford. A class in Arithmetic has been taught by Professor Lumpkin.
With this exception, the whole burden of extra duty has fallen on Professor Rutherford alone.
I have the honor to be
Gentlemen,
Your ob’t. s’v’t.
H.H. Tucker
Chancellor.
The Chancellor’s Reports with the accompanying documents viz:
The Report of L.J. Charbonnier President of the Georgia State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, The Report of Wm. L. Mitchell Professor of Law, and The Report of Wm. M. Brown Librarian were laid on the table and ordered to be referred to the Committee on Laws and Discipline when appointed.
Mr. Thomas Chairman of the Finance Committee and Mr. Harris Chairman of the Committee on Buildings made their annual Reports which were laid on the table for the present.
The Board then adjourned to 5 o’clock this afternoon.
August 2nd 1878. 5. P.M.
The Board met according to adjournment.
Mr. Vason appeared and took his seat.
Petitions in relation to the Library were presented by Mr. Jackson and by Mr. Stephens and referred to the Committee on the Library.
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August 1878.
Mr. Yancey Chairman of the standing Committee on Agriculture and Horticulture submitted his Report which was adopted and is as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the University of Georgia,
Your Committee on Experimental farm, in Department of Agriculture, report;
That while the amount of extra labor for the year 1877 was only $14.25, that item for 1878 to date has been $95.45.
This increase of expenses has been reasonable, and is justified by a necessity, which will not arise in the future.
Professor Pendleton resigned the chair of Agriculture & Horticulture, and Dr. Little was elected his successor early in 1877.
Professor Pendleton having left no record of the manner & amount of manure applied to the numerous and respective plats of ground, for several years, no scientific value could be attached to the results of the various crops produced on such plats. Hence it becomes necessary to make the experiments on other ground which had not been cultivated for a number of years, and upon ground which had to be cleared, each of which pieces would approximate to uniformity. Four acres of wooded land was cleared, and thoroughly grubbed; and thirteen acres of an old and unfenced field, well matted with Bermuda grass, and tramped by cattle, for many years, in grazing. These pieces of ground required more than trible(sic) the labor to prepare them for cultivation, and to cultivate than the former regular farm, and a duplication of the horse power usually used on the farm. An additional expense had to be incurred for lumber, post, nails and work in fencing the 13 acres of old field land. This expense, and cost of extra labor and farm tools, blacksmithing, and repairing of wagon, present a total expenditure of $225.65. The wages of the regular labor $200.00. Making a total of $425.65. From the present outlook of the growing crops,
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Reports of Agriculture & Apparatus.
there will be sufficient income, at fair market prices, after reserving a year supply of grain for the farm horse, to reimburse the Treasury for the above expenditure.
For the next year there should be, after meeting all ordinary expenses, sales of the products of the farm sufficient to pay into the Treasure from $200 to $300.
There are about 60 cords of wood, of the clearing referred to, on hand, much more than is necessary for next winter’s use, and the surplus may be sold. The Committee will not ask the usual appropriation, to meet the necessary expenses of the farm, occurring through winter, spring, summer and fall months, before the sales of products can meet them, as the Professor of the chair of Agriculture and Horticulture can retain in his hands a sufficient sum to meet absolute expenses.
{Ben. C. Yancey, Chairman.
{Dav. W. Lewis.
The standing Committee on Apparatus submitted their report which was laid on the table and subsequently taken up and adopted and is as follows:
The Standing Committee on Apparatus beg leave to submit their report:
The Committee in a body made a personal examination of each Room in Moore College and found every Instrument and Appliance in good order, properly arranged, and ready for use in illustration & experiment.
The Department under the eyes of Professors Charbonnier and White are very attractive and well worth a visit from every member of the Board and every Alumnus of the University, and every intelligent citizen of Georgia.
The Apparatus of Natural Philosophy has been properly arranged and systematized during the year, and when enriched by a judicious out-lay of the money on hand, will be as complete as most of our best endowed American Colleges and Universities.
The Committee is assured by Professors Charbonnier and
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August 1878.
