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Now； this inquiry is nowise concerned to reform； deflect or
remedy this current drift of things academic away from the
ancient holding ground of the higher learning； partly because
such an enterprise in reform and rehabilitation lies beyond its
competence； and partly； again； because in all this current move
to displace the higher learning there may conceivably be other
ends involved； which may be worth while in some other bearing
that is alien to the higher learning but of graver consequence
for the fortunes of the race； urgent needs which can only be
served by so diverting effort and attention from this pursuit。
Yet； partly out of a reasonable deference to the current
prejudice that any mere negative criticism and citation of
grievances is nothing better than an unworthy experiment in
irritation； and more particularly as a means to a more adequate
appreciation of the rigorous difficulties inherent in this
current state and drift of things； it may not be out of place to
offer some consideration of remedial measures that have been
attempted or projected； or that may be conceived to promise a way
out。
As is well known； divers and various remedial measures have
been advocated by critics of current university affairs； from
time to time； and it is equally evident on reflection that these
proposed remedial measures are with fair uniformity directed to
the treatment of symptoms； to relieve agitation and induce
insensibility。 However； there is at least one line of
aggressively remedial action that is being tried； though not
avowedly as a measure to bring the universities into line with
their legitimate duties； but rather with a view to relieving them
of this work which they are no longer fit to take care of。 It is
a move designed to shift the seat of the higher learning out of
the precincts of the schools。 And the desperate case of the
universities； considered as seminaries of science and
scholarship； is perhaps more forcibly brought in evidence by what
is in this way taking place in the affairs of learning outside
the schools than by their visible failure to take care of their
own work。 This evidence goes to say that the difficulties of the
academic situation are insurmountable； any rehabilitation of the
universities is not contemplated in this latterday movement。 And
it is so coming to be recognized； in effect though tacitly； that
for all their professions of a single…minded addiction to the
pursuit of learning； the academic establishments； old and new；
are no longer competent to take the direction of affairs in this
domain。
So it is that； with a sanguine hope born of academic defeat；
there have latterly been founded certain large establishments； of
the nature of retreats or shelters for the prosecution of
scientific and scholarly inquiry in some sort of academic
quarantine； detached from all academic affiliation and renouncing
all share in the work of instruction。 In point of form the
movement is not altogether new。 Foundations of a similar aim have
been had before。 But the magnitude and comprehensive aims of the
new establishments are such as to take them out of the category
of auxiliaries and throw them into the lead。 They are assuming to
take over the advance in science and scholarship； which has by
tradition belonged under the tutelage of the academic community。
This move looks like a desperate surrender of the university
ideal。 The reason for it appears to be the proven inability of
the schools； under competitive management； to take care of the
pursuit of knowledge。
Seen from the point of view of the higher learning； this new
departure； as well as the apparent need of it； is to be rated as
untoward； and it reflects gravely enough on the untoward
condition into which the rule of business principles is leading
the American schools。 Such establishments of research are
capable； in any competent manner； of serving only one of the two
joint purposes necessary to be served by any effective seminary
of the higher learning； nor can they at all adequately serve this
one purpose to the best advantage when so disjoined from its
indispensable correlate。 By and large； these new establishments
are good for research only； not for instruction； or at the best
they can serve this latter purpose only as a more or less
Surreptitious or supererogatory side interest。 Should they； under
pressure of instant need； turn their forces to instruction as
well as to inquiry； they would incontinently find themselves
drifting into the same equivocal position as the universities；
and the dry…rot of business principles and competitive gentility
would presently consume their tissues after the same fashion。
It is； to all appearance； impracticable and inadvisable to
let these institutions of research take over any appreciable
share of that work of scientific and scholarly instruction that
is slipping out of the palsied hands of the universities； so as
to include some consistent application to teaching within the
scope of their everyday work。 And this cuts out of their
complement of ways and means one of the chief aids to an
effectual pursuit of scientific inquiry。 Only in the most
exceptional； not to say erratic； cases will good； consistent；
sane and alert scientific work be carried forward through a
course of years by any scientist without students； without loss
or blunting of that intellectual initiative that makes the
creative scientist。 The work that can be done well in the absence
of that stimulus and safe…guarding that comes of the give and
take between teacher and student is commonly such only as can
without deterioration be reduced to a mechanically systematized
task…work； that is to say； such as can； without loss or gain；
be carried on under the auspices of a businesslike academic
government。
This； imperatively unavoidable； absence of provision for
systematic instruction in these new…found establishments of
research means also that they and the work which they have in
hand are not self…perpetuating； whether individually and in
detail or taken in the large； since their work breeds no
generation of successors to the current body of scientists on
which they draw。 As the matter stands now； they depend for their
personnel on the past output of scholars and scientists from the
schools； and so they pick up and turn to account what there is
ready to hand in that way not infrequently men for whom the
universities find little use； as being refractory material not
altogether suitable for the academic pu