Albany College of Pharmacy - Alembic Yearbook (Albany, NY)

Page 18 text:

recognized than il is that the examination system is a very imperfect one for determining proficiency and serviceahleness, and that it should be em- ployed. not mechanically, mathematically and arbitrarily, but intelligently, judiciously and judicially. Il is absurd to allege that a man’s fitness to practice pharmacy or medicine should be determined by an arithmetical differentiation between 74.9 and 75.0. And yet such distinctions may take a year of useful service out of a man's life. Plato and Socrates are held to have been great teachers, but they probably would not Ire admitted to an examination for a teacher’s license in our public schools to-day, and cer- tainly the “ academies ” of the greatest teachers the world has known would not be registered under our present laws. It may he said that the ends attained justify the means employed, but some of us who have been engaged in teaching many years do not feel very sure that this is the case. Latter-day methods place too much emphasis upon size and wealth, and encourage the larger, but discourage the smaller, institutions and make it harder for the poor «nan, or even the man of moderate means, to enter the professions. Tt needs no marshalling of sta- tistics to show that the richest of our F.astern schools and universities are, to the student, the most expensive, and as the smaller institutions are dis- credited and crowded out the poor man’s chances are diminished. This is often denied, but every' teacher knows that it is true. Exceptions there arc to all rules, and opportunities exist here and there for men of excep- tional ability, though poor, to secure an education and entrance to the professions, but for the average man the chances arc rapidly diminishing. A few weeks ago the writer was discussing professional education with two lawyers and a relative of one, who was a university teacher, and one of the lawyers said to the other. “ Why, judge, if the requirements when you and T studied law had Been what they arc now neither you nor I would be in the profession,” and the statement was agreed to by the gentleman addressed. And if it be said that, in the various professions, the average ability of the members is greater, and their fitness to render useful service is superior by reason of their better supervised and regulated training, and that the moral tone of the rank and file has been elevated by our examining, registering and licensing methods, there are many educators whose memory is long enough to go back three or four decades who would be unwilling to assent to such a view. The time is coming when some of these matters will be re-examined, and the advisability of restricting indivdual liberty in many directions in which it is now controlled by legislative enactments, will he called into question. W. G. T. 19

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Now, in our educational affairs and in the regulation of the professions two dangers threaten us: too much control by the state, whose right to control is conceded, and too much interference by voluntary associations and endowed corporations possessing no right of control whatever and hav- ing no jurisdiction at all. State control, and reference is made more par- ticularly to New York State and to professional schools, begins with the registration of the schools based upon inspection. The results are often misleading, because the foot-rule, inventory, and time-table method of appraisal cannot properly be applied to such institutions. Size and value of buildings and equipment; amount of invested funds; number of books in libraries.; number of teachers and salaries paid,— such measurements as these give little indication of the work done by an institution. “ The price of wisdom is above rubies,” and material things cannot impart knowledge. Mere piles of brick and mortar arc nothing; books are of no value unless used, and material magnificence of equipment may hinder rather than pro- mote scholarship. And yet we arc very apt to gauge the worth and work of a school by these material measurements. Such a method is radically wrong and needs amendment, but the unwarranted interference of the Carnegie Foundation in “our educational affairs has done much to fasten this vicious system upon us. And, as concerns the students, state control begins with their entrance to the professional school, establishing a preliminary education requirement, prescribing the length of the course, and the character of the instruction, and requiring the possession of certain credentials from some listed insti- tution prior to admission to a final and licensing examination. Thus is use provided, not for reels nor spools, but for bales of red tape, and thus are places created for inspectors, examiners, clerks and heads of depart- ments in ever increasing numbers. To what end! — we may well pause occa- sionally to inquire. Students are sometimes held back for a year because they fail to dot their i’s or cross their t’s to the satisfaction of some fussy examiner. A few years ago, when the writer was registrar of a medical school, one of lyis most brilliant pupils was held back, and all but driven from the state to complete his education because, being a foreigner and as such required lo pass an examination in second year English to obtain his medi- cal student certificate, his paper did not suit the examiner. He spoke, good English, and wrote it properly and like an educated man, but not like a native, and it wasn't good enough for the examiner. He will, in all proba- bility, be a distinguished man while those who placed such obstacles in his way are still slaving away at their thankless tasks. The fact should be better 18

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A Parting Hurt» in thr (Hians nf 1917 There is seldom a more inspiring sight than a group of young people, boys and girls, gathered in an institution, for one common purpose, that of preparing themselves to go forth into the world to begin life’s work. Nor is there a more responsible position than that of one who undertakes to guide and instruct such a body. The success of such work does not lie on one side alone. There must be union of purpose and effort to accomplish the best results. The student who does not appreciate this fact, does not come up to the full measure or attainment that he is supposed to desire, nor can the teacher who does not appreciate his responsibility and is not inspired by the young faces before him, render good and efficient service. There jmust be a union of purpose and concerted action to secure best results. The Class of 1917 is nearing the time of departure from its Alma Mater, and the future life of each member will reveal to what extent this period of instruction has been utilized. Two years have passed since we came together as student and teacher. The relations have been very pleasant. We have come to know each other well, our good and poorer equalities. Some of you have exceeded expecta- tions in your application to the work which was before you; some have not come up to what was promised at the beginning. Each one will have approval or lack such in themselves. If there are those who feel that they might have been more persevering in their efforts and it acts as a stimulus for the future, it will prove of value, and many there are who I know will have a satisfaction, if not pride in reviewing the past because of attainments secured. The future will soon begin to spread out before you and the position you may occupy, either as principal or assistant, will to some extent at least, call upon you to apply knowledge acquired. The pharmacist can and should assume a position in the community where he resides of an advisory and helpful character. This he can do by applying the knowledge for the conduct of his work. To-day this work, by force of circumstances, is of a mixed character, part commercial, and, I am sorry to say, far too small a part professional. It is to be hoped that you have a love for your work. If you have not and are in it solely as a means of livelihood or for the position it gives you, you will not contribute 20