White, that so soon as all the funds generously granted by the Legislature of 1875 are expended they will have a suitable Book, in which will be recorded each piece of Apparatus and other things of permanent value for the use of the Committee, or any member of the Board so that by a yearly examination in detail, it will be an easy matter to ascertain the presence and condition of every article, and to hold the Professors to a rigid accountability!
The Committee submit the following resolutions and ask their adoption:
Resolved, That it is a source of sincere gratification to the Board of Trustees to know that the Departments of Civil Engineering and of Chemistry filled respectively by L.W. Charbonnier and H.C. White are so complete in all their appointments and so ably officered by those gentlemen of science, genius and high culture.
Resolved, The the thanks of this Board are due to Professors Charbonnier and White for the cheerful and efficient service rendered by them in performing the duties of the Professorship of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy when it became vacant by the non-acceptance of Col. C.C. Jones and they are hereby thanked.
Respectfully submitted
Wm. L. Mitchell
Chairman
August 2nd. 1878.
Wm. L. Mitchell, Chairman of the Prudential Committee submitted an abstract of the proceedings of said Committee since the last annual meeting of the Board which was laid on the table but subsequently taken up and adopted as to such points as require our action viz:
--- 1st. Lot number 3 negotiated to Mr. R.L. Bloomfield for $100.00 was authorized to be sold to him for that
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Prudential Committee’s Abstract.
sum, and the President of the Board authorized and requested to execute to him a quit claim deed there for.
---- 2nd. Scholarships were granted to Martin Institute of Jefferson, Jackson County, to the Richmond County High School, and Rome, Male High School and also to the Milledgeville High School, as such scholarships have heretofore been granted other institutions, viz:
To each of said Schools three Scholarships, one annually, for the Sophomore Class in the Department of Arts, so that each of said Schools will have a Scholarship to reward their best schollar (sic) every year in perpetuo. He must be their best schollar (sic).
---- 3rd. The arrangement made with Professor Waddell to allow him to erect at his own expense four rooms with the right to remove them at pleasure, was confirmed.
The Memorial from the Citizens of Cuthbert was referred to the Committee on Laws and Discipline when appointed.
Mr. Cobb Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Library submitted his report which was laid on the table
The Standing Committee on Laws and Discipline was appointed by the chair, and consists of Messrs. Toombs, Chairman, Stephens, Pierce, Billups & Brown.
The Board then adjourned to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.
August 3rd. 1878, 10 A.M.
The Board met according to adjournment.
Mr. Lawton appeared and took his seat.
The resignation of Mr. Jenkins was read.
The Committee of five of which Mr. Stephens is Chairman, reported, and their report was referred to the Committee on Laws and Discipline, without reading.
Mr. Lewis presented the Memorial of the City of Milledgeville which was also referred to the Committee on Laws and Discipline.
Mr. Lewis was appointed to invite the Delegates from Mil-
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August 1878.
-ledgeville to appear before the Board at this time; whereupon Mr. Crawford and Mayor Walker appeared.
Mr. Crawford advocated the establishment of a College by the Trustees of the University of Georgia at Milledgeville, by Legislative grants as detailed in a bill to be passed by the next Legislature and which bill was referred to the Committee on Laws and Discipline.
On motion of Genl. Lawton
Mr. Jenkin’s resignation was declined, and his excuse for absence accepted.
Excuses were also made and accepted for Messrs. Hammond, Screven, Seward and Gresham.
Mr. Jackson moved to go into the election of a Trustee to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Hull; which motion prevailed and the Board proceeded to ballot and upon counting out the votes it appeared that His Excellency Alfred H. Colquitt was duly elected.
Mr. Toombs Chairman of the Committee on Laws and Discipline reported back to the Board Mr. Stephen’s report as chairman of the Committee of five, and moved its adoption, and it was unanimously adopted, and is as follows:
The Committee on Laws and Discipline, to whom was referred the report of the Committee of five appointed at the last session of this Board to whom was referred the following resolution, viz:
“Resolved, That the subject of a return to the curriculum system and the abandonment in whole or in part of what is known as the University system, shall be referred to a select committee of five, to report thereon at the next annual meeting, consulting the Faculty as to said report:”
beg leave to report, that your committee recommend the adoption of the report of said Committee of five, herewith reported back, and that your Committee be, and is hereby instructed to put the
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Report of the Stephens.
recommendations of said Report in the form of a fundamental statute of this University.
