//r/ REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY RESPECTING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM IN THE STUDIES OF THE MATHEMATICS, LATIN, AND GREEK : AND ALSO THE REPORT OF THE VISITING COMMITTEE OF THE / BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY ON THE STATE OF THAT SEMINARY JANUARY, 1841. PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF OVERSEERS. CAMBRIDGE: FOLSOM, WELLS, AND THURSTON, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 1841. Board of Overseers, Jan. 2lst, 1841. The President of the University presented for concurrence cer- tain votes of the Corporation, respecting changes in the study of the Classics ; Whereupon, on motion of Rev. Dr. Parkman, the Hon. Theoph- ilus Parsons, Hon. James Duncan, and Hon. James Savage were appointed a Committee to take into consideration the Report now submitted by the Corporation, that said Committee be directed to confer with the gentlemen of the immediate government, charged with Classical Instruction in the College, and report at the adjourn- ed meeting of the Overseers. On motion of the Hon. Theophilus Parsons, it was Voted, That the Report made by the Hon. John Pickering be accepted and referred to the Corporation, with a request that the same be printed, together with the Report from the Corporation, respecting the introduction of the voluntary system in the studies of Mathematics, Latin, and Greek, and the Resolutions annexed to that Report, and distributed among the members of this Board before the next meeting. Attest, JOHN PIERCE, Secretary. At a meeting of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, held August 19th, 1839 ; The President, on the subject of the changes made in the Math- ematical Department, by virtue of the Vote passed on the 26th of May, 1838, — respectfully REPORTS: That the liberty to discontinue the study of the Mathematics at the end of the Freshman year, has been found highly accep- table to both the Students and their parents, and been attended thus far with none of the ill consequences anticipated ; few or none qualified to make any important proficiency in the Mathe- matics, having, it is believed, discontinued altogether ; and from the numbers who chose the second and the highest course, there is reason to conclude that the election which has been given, has had a direct tendency to encourage those capable of profit- ing by the study of that branch, to pursue it, and to stimulate those, who possess decided mathematical talents, to aim at acquir- ing a knowledge of its most abstruse and difficult parts. In a class of fifty-five, only eight discontinued the study of Mathe- matics, and of the remaining forty -seven, thirty-two took the first course, three the second course, and twelve the third course, during the first term. In the second term, the class being re- duced to forty-eight by disciphne and taking up connexions, six only discontinued the study, and of the remaining forty-two, twenty-seven took the first course, four the second course, and eleven the third course. The result is considered by the head of that department, as proving most decidedly the superiority of the voluntary system, and the practicability of adapting dif- ferent courses of instruction to different classes of students, and as being in a high degree satisfactory and successful, and as prom- ising great advantages by the new opportunity the elective sys- tem offers, of introducing improvements in the details of instruc- tion. The success of this experiment on the effect the elective sys- tem of study in the Mathematical Department, has revived the wish of those friendly to its introduction into the other depart- ments, and particularly into those of Greek and Latin. Both the Professors in these departments have expressed their con- currence in such a change, and their opinion that the effect would be rather to elevate and extend attainments in these branches, than to lower and reduce them. In conforming with these views, the President respectfully submits a series of Resolutions, founded upon the same general principles heretofore adopted in relation to the Mathematical Department, for the consideration of this Board. JOSIAH QUINCY. Cambridge, August 15th, 1839. Voted, That this Report be accepted, and that the following Resolutions be adopted. Resolved, 1. That every Student who has completed, dur- ing the Freshman year, the studies required by the laws of the University, in the Greek and Latin Departments for that year, and shall have passed a satisfactory examination in them, and shall be recommended by the Examining Committee and his In- structors for the privilege of election in such branch, respec- tively may discontinue the study of either or both branches, at the end of the Freshman year, at the written request of his parent, or guardian, (if under age) made with a full knowledge of his standing as a scholar, in each branch respectively, of the future studies in each department, and of those to be substituted for them. Resolved, 2. That those Students, who continue in the study of either, or both branches after the commencement of the Sophomore year, may choose either of the following cour- ses : — the first course to continue through the Sophomore and Junior years ; — the second course to extend through the Sen- ior year, and particularly designed for those who wish to become accomplished scholars, or to qualify themselves thoroughly to instruct in classical schools and colleges. 