Goshen College - Maple Leaf Yearbook (Goshen, IN)

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HISTORY F t T RING the early years of the institution most of the courses in history wen given by Profs E J Zook and S J. W. Yoder. In 1903 Prof. C, H. Smith took charge of the department and added several courses in ad- vanced history. Since 1905 Prof. E. J. Zook, who is assisted by Miss Maud Warve and Mr. C. B. Blosser has had charge of the department. The department also includes Political Science, Economics, and Sociology. The latter two courses are given by res. tiyers. 1 he department aims : 6 h J° have th ? student acquire a knowledge of the leading facts of history, especially those which have af- fected the course of events. «, a T ° gh T e. student an understanding of the philosohy of history and an insight into the development of the modern industrial, political, and social institutions and life which prevails among the most civilized nations V ;u° de t V( ;lop m him a broad-minded, intelligent and sympathetic citizen who knows his duties to his fellow men, to the state, and to society in general, and who is able to judge as to the advisability of means which are supposed to ameliorate present conditions. MATHEMATICS ' T ' HE mathematical department has enjoyed a healthy and continuous growth since the founding of the institu- tion. It has lately included interesting classes in Algebra, Geometrv, Trigonometrv. College lgebra and Analytic Geometry. In order to meet the demand for more of the higher work, a two term course in the Calculus is to be offered the coming year. f»ui f The p , urp ? se ° f studying mathematics is held to be threefold. It trains the judgement and reason and so Mw£ Th the St , Udent m -° re worthy, influential and successful in life. It enables him to detect and avo fallacies and unsound views in all departments of thought. It gives training in the very much needed power of anc Hmnarttl l°» F? r nt , imen or , traditional belief not founded on facts or reason and of looking ' sr ,uarel v and impartially at a complex situation long enough to analyze its meaning. It may be so treated as to furnish the mind with much knowledge useful in business, in the arts and sciences, and in all the relations fat life ,n,i , , UP character by training the will, fixing the habit of honest thinking, and making one thorough SS, ' ™ P erf ™S his duties. Fortunate the student who so thinks through his mathematics, and sees its interrelations and important applications as to be made a more sane, useful, and trustworthy citizen,

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ENGLISH ' I ' HE growth of the English Department has kept pace with the growth of the institution. As the courses are ■ now outlined, it is the aim of the department to give the student a thorough training in Academy English, and to offer him such courses in the College Department as will meet the requirements for graduation in the Colleges and Universities throughout the land. The courses from the first year in the Academy to the senior year in College are organically related, and should be taken by the student in the order that they are offered. Practice in original composition, the best works of prose writing, the history of literature, and the chief forms of lyrical and dramatic poetry are required for study and the student is thereby made familiar with the best that has been written in the English language. The student is given a general training in literature for life, and in case he wishes to continue the study of the subject, he is prepared to begin to specialize in it at once. THE LANGAUGES. ' I J HE language departments include Latin, Greek and German. Enough courses are arranged so that the student • may pursue Latin for six years, and German and Greek, four years each. The departments aim to have the student understand the fundamental principles of each language ; to give him some practice in the simpler forms of composition; to get him acquainted with the idioms of each language and, by careful study, cultivate an appreciation for the language; and by studying choice selections to cultivate an appreciation for the literature of each language; by the reading of general selections, to study the traits and the characteristics of the respective peoples, enter into their lives, feelings, and thought and thus learn to appreciate them; and finally to note the elements of strength, virtue, and culture which have made these peoples great, and understand the contribution which they have given to civilization.

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PHILOSOPHY. ' I f Hr] course in philosophy was introduced in 1903 by Pres. N. E. Byers, who has charge of the department. ■ ■ Besides a brief introduction into the field of general philosophy the department includes the special disci- plines of psychology, logic, ethics, education and religion. The aim of the course is to satisfy in part the student ' s curiosity as to the nature of ultimate reality, to give him a practical and stable foundation and frame- work for his knowledge, to cultivate in him the habit of looking at things from a broad point of view and seeing an intelligible relationship between things which ordinarily seem seperate and exclusive, and to have him devel- op a unified personality in which all his departments of thought and activity are organically related. Prof. James would call Pres. Byers a tender-minded philosopher for he closes his courses with some form of idealistic theism and he convinces you that it is as gocd and as true a system as any and much more practical than most others. SCIENCE. THE loftiest aim of Science is to know the truth. With all the intricacies connected with such a high purpose, there have been individuals in every age who have given their time and means toward its realization. The early progress was slow, but recently the achievements have been so far-reaching that this is frequently called the scientific age. The multitude of varied phenomena that are constantly making their appeal to the human mind, are the ob- jects of thorough-going research. Men want to know their real natures ; their relations and inter-dependencies ; their causes and effects. Such a careful study of Nature reveals the close connections between Science and other fields of investiga- tion. It goes hand in hand with Mathematics, not only verifying its theories and laws, but also opening up larger and richer fields of investigation. It makes the richest contribution to philosophy, so that the progress of the former has to a very large extent determined that of the latter. To the ordinary mind, however, Science has nowhere made greater achievements than in the practical af- fairs of mankind, and its triumphs in this sphere have been a marvel to the age. But the individual who desires to experience the enjoyment of contributing to this growing fund of knowl- edge must lay a good foundation. He must start at the beginning. And the Department of Science at Goshen College presents such an opportunity. Beginning courses are offered in Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Ge- ology, and Astronomy, in which foundations are laid for more extensive future work.