Two characteristic features of President Eliot's report compel the attention of the reader: First, his careful study of a general educational problem-the proper adjustment of the curricula of secondary schools; and secondly, his suggestion of many very interesting questions which come up in the administration of the University itself. One of the most interesting things which he discusses is the group of courses most largely taken by students in the College under the existing elective system. The President does not tell us just where he draws the line between the larger and smaller classes, but he gives us the striking fact that the courses most largely taken, which altogether involve about twice as much work as one student could perform in four years, comprise only one-eighth of the whole amount of instruction offered by Harvard College. The "other seven-eighths," he observes, "although indispensable for an institution with the resources and aims of Harvard College, are really provided at great cost, first to meet the wants of a comparatively small but precious minority, and secondly to meet the higher part of the needs of the great majority,- higher needs which are few in comparison with the number of their lower needs." Surely this is a statement of great significance.
The educational problem which President Eliot takes up is suggested by, and receives some light from, his summary of the courses most generally elected. Some of the more elementary of the latter,- in English, French, German, History and Natural Science, he thinks could wisely be given in the upper grades of good, secondary schools. He does not discuss this question at any length, but the recommendation in itself is of no little interest and will, we believe, carry considerable weight. The secondary schools are brought up again in the mention of a revision of entrance requirements now under consideration by the Faculty, and in the recommendation of a further lowering of the average age of admission.
The President's review of the experience during recent years of a supervision of athletics by an athletic committee, is hardly more than a history, but is very appropriate in view of recent utterances against the Harvard system. He shows clearly that the committee has been the direct cause, against much opposition, of raising the amateur standing and of eliminating professionalism. He recognizes that through the committee the marked abuses, which he attacked so severely in his last report, have been largely remedied. The reader infers that though President Eliot probably retains his personal dislike for football he is not disappointed in the use which the Athletic Committee has made of the trust which the Corporation and Overseers voted to continue to them.
The report touches many other matters of interest and importance, one of them being the encouragement of "migration" in graduate study. On the whole it is an important document and well worth careful reading in its bearings on matters of general, educational, as well as of local, University interests.
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PROPERTY FOR HARVARD COLLEGE.