Morningside College - Sioux Yearbook (Sioux City, IA)

Page 12 text:

Department Of Greek The chief aim of this department is to develop in the student an appreciation of the various expressions of the Greek genius as found in the Greek literature, philosophy and art. Wlpile an accurate knowledge of the language is regarded as fundamental to all Hellenic study, an effort is made to emphasize those features which contribute most to the development of modern culture and civilization. Since so few high schools offer Greek, an opportunity is given those who wish knowledge of the subject, to begin it in college. The courses are so ar- ranged by the time the student has completed four years of Greek he has been int1'oduced to each of the different phases of Greek literature. In the advanced courses the work is more intensive. A year is devoted to the study of Demos- thenes' speech, On the Crown, and to the reading of some of Plato's shorter dialogues. A year is devoted to the study of the Greek drama, representative plays of each of the great dramatists of the classical period being read. A two-hour course throughout the year is given in the Greek testament. This presupposes the ability to read easy prose, and an effort is made to read rapidly large parts of the Gospels, the Acts, and parts of the Epistles of Paul. VVhile intended, primarily for prospective ministers it will be helpful to anyone who wishes to read the Greek Scriptures in the original. ' l For some time there has been a demand for a course in the Greek drama HENIQX' Fiuaulzklcic TqAN'l'IIl.liNlERA, A. M. which does not require a knowledge of the Greek language. Next year there will be offered a semester course having for its object the study of the Greek drama through the English translations. A special emphasis will be laid on the history of the Greek drama and its in- fluence on the modern drama. There will also be given next year for the first time an elementary course, during the second semester, on Greek art. The purpose of the course will be to call the attention to the spirit and the principles of Greek art and to acquaint the student with the great masterpieces of Hellenic art, still extant. The Greek temple will be studied .in detail. A brief survey will also be given of painting and the lesser arts among the Greeks. Greek is entirely elective. Five years' work, including the elementary work, is required for the completion of a major.

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Department of nglish The modern conception of the study of English is a far broader one than that of the past. English has come to mean more than the mere reading and writing of beautiful lines and it is a generally accepted fact, though it stands in striking contrast to former ideas, that the English student of today requires as great mental capacity as the student of history or science. Under the modern method of teaching, English is so correlated with other branches that the student learns much of the customs. the history and the peoples of the period in which the litera- ture he is studying, was written. Morningside has kept pace with the evolution of this concept of the study of English and each year the equipment of the de- partment is increased and the courses in composition and literature are made more comprehensive, and each year the opportunities which it affords are taken advantage of by an increasing number of students. Briefly stated, the department has two aims: First of all, and because it is the essential foundation of a higher and broader culture, it aims to teach the student to write intelligent English. To write one's thoughts in a simple. logical, or artistic manner is an accomplishment which has more than a superficial value and one which plays an important part in the equipment for whatever l i field of work the student chooses to occupy. The several theme courses by means HIC'-EN il5-NlHil-l- I-UVIEI--NNIL A- U- of which this aim is accomplished furnish ample practice in the various types of literary forms. The second aim is concerned with the study of the wealth of literature in which our mother tongue abounds. Incidently the requirements of the study of literature are taught and these are skillfully interwoven with the work in English composi- tion, for success in the latter is an inevitable sequence of a careful observation of the forms, the diction and the style of the standard English writers. Primarily, however. the aim is to inculcate in the heart of each individual student an apprecia- tion for and a love of good literature. Unconsciously our taste in literature is a standard by whicbiwe may measure our- selves and by which other people very often measure us, and as a careful and appreciative study of the great masters of litera- ture can but result in the growth of the nobler qualities of the the mind, Morningside College has an able assistant in the development of strong manhood and womanhood, the English Department.

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Rlcvmxula G1ucvNA1.n, A, M, Department of French The department of French Language and Literature is one of the strong departments of the school, including at present about one hundred students. Prof. R. ll. Greynald, the head of the department, has held that position since the year 1896, succeeding llliss Marion Stover, the professor of French in the old University of the Northwest. During the year 1896 there were but three students in the first year class, and one in, the second year, the classes reciting three times a week. Under the able leadership of Prof. Greynald, the depart- ment has been built up to its present high standard. The text-book used at first was Chardenal's Complete French Course, but later Longman's French Grammer was substituted, which is now in use, it being but a two years' course, thus better meeting the needs of the students, as many of them take only two years of French. and some only one. The grammar course is intersperced with readings from prominent French authors, the selection of which varies from year to year. Three years of French are offered to students, besides a course in scientific French for those wishing to pursue special work along that line. As a rule, students are able to read prose Hnently at the end of the first year: but it requires fully two years of study to learn to speak the language. Pupils who limit their knowledge of French to one year's study cannot expect to reap much benefit from it, although they can master the language well enough to read it tluently, and to be admitted to the higher Universities. In this respect, the year 1907-1908 promises to be among the best, for at the end of the first semester, many of the first year students were able to understand spoken French.