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

Page 13 text:

Loyola College. THE CLASSICAL COURSE. Collegiate Instruction at Loyola is based on the idea that a complete liberal education should aim at developing all the powers of the mind, and should cultivate no one faculty to an exaggerated degree at the expense of the others. Dur- ing the early part of the course, the student ' s attention is prin- cipally devoted to acquiring an accurate knowledge of his native tongue and of elementary mathematics, with all the branches ordinarily taught to boys from twelve to fifteen years of age. At the same time the rudiments of the Latin tongue are mastered, and the study of grammar is thus made from the beginning comparative and analytical. By means of constant oral and written exercises, the study is rendered thoroughly practical. In the second year Greek is begun, followed in the third, by French or German. As the pupil advances, his judgment is exercised more and more, while less attention is given to mere memory work. When, after three years of preparation, he reaches the College course, properly so called, he is supposed to be able to read with some facility Latin, Greek, and either French or German. In the first year of the College course he perfects his knowledge of the grammar of these languages, especially Latin and Greek, that he may have the tools of literary work under his control. He then devotes himself more particularly to the cultivation of his literary tastes and powers, by reading and imitating the best models of ancient and modern literature. The year of Poetry is given to the training of the imagination. The nature of poetry is explained, the technicalities of verse-making are

Page 12 text:

8 Catalogue of of study. Whatever, therefore, is contrary to good breeding, or would be out of place in good society, is equally out of place in the college. The college considers itself bound by the strictest contract to procure, as far as possible, the ad- vancement of all its students ; but only on one condition, that the parents or guardians fulfil their part of the contract by complying with the college regulations. Despite all the pro- fessor ' s painstaking, it is impossible to insure success without close and constant application on the part of the students themselves, outside of class hours. Parents and guardians, accordingly, are informed that home study for the space of three hours is required every day. Home study being secured, the next requisites for success are regular attendance and punctuality. Absence, even for a short time, lowers class standing so rapidly, that the college prefers a student to with- draw altogether rather than not attend regularly. It requires, therefore, attendance from the first day, attendance every day, and attendance the whole day. Classes begin precisely at 9 a. m. and close at 2.30 p. m. ; a short recess occurs at 10.45 a. m., and a long one at 12.40 p. m. Weekly Holiday. Thursday has been chosen in prefer- ence to Saturday, as affording a more natural break in the routine of study, and enabling the minds of the students to be fresher for their books at the end of the week. Terms. The tuition for every department, payable quar- terly in advance, is $12.50. Students in Chemistry and Nat- ural Philosophy pay $10.00 per annum for use of materials and apparatus. Diploma for any degree, $10.00. Admission. In the case of every candidate for admission who is not personally known -to some member of the Faculty, a satisfactory certificate must be furnished. Boys are admitted to the Class of Rudiments who have reached the age of twelve years, and are so far developed in mind, and so well acquainted with the elements of English, as to enable them to begin with profit the study of Latin. Arithmetic must be known, at least to the end of Fractions.

Page 14 text:

10 Catalogue of mastered and practised, and the great poets are carefully studied. Then comes the year of Rhetoric ; during which the student ' s critical powers are exercised and developed, poets and prose writers are scientifically analyzed, the principles of oratory are carefully examined, and the speeches of the world ' s greatest orators are read and discussed. While this literary training has been going on, the course of mathematics has been steadily continued, and natural science, in its various branches, has been taken up, as soon as the development of the mind admitted of its being pursued in a systematic and scientific way. The last year of the course serves, especially, to discipline the reason- ing faculties by the study of Logic, Metaphysics, and Ethics, and by higher studies in the natural sciences. During this year great attention is given to Metaphysics, a thorough knowl- edge of which is regarded as of the utmost importance, since it serves to arrange systematically all the student ' s knowledge and furnish the key to all true science. Whatever is important in natural science is taken into the course, and taught with a philosophical analysis intended to guard the student against that confounding of mere information with learning, which is the threatening danger in modern education. This is a bird ' s- eye view of the world- famed classical course — a course much misunderstood, but whose success in developing and training all the powers of the mind, and rendering it capable to under- stand and appreciate all branches of learning, centuries of practical experience make manifest. This course, which serves as a foundation for special training in any branch which the student, with his mind matured and trained, may decide to take up, is obligatory on all ; to render it in any considerable degree elective, would be to defeat its very end and aim.