6 Resolved, 3. That those who pursue the first or second course, in either department, shall receive in addition to the usual diploma, a special certificate expressing the studies each has respectively pursued. Resolved, 4. That those Students who discontinue the study of Greek or Latin, shall choose as a substitute one or more of the following branches : — Natural History ; Civil History ; Chemistry ; Geology ; Geography, and the Use of the Globes ; Popular Astronomy ; Modern Languages, Modern Oriental Literature ; or studies in either Greek or Latin, which may not have been discontinued, in addition to the prescribed course in such branch. The times and order of these studies will depend on the convenience of the Instructors, and the decision of the Faculty, and each Student will be required to engage in such a number of studies as shall, in the judgment of the Faculty, be sufficient reasonably to occupy his whole lime. Resolved, 5. That those Students who have not at the commencement of the Sophomore year, completed the Greek or Latin studies, required in the Freshman year, will be allowed the same choice with the others as to their regular studies. But in addition to these regular studies, and in place of a voluntary study, which in this case will not be allowed, they shall, unless excused by a special vote of the Faculty, continue the Greek or Latin, in which they are deficient, until they have completed those required in the Freshman yedr. Voted, That the President lay before the Overseers, the foregoing Resolutions, that they may approve the same if they see fit. To THE Honorable and Reverend, the Board of Overseers OF Harvard University. The Committee appointed on the 20th day of October, 1840, " to make report of the condition of the University," beg leave, in discharge of their commission, to submit the following REPORT. The Committee having, during the past year, in the months of May and October, made the usual examinations of the con- dition of the University, and as much in detail as was practica- ble ; and the results of their examinations, as derived from in- quiries made of different members of the Faculty, and from the particular Reports furnished by the several instructors, are now submitted in the following Abstract^ accompanied by the Re- ports of the President and the several instructors, which accom- panying papers the Committee beg leave to offer as a part of their Report. The Reports of the President of the University, of May 5th and October 20th, 1840, state, that the condition of the Univer- sity during the whole of the Academic year preceding, has been in a high degree satisfactory ; and the general conduct of the undergraduates has indicated a respect for the laws and for their instructors as well as a disposition to avail themselves of the ad- vantages which they enjoy at this Institution. The results of the examinations in the several departments of study, may be conveniently arranged under the following heads. The Faculty of Theology. In this department the Committee have Reports from the Rev. Dr. Ware, senior, Hollis Professor of Divinity, and from 8 the Rev. Dr. Ware, junior, Professor of Pulpit Eloquence and the Pastoral Care ; comprehending their attendance on the Students of the Divinity School, and on the Undergraduates of the University. It appears, that the number of Students in the Divinity School was twenty-four, and that their attention to their duties had been satisfactory. Professor Ware, junior, was, during the year, charged with the duty of instructing the Junior class of Undergraduates, in Paley's Evidences of Christianity and Butler's Analogy ; and also gave a weekly course of lectures for a part of the time to the Senior class, on the Literary and Critical History of the New Testament. In addition to these duties, he occupied two mornings in the week, with exercises in Elocution, and one written lecture on Preaching, in the Divinity School. He also preached three fourths of the time on the Sabbath, in the Uni- versity Chapel, and attended the daily prayers there, morning and evening. No Report has been returned from the Department of Bibli- cal Literature, in consequence of that professorship being va- cant by the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Palfrey, in April, 1839, and the vacancy having been but recently supplied, by the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Noyes, who has just entered upon the duties of his office. In the intervening period, the du- ties of this professorship were discharged in part by Professor Adam, as instructor in the Hebrew and Arabic languages, and in part by extra attendance of the other Professors of this depart- ment. Professor Adam, however, resigned his office in August last ; since which time the Committee are not informed of any distinct provision having been specifically made for instruction in the Oriental languages. The Faculty of Law. The number of Students in the Law School, in the month of May, 1840, was seventy-two, and in the month of October fol- lowing, was ninety-nine ; of whom, one was from Quebec, one from Ireland, and the remainder from twenty-one of the States of the