Monday, February 28, 2022

George Mason Graham to Governor Thomas O. Moore, May 26, 1860

TYRONE PLANTATION, May 26, 1860.

DEAR SIR: . . . As to the "satisfactory and beneficial compromise” which you suggest, all compromises are temporary expedients, and I never have seen a temporary expedient resorted to that did not result in permanent trouble. When a thing is right adhere to it as right, and you avoid much trouble. In the case under our consideration, a very full Board, with two dissenting voices, determined that this school should be “a literary and scientific school, under a military system of government, on a program and plan similar to that of the Virginia Military Institute.” The public sentiment of the state has sanctioned this, the voice of the legislature has ratified it, every application for professorship in it was made with a distinct knowledge that this was to be its character; and because this was to be its character, is it right, proper, just, in any sense whatever, that a constant warfare of side blows should be kept up against the system adopted, thus forever keeping the minds of these most intimately connected with it, and most immediately interested in the institution, in a state of doubt and uncertainty? If things are to be constantly changed, how is there to be any stability? What is the use of the shadow of anything if there be no substance to it?

The circumstance to which I had most particular reference in my letter of 16th ult. and which incited me to that letter, was the effort made, and still pending, in the Board to declare that these professors who do not teach any purely military branch are not under the military government of the superintendent, but stand to him only in the relation of professors to a president of an ordinary college, coupled with a right of their "instructing" the superintendent to do a thing, thus creating two kinds of power, and two kinds of government in one institution.

I do not apprehend that you and I differ at all in our "views” as to what shall be taught in the school. I desire to have everything taught that is taught at the Virginia School, which comprehends everything necessary to a useful, practical education. In addition to what is taught there I would have Spanish taught here, as being both a utility and an accomplishment, but I would have neither Greek nor Hebrew taught here (neither being taught there), at least until the educational wants of the people of the state require it, because, useful to but few, they take too much time from studies of greater utility. There are plenty of other schools where those can go who desire to acquire a finished classical education. There is no school in the state, and but few out of it, of the utilitarian character that we desire to give to this one, where those arts and sciences shall be taught which are of practical use in the every day employments of life, together with a fair degree of useful literature.

Still in deference to the wishes and opinions of the few, the professor of English and ancient languages is required to teach Greek to those who desire it; yet in an institution where there is a regular routine of studies, duties, and hours, optional studies, as a part of the course, are impracticable. They may be pursued in private, but uanvoidably throw everything out of gear if attempted in the course. Hence the Professor of ancient languages advises that Greek be either made compulsory on all alike, or else omitted altogether. English and Latin are enough for one man to teach. . . How many of the boys of Louisiana want to learn Greek? or will go to an institution at all where they will be compelled to study it?

What I am solicitous about, however, is that the classic studies should not be given a preponderance over the scientific, and that the military system of government for the institution should be clearly and entirely maintained. This thing of elevating the standard of education in our state, giving it a utilitarian character, and making it attractive and attainable at home, has long occupied my thoughts – the past five years of my life have been devoted to it — it has been the subject of a good deal of study and of considerable correspondence with me. . .

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 215-8

No comments: