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academic situation which must be counted in as a chronic
discrepancy； not to be got clear of or to be appreciably
mitigated so long as business principles continue to rule。
What counts toward the advancement of learning and the
scholarly character of the university is the graduate work； but
what gives statistically formidable results in the way of a
numerous enrolment； many degrees conferred； public exhibitions；
courses of instruction in short what rolls up a large showing
of turnover and output is the perfunctory work of the
undergraduate department； as well as the array of vocational
schools latterly subjoined as auxiliaries to this end。 Hence the
needs and possibilities of the undergraduate and vocational
schools are primarily； perhaps rather solely； had in view in the
bureaucratic organization of the courses of instruction； in the
selection of the personnel； in the divisions of the school year；
as well as in the various accessory attractions offered； such as
the athletic equipment； facilities for fraternity and other club
life； debates； exhibitions and festivities； and the customary
routine of devotional amenities under official sanction。
The undergraduate or collegiate schools； that now bulk so
large in point of numbers as well as in the attention devoted to
their welfare in academic management； have undergone certain
notable changes in other respects than size； since the period of
that shifting from clerical control to a business administration
that marks the beginning of the current r間ime。 Concomitant with
their growth in numbers they have taken over an increasing volume
of other functions than such as bear directly on matters of
learning。 At the same time the increase in numbers has brought a
change in the scholastic complexion of this enlarged student
body； of such a nature that a very appreciable proportion of
these students no longer seek residence at the universities with
a view to the pursuit of knowledge； even ostensibly。 By force of
conventional propriety a 〃college course〃 the due term of
residence at some reputable university； with the collegiate
degree certifying honourable discharge has become a requisite
of gentility。 So considerable is the resulting genteel contingent
among the students； and so desirable is their enrolment and the
countenance of their presence； in the apprehension of the
university directorate； that the academic organization is in
great part； and of strategic necessity； adapted primarily to
their needs。
This contingent； and the general body of students in so far
as this contingent from the leisure class has leavened the lump；
are not so seriously interested in their studies that they can in
any degree be counted on to seek knowledge on their own
initiative。 At the same time they have other interests that must
be taken care of by the school； on pain of losing their custom
and their good will； to the detriment of the university's
standing in genteel circles and to the serious decline in
enrolment which their withdrawal would occasion。 Hence college
sports come in for an ever increasing attention and take an
increasingly prominent and voluminous place in the university's
life； as do also other politely blameless ways and means of
dissipation； such as fraternities； clubs； exhibitions； and the
extensive range of extra…scholastic traffic known as 〃student
activities。〃
At the same time the usual and average age of the college
students has been slowly falling farther back into the period of
adolescence； and the irregularities and uncertain temper of that
uneasy period consequently are calling for more detailed
surveillance and a more circumspect administration of college
discipline。 With a body of students whose everyday interest； as
may be said without exaggeration； lies in the main elsewhere than
in the pursuit of knowledge； and with an imperative tradition
still standing over that requires the college to be （ostensibly
at least） an establishment for the instruction of the youth； it
becomes necessary to organize this instruction on a coercive
plan； and hence to itemize the scholastic tasks of the inmates
with great nicety of subdivision and with a meticulous regard to
an exact equivalence as between the various courses and items of
instruction to which they are to be subjected。 Likewise as
regards the limits of permissible irregularities of conduct and
excursions into the field of sports and social amenities。
To meet the necessities of this difficult control； and to
meet them always without jeopardizing the interests of the school
as a competitive concern； a close…cut mechanical standardization；
uniformity； surveillance and accountancy are indispensable。 As
regards the schedule of instruction； bona fide students will
require but little exacting surveillance in their work； and
little in the way of an apparatus of control。 But the collegiate
school has to deal with a large body of students； many of whom
have little abiding interest in their academic work； beyond the
academic credits necessary to be accumulated for honourable
discharge； indeed their scholastic interest may fairly be said
to centre in unearned credits。
For this reason； and also because of the difficulty of
controlling a large volume of perfunctory labour； such as is
involved in undergraduate instruction； the instruction offered
must be reduced to standard units of time； grade and volume。 Each
unit of work required； or rather of credit allowed； in this
mechanically drawn scheme of tasks must be the equivalent of all
the other units； otherwise a comprehensive system of scholastic
accountancy will not be practicable； and injustice and irritation
will result both among the pupils and the schoolmasters。 For the
greater facility and accuracy in conducting this scholastic
accountancy； as well as with a view to the greater impressiveness
of the published schedule of courses offered； these mechanical
units of academic bullion are increased in number and decreased
in weight and volume； until the parcelment and mechanical balance
of units reaches a point not easily credible to any outsider who
might naively consider the requirements of scholarship to be an
imperative factor in academic administration。 There is a
well…considered preference for semi…annual or quarterly periods
of instruction； with a corresponding time limit on the courses
offered； and the parcelment of credits is carried somewhat beyond
the point which this segmentation of the school year would
indicate。 So also