Union. In the month of July, the whole number was one hundred and three. The Students are arranged in four classes ; two of which are under the care of the Dane Professor of Law, and two under that of the Royall Professor. The exercises consist of recitations and oral lectures, daily ; with two extra lectures a week, on the Constitution of the Unit- ed States, and exercises in drawing pleadings. A moot court is also held weekly, at which the practice of trials in courts of law is exemplified, from the commencement of the suit to final judgment ; one of the Professors presiding as judge in the court. The Royall Professor reports, that the attendance of the Law Students was in general satisfactory ; but, as excuses for every absence are not required, a more detailed report in this particu- lar cannot be given. As connected with the two preceding Departments, the Com- mittee here add, the Report of the Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity. Instruction is given by that Professor to the Junior and Sen- ior classes, who read forensic disputations weekly, and to the Sophomore class, who are heard by him in the usual mode of recitations from a Text-Book. The Text-Books used in this department are Locke on the Human Understanding, and Cousin's Review of Locke's Essay, Say's Political Economy, and the principal parts of Story's Commentaries on the Consti- tution. The recitations and other exercises of the Students in this de- partment are accompanied by oral elucidations of the Professor ; but his object has been, as he observes in one of his Reports, " not so much to indoctrinate the Students in any system of Philosophy, as to make them acquainted with all the systems, and to imbue them with a philosophic spirit." The Faculty of Medicine. The Report of the Hersey Professor of Anatomy states, that the Anatomical Collection is in good order ; that no losses or in- juries have occurred (with one shght exception, supposed to be accidental ;) that, during the year, an addition has been made to the Collection, of a number of valuable preparations in Compar- ative Anatomy, and that arrangements are made for still further enlarging it by a systematic collection of the Crania of Animals. 2 10 The Professor of Materia Medica reports, that the usual courses of lectures on Materia Medica, and on Clinical Medicine, have been delivered to a Medical class of fifty-five Students. The Professor of Surgery and Clinical Surgery has also de- livered the usual course of lectures at the Medical College, in Boston, and has also visited the Hospital, with the Students, once a week. The number attending was fifty-five. The Hersey Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic has also delivered the annual course of lectures in his depart- ment, at the Medical College. The Professor of Midwifery and Medical Jurisprudence re- ports, that the usual course of lectures has been given by him to fifty-six Students. Ancient Languages and Literature. Greek. In the Greek Department, the Eliot Professor re- ports, that he had under his charge the Junior and Sophomore classes; that their exercises consisted of recitations, from the established Text-Books, accompanied by oral lectures on the several authors ; and every fortnight a composition in the Greek language is required. A volunteer section of the Senior class also attended him twice a week, in recitations from authors se- lected with a view to a higher course of study, than that pursu- ed by the younger classes. The Freshmen class was under the care of the Greek tutor, and has been divided into sections arranged on the principle of proficiency, who recite from the established books assigned to that part of the College course, and also write Greek Exercises, and are examined in Grecian Antiquities. At the close of the term in May last, a thorough examination was made by some of the members of this Committee, which continued for three days with the Sophomore class, and two days with the Juniors ; and the result was highly satisfactory. The Professor reports, also, that the attention of the classes, and their demeanor, had been highly satisfactory, and the number of ab- sences unusually small. Latin. The course of studies in the department of the Latin language has been conducted on similar principles with that of the Greek department, — the upper classes being under the 11 charge of the Professor, and the Freshmen, under the Tutor of this department. One section of ten Seniors are pursuing a voluntary course calculated to prepare them for the office of Classical Instructors. The Professor adds, that the attention of the classes has gen- erally been satisfactory ; and that if any individual is found de- ficient in his exercises, he is required to study during the vaca- tion. Modern Languages and Literature. The Smith Professor of this Department reports, that instruc- tion has been given to the following number of Students : In French, - - - - 117 Spanish, - - - - 35 Italian, - , _ _ 34 German, - - - - 61 Portuguese, - -, - 5 making in all, two hundred and fifty-two. During the second terra of the year, the aggregate number of Students was about the same ; but they were differently appor- tioned among the different languages. This was in consequence of a change made during the year, by which the French lan- guage is now one