Mr. Stephens Chairman of the Committee of five read the Report referred to above and which was unanimously adopted and is as follows:
The Committee of five to whom the following resolution ---
“Resolved: That the subject of return to the Curriculum System, and the abandonment in whole or in part of what is known as the University System, shall be referred to a select Committee of Five, to report thereon at the next Annual Meeting, consulting the Faculty as to said report.” ---
was referred at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees who have had the same under consideration, and have given it mature thought and reflection. Two of the Committee, early after the adjournment of the Board at the last Annual Session, visited the University and conferred with the Faculty upon the entire subject. The evils of the existing system, in the opinion of your committee, were great and glaring.
At first they found considerable diversity of opinion among the Faculty, both as to the existence of any radical evils in the system, and as to the proper remedy - if papers which have been submitted to the Committee on behalf of the Chancellor and the Professors - referred to in his present Annual Report. The Committee has been exceedingly gratified at the unanimity of the Chancellor and Professors which has been attained on this important subject, and therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the evils of the system adopted in 1870 are so great as to call for prompt reform.
Resolved, That the said system be abandoned & the Curriculum system as now recommended by all the Professors and sanctioned by the Chancellor - as set forth in schedules “A” and “B”, in the papers referred to herein before - be adopted in lieu of the same in this University.
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August 1878.
Provided that the graduation of a student and the degree which shall be recommended to be conferred in the Curriculum pursued by him shall be in accordance with the joint judgement of the Faculty, upon the general average of the standing of the student in the whole course, and shall not depend upon the judgement of any one Professor in any department.
The following are the papers referred to in the foregoing Report of Mr. Stephens,
The Faculty of the University of Georgia to the
Hon. Alex. H. Stephens,
“ Benj. C. Yancey,
“ A. R. Lawton
“ Jos. E. Brown.
Committee.
Gentlemen: -
In response to a request of the Honorable Board of Trustees for an expression of opinion, as to the advisability of making any change in the system upon which the Institution is at this time conducted, the Faculty of the University of Georgia, have, individually and as a body, given the matter careful consideration and serious thought, and now in special session met, beg to present to the Board, through your Committee, the following, as an expression of their views.
- The Faculty are of opinion that the one course “College Curriculum” system, under which the Franklin College was formerly conducted, is not suited to the present development and extensive scope of the State University.
A return to that system, they believe would seriously impair the efficiency of the University, and, indeed, prove fatal to its existence as a high grade Institution, working in harmony with modern ideas regarding liberal education.
2. The Faculty are further of opinion that any advance
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Curriculum of University Systems.
towards the free and pure University system (as that of Virginia and the Continent) would, at this time, be inexpedient, as unsuitable to the educational condition of our people and not necessary to their present requirements.
- As the system under which the University is at present organized, and which was adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1879, is a modified form of both the “Curriculum” and the “University” systems, occupying a position intermediate between the two; and as the combination of Curriculum and selection which it presents, permits the prosecution of the highest and most extensive orders of education, and is, at the same time, perfectly adapted to the character of work which is required of the University by its patrons, the Faculty are of opinion that a rigid adherence to the Curricula of the present established Courses would render any change in the existing system at this time unnecessary.
In support of this opinion the Faculty would respectfully call the attention of the Board of Trustees to the following considerations which have led to its adoption.
- The main differences between the old “College” system and the present, (so called) “University” system are:
- The existence, at present, of several parallel courses of study, through which students may obtain degrees of graduation; whereas, formerly, but one uniform course was recognized.
- The requirement, at present made, that the student shall obtain a certificate of proficiency in each of the studies belonging to his proper course; whereas, formerly, but an average proficiency in all of the studies was required.
- The permission now accorded to students to select, at the beginning of the Junior year, the course of study (but not the studies themselves) which they may wish to pursue; when as, formerly, with but one, uniform course,
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August 1878.
no such selection could be exercised.
- As a result of the above, the present independence of each Department or School of the University, whereby increased proficiency in each is secured at the same time that mutual adaptability & harmony in the several courses of study are preserved.
