A Western View of the Elective System.

I cannot speak too warmly of the earnest, manly, and studious spirit which has pervaded in the University in recent years. I believe that the professors in the literary department are agreed in the opinion that the introduction of the elective system into the last two or two and a half years of the collegiate courses has contributed much to this result. There has been in years past much undiscriminating criticism by some ultra-conservative college officers in the East of any attempt at modifying the iron-clad curriculum. But it is noteworthy that the very colleges which have been the sources of this criticism are themselves introducing the elective system into the latter half of the course. The commendations of it, which the men have so stoutly opposed it are now forced to make in justification of the change, form interesting reading to those of us who have long believed that there was no solution of the problem of meeting the demands properly made on American colleges, save by introducing some flexibility into the old traditional curriculum. The fear often expressed that students will generally abuse or unwisely use the liberty granted them of choosing to some extent their studies has not been shown by our experience to be well founded. Doubtless a few indolent persons will elect what they regard as easy work. But they will even then accomplish as much as they do when forced to attempt hard work, which they never perform except in the most perfunctory manner. No plan will make the college career of lazy men brilliant. The advantage to industrious men of generous liberty of choice of studies, after they have made a fair advance in fundamental and elementary studies, is very pronounced. And the work of a college should be organized to meet the needs of the earnest and aspiring students rather than the infirmities and defects of the indolent. - Pres. Angell's Annual Report to Regents of Michigan University.