of the regular studies of the University course, and is commenced with the Freshman class ; and during the first three years no voluntary study is allowed in the place of any other. In the Senior year the Student is allowed to study as many Modern languages as he chooses ; but he receives no distinctive marks on that account in the scale of rank. Rhetoric and Oratory. The instruction in this Department is given by the Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, and a Teacher of Elocution. The exercises are ; Reading and Speaking, every week, English Composition every fortnight, by each Student of the three up- per classes ; public lectures on Rhetoric and Criticism ; de- clamations weekly, before the respective classes ; and exercises in Logic. The Professor reports, that the attention of the Students, 12 in his Department, has been such as to deserve " especial no- tice." History. The Professor of this Department is now absent in Europe, where, it is understood, he is engaged in extensive researches in American History. During the second term of the last aca- demic year, he delivered a course of two lectures a week to the Senior and Junior classes, and to the Senior class a course of one lecture a week, on American History. The Tutor of the department reports, that the Freshman class has pursued its course of ^indent History, and the Sophomore class a course of English History, they having elected the study of History in- stead of Mathematics. The Text-Book has been accompanied with oral explanations of the instructor, and comparisons of the different accounts given of the same transactions, and events by different historians. Miithemaiics and Natural Philosophy. This Department is under the charge of the University Pro- fessor and the HoUis Professor of Mathematics. The Freshmen are instructed in Geometry, Algebra, and plain Trigonometry ; and the other classes by the University Professor in the various higher branches of pure and mixed Mathematics, according to their collegiate standing. In physical science, lectures are given in the usual branches, accompanied with experimental illustrations, by means of an ex- tensive and well adapted collection of philosophical instruments in the various subdivisions of what is popularly called Natural Philosophy. Particular attention has for some time past been given to Astronomical Science ; buildings have been lately erected and fitted up with improved instruments for astronomical observations. In astronomy, the Senior class, divided into three sections, according to their tastes and proficiency, are under the particular charge of the Hollis Professor, who is now enabled to embrace in his lectures a general and full course of instruc- tion in this important branch of science. In connexion with the Department of Physical Science, though it may not be considered strictly as a part of the Univer- 13 sity course of instruction, it may not be improper to add, that recently a Magnetic Observatory has been established for the important purpose of obtaining a series of minute and exact observations and useful results in relation to Terrestrial Mag- netism. This Observatory, under the charge of William C. Bond, Esq., assisted by the Hollis Professor of Mathematics, is to act in cooperation with similar foreign observatories according to a systematic plan adopted by the Scientific Institutions of Europe, for the purpose of making the most thorough investiga- tions of a subject, which now deeply engages the attention of the whole scientific world. The observations at our University aie to be made in conjunction with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. From this very general view of the state of the University, and the course of studies there pursued, it must be apparent, that if it shall happen, that any Student leaves the institution without having reaped the advantages of a solid and useful edu- cation, adapted to the present demands of our country, it will have proceeded, not from the want of the requisite means of mental cultivation, but from 'his own want of fidelity to himself. In making this remark, however, the Committee would not be understood as intimating, that the University has already reach- ed a point of excellence where it may be content to rest, or that its system of instruction is nbt susceptible of still higher im- provement, — for such a degree of perfection does not belong to any human institution, — but, that material improvements have been gradually made, to such an extent, as to give this seminary, at the present day, many advantages over the means of instruc- tion which it possessed at former periods. Superficial observers, who measure the value of education by its direct capacity of being turned into money, or the immediate supply of the physical wants of man, and not by its moral ef- fects on the constituent elements of human society, are frequent- ly disposed to undervalue some of the departments of knowl- edge, — particularly ancient literature, — which have always been cherished, and justly so, as an essential part of the University course. Those departments of study are too often stigmatized as antiquated, and not adapted to the " spirit of the a^e " ; while an urgent call is made for what is designated by the vague 14 and undefined name of useful knowledge. Such