- While the old “A.B.” course - in the working of which the venerable Franklin College graduated many Alumni - is, therefore, preserved in the present organization in all of its integrity and unchanged - save in the matter of increased proficiency as above noted - the expansion into the State University, with the addition of new School Departments, has required the creation of new courses of study and new graduation degrees. This requirement has simply been met by the expansion from the old “College” to the present modified form of the “University” system.
- The Schools of Modern Languages and of History and Political Science, and several new Schools of Natural Science are the special outgrowth of the University organization. These Departments are deemed of paramount importance to an Institution which professes to furnish opportunities for instruction in all recognized branches of higher education. Under the old organization no provision was made for these Departments in the regular course. In the present system they are provided for by the arrangement of several courses, in some of which the Modern Languages and Natural Sciences replace the Classics of the “A.B.” course. Thus opportunities are offered for the attainment of a collegiate education through several distinct channels.
- The creation, in 1870, of the State College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts as a co-ordinate Department of the State University, with distinct educational objects & purposes - in part prescribed by law - and its incorporation into the organization under the one Faculty and officers, found the then existing system
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Curriculum & University Systems.
inadequate to comply with the requirement of the new Institution. A change was, in consequence, imperatively demanded. Under the working of the present system the peculiar demands of the State College have been readily met & no serious difficulties have been experienced in the harmonious conduct of the new and the old Institutions.
- In view of the foregoing facts, the Faculty believe that it could be impossible to return to the former one - course, “College” system and at the same time to retain the present organization of the State University - give to each School even a very moderate proportion of the schedule and provide for the attainment of an academic degree within the period of time (4 years) usually considered proper for a college course - without such overcrowding of labor upon the students as would, undoubtedly, be, in every way, injurious. Such return would also necessitate the complete severance from the Academic Department of the State College, and, with it, of the School of Modern Languages and several Schools of Natural Science and the erection of these into a distinct Institution with a separate Faculty and separate Officers.
- The Faculty would call attention to the fact that - as hereintofore asserted - the present is not a “University” system, in the sense that such is employed in the German Universities or in the University of Virginia in this country. It is a modified for of this. It is a University system, in that several distinct Academic and Professional Degrees are conferred & several corresponding courses of study presented. It is essentially a Curriculum system offering, not a close, one course Curriculum, but several Curricula. Indeed, our system is, in no sense, a copy, but an original one, though eclectic, adapted to the genius of our people, and constructed to meet, according to the times, the wants of the class of students why usually apply to us for instruction. While it maintains, intact, the time honored College Curriculum,
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August 1878.
it adopts those features of the University system, modified, which make it possible to meet all the demand for scientific instruction, and rejects all those that can by any possibility work injury. The Faculty respectfully ask the attention of the Board of Trustees to the following particulars, illustrative of the above assertions.
- For the Freshman classes of the several courses, and, in great part, also, for the Sophomore classes, our system prescribes a close Curriculum which is, essentially, the old College classical course. Students thus receive a momentum tending to impel them in a line towards the “A.B” degree. Thus, the system not only retains and endorses the disciplinary studies, but exerts a special influence in their favor.
- Those entering the Junior class have, according to the system, the privilege of choosing, it is true, but not so much the studies they will pursue as the degrees they will seek to secure. The Faculty, with the sanction of the Board of Trustees, have presented close curricula, terminating in appropriate degrees. From these the student can select one, and the system holds him rigidly to the studies of the one thus selected.
- Unlike the Virginia and the European University systems, this subjects students to examination upon all prescribed College exercises, and enforces such attendance by all the means found efficacious by the old time Colleges, keeps a record of standing in the daily recitations and in the frequent examinations that are held, and requires that monthly reports be made to parents of the attendance of their sons upon University duties and of the degree of proficiency in their studies - that, thus failure to “rise” on the part of the student may be prevented, or, if not, that he and his parent may have fair and
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Curriculum & University Systems.
timely warning of it.
In this connection, the Faculty beg to say, that the present standard of admission to the University, should not, in their opinion be changed. It is neither too high, nor too low. It is not higher than is attainable by an ordinary student in a good preparatory School or Academy, and it is not lower than that of other Colleges of high standing. While for a time, perhaps, a rigid adherence to this standard may diminish the number of students in attendance, it will ultimately result in increasing their number, because it will stimulate the teachers and pupils of the preparatory Schools to greater effort, and will secure patronage by establishing public confidence in the maintenance of the high standard of education which has been adopted.
