Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

Page 19 text:

Whereas the aim of the college course was once to give the student a rounded education, so that he, or she, might be fitted to face all the varied phases of life, the purpose of the course today would seem to be rather to train than to edu- cate — to turn out men and women skilled in the work of the office or shop, but skilled in that alone. The study of the classics, once an essential feature of every college course, has been, in many places, ruthlessly discarded. So-called educa- tors the country over have come out strongly against these studies, protesting against them as a useless waste of time, and, in fact, the only colleges that have stood up in their defense have been the Catholic institutions. The objection raised to the classics is that they are not prac- tical enough. They are of no real commercial value, their opponents say, and, unless continually pursued, they soon fade from the memory. Hence, why waste precious hours on them? Let us take a momentary glance at the latter part of thi objection. They rail against the classics because these studies are easily forgotten. “Why not, then,’ ' we ask, “give up the study of physics, and geometry, and mathematics, for the same rea- son? For experience tells us that the greater part of these studies are forgotten unless continually pursued. Even some of the more simple studies do not make such a lasting impres- sion on the brain. It is not easy, after one has been away several years, to spell many of the words that once rolled so nimbly off the tongue nor to locate the cities and rivers that wer once so well known.” Hence, why urge that the study of Latin and Greek is valueless because we soon forget many of the words and con- structions? It is not so much for the languages themselves that we labor, but rather for the training of the mind and character that is the natural result of close application to these branches. The graduate setting out to face the business of life is not judged ultimately by the little bit of knowledge that he may have been able to gather, but rather is he measured by his capacity to imbibe knowledge. It is not the things that can be learned within the four or eight years of school life that constitute an education, but it is the mental training, the great

Page 18 text:

JOHN J. LARDNER. Prefect of Sodality and President of Secchi and Debating Societies. Class Editor of the Annual. Class arbiter. Salu- tatorian.

Page 20 text:

CLARENCE G. OWINGS. Valedictorian. Thespian. Secretary of the Sodality and the Secchi Society. The only man who has succeeded in accomplishing the hitherto impossible feat of carrying away the medals and never declining invitations. Editor-in-Chief of the Annual.