persons seem to mistake the true purpose of a University education ; which is, not to quahfy a young man for any one particular profession, or business, but to develope the powers of his mind, and to store it with all that general information in science and literature which shall be really useful to him, by its permanent influence, in any station in life. To educate the intellectual powers of a youth in the con- tracted manner which would be a consequence of rejecting some of the established parts of the present system, would be per- verting the order of nature, as much as to train his physical powers from childhood tq maturity by exercising only a hand, or an arm, or other limb exclusively upon a single object requir- ing the application of muscular power, instead of educating the whole body in such a manner as to insure the most complete developement of the entire man, and thus produce a physical whole adapted to the various objects requiring the use of his physical powers.. It has been justly observed, " that the arts and studies which relate to the improvement of manufiictures, and to the raising and multiplying the means of subsistence, terminate merely in the corporeal enjoyments of man" ; but that, however necessary, their results are not of the first order of good, nor are they the principal ends of human life. Neither necessity, nor the capa- city of being applied to the physical accommodation, or improve- ment of the machinery of life " can be taken as the measure of what is really excellent and useful. It is in his intellectual, and especially in his moral and social nature, and in those studies which advance and correct it, that we must think of man as he deserves, and estimate the value of his pursuits ; there is a culti- vation of mind, which is in itself a good of the highest order, whhout any immediate reference to bodily appetites or wants of any kind ; and it is idle to condemn studies as frivolous, because they do not immediately tend to what is called practical good." If useful knowledge is understood to be confined to such as will enable a man to advance himself in the world, and provide for his family, it may be comprised in a very narrow compass. " How few (it has been justly observed) out of the whole num- ber that pass through our schools, make a direct application to 15 practical purposes of the results of those lessons, of which the usefulness is never called in question. How many men pass through hfe, checking their weekly bills, summing up their bank- er's book, calculating the rate of interest which any proposed investment may offer, without having the power of applying any of the complicated rules of arithmetic which were deemed an essential and useful part of their school education ; addition, subtraction, and multiplication, without even the now discarded Rule of Three, accomplish the whole work." Does any one deny the usefulness of the study of the exact sciences to mankind at large ? Early education, it is true, may do but little for some favored individuals ; the genius of Frank- lin and a few others of our race can triumph over every obsta- cle ; such men are their own schoolmasters. But " the true question is, the ordinary use, in the common affairs of life, of that superficial acquaintance with the elements of science, which is, and must be the portion of the great, majority of mankind." If we except the occasional use pf a' little JFrench for conver- sation (in our country, of rare use) and the elements of num- bers, " with perhaps Latin enough to understand, the most com- mon words and phrases, — of what more can We prove the ac- tual indispensable necessity } " If, however, scientific studies claim their high rank and their right to be cultivated as an exercise to develope and strengthen the reasoning powers, — to raise the human race in the scale of being, we then lose sight of that practical usefulness to which all early studies are referred, and abandon the assumed standard of practical utility as the measure of intellectual value ; if then we must admit into our estimate of usefulness the general im- provement, enlargement, and refinement of the mind, we must ask an admission on at least equal terms for ancient learning, and all the preparatory training necessarily connected with it. Such are the principles upon which the system of education at our University has been established. And, (to adopt the language of its able historian and head,) " after the lapse of two centuries, it may be asserted with truth, that the noble purposes of the clergy and laity, the founders of New England and its Institutions, have not failed. The light, first kindled by the mu- nificence of Harvard, has spread onward to our own time, illu- 16 029 934 355 8 # minating the course of our fathers, and concentrating a brighter radiance on the paths of their children. May it continue and shine more and more to the perfect day ! May the glorious fabric of civil and religious liberty, raised by the first Pilgrims, rest, and for ever stand, where they placed it, — on the deep foundations of SOUND LEARNING." * All v^rhich is respectfully submitted, by order of the Commit- tee. JNO. PICKERING, Chairman. Boston^ January 21s^, 1841. * President Quincy's History of the University, Vol. II. p. 457. 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