The system thus employs all those methods and appliances which are usually efficacious to secure persistent application to duties and proficiency in studies, and thus it is adapted to students of the age of those who usually come to us.
The combination, as above set forth, of Curriculum with a certain freedom of selection, is believed by the Faculty to be, at this time, the best arrangement, both for the students and for the University.
- While we claim that the independence of each University School and a stated proficiency in each study of a course, are features which greatly increase the efficiency of the Institution, it is but candid to admit that the system gives great power to one man, which may be abusively used; but experience we think has shown that such danger can be easily obviated, and those of us who have misgivings on this point are willing to waive them and unite with the others in the recommendation that the system be preserved intact.
- The Faculty deem it but fair to state that - owing to several causes, among which may be enumerated:
1st. The imperfect preparation for the regular courses of
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many students who apply for admission to the University: the necessity on the part of many of limiting their time of attendance to one or two years only, and the great desire on the part of these and their parents that they should be permitted to devote their attention to special departments to the exclusion of others:
2nd. The great disinclination of the Faculty to close the doors of the Institution to any worthy student, or oppose an obstacle to his desires;
3rd. Radical changes which, within the past few years, have occurred in the organization of the Faculty itself; They have not, of late, insisted upon so rigid adherence to the strict curricula as might, perhaps, have otherwise been required. They have in a number of instances granted permission to individual students to select certain studies and to make such changes in the order of their studies as were not contemplated by, or provided for, in the regular schemes of the course Curricula. This has occasioned a certain degree of irregularity, and given rise to some confusion in the working of the regular schedule. The facts have ever been present to the minds of the Faculty as a possible evil and a source of regret. Attention has recently been forcibly called to the matter, and the magnitude, and the dangerous tendency of the evil pointed out. It has not been found possible to guard privileges - originally accorded for what were regarded as praiseworthy purposes - from a certain measure of abuse, and some dissatisfaction has arisen in the Faculty with the present working of the schedule.
The matter has, therefore been recently made the subject of serious thought and discussion by the Faculty and, through a committee appointed for the purpose, they have arranged a satisfactory and harmonious schedule, embracing all departments and adapted to all the regular course Curricula. It has been found necessary to make a few changes in the requirements for certain degrees and in the status of certain others.
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Curriculum & University Systems.
Though not regarded as strictly germane to the question at present before them, the Faculty take this occasion to lay before the Board of Trustees, through your Committee, the appendix (A.) to this report, which sets forth the scheme regarded by them as proper for the regulation of the Academic and University Degrees, and which, in comparison with the present scheme (see Annual Catalogue, 1877, pages 7-9) will exhibit the few changes in those particulars which are designed to be made. To these, they respectfully ask the sanction of the Board.
And that your committee may have information as to the perfect harmony and smoothness with which the several Curricula, so modified, may be conducted, they further present an appendix (B.) embracing the condensed schedule of hours for each Department and each Curriculum which the Faculty have recently adopted.
The Faculty have, further unanimously adopted resolutions which it is designed, shall appear in the next Annual Catalogue, to the effect that all students shall be held rigidly to the Curricula of the courses of their selection, & that no changes of studies shall be at any time permitted, and no change of course within the collegiate year. By these measures the Faculty confidently believe that all danger of confusion and complication, incident to the evil above mentioned, can be averted.
It is proper to add that the majority of the Faculty are of decided opinion - and, in view of the previous sections of this report, deem further argument unnecessary to sustain the position - that the evil mentioned is to be, in my wise, attributed to any peculiarity of, or defect in the system upon which the University is organized, but is, in whole, due to the causes heretofore enumerated in this section. And the extreme case with which measures have been introduced to correct the evil and secure general satisfaction within the system itself and without change in its integrity is - it would appear - but an additional proof of the perfect adaptability of the present organization to the needs of the Institution. They, therefore, recognize no necessity for a change in the system at
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this time.
Those of us who think otherwise, and are inclined to discredit the system by reason of dissatisfactions which have arisen in its working, are content, now that measures have been adopted which th