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Vol. JX UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, J903. No. 80.
I
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WON'T KEEP IT UP
The New Examination Scheme Likely to
be Quietly Abandoned.
NOT SATISFACTORY EVEN TO THOSE 0MONATING IT
No Advantages to Offset the
were Discovered when
Ttaa people ot the University were
given a great surprise at the end of
last semester by the sudden announce
ment that examinations would not be
held in the usual way." but that classeB
would be massed in largo rooms, where
all examinations would take place.
This announcement was sent out from
the administrative office to all the pro
fessors and instructors tho Thursday
previous to examination week. What
It all meant, no one was quite able to
determine. The announcement Btated
that- the object of the change was to
secure the students "better light, heat
and ventilation" for their tedious two
hour examinutiontf. Thcie was u feel
ing generally, however, that something
more was sought than merely these
accommodations for the students, and
that the new system was simply an
attempt to eliminate some of the evils
that attend ordinary examinations.
Both professors and students began
to speculate on the real object of the
change and the arrangements that
would be made t6 accommodate such
a large number of Btudents where
there were no tables or chairs fitted
especially for writing. Tho plan was
not openly objected to, but expressions
of disapproval wore common. Tho ac
tion taken by some of the professors
was strong evidence that tho Introduc
tion of the new system, without either
the knowledge or approval of the fac-
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Numerous Inconveniences that
it was Put to the Test
ulty as a whole, was considered as
rather an encroachment upon faculty
rights. Some examinations were
avoided altogether, some given at dif
ferent times and places than the
schedule called for, and others were
supplemented by extra, work on the
part of the Individual members of the
dlfferont classes. Most classes, how
over, met the requirement and went
through tho ordeal. Memorial hall, tho
old chapel, and the art gallery were
the large rooms most used in giving
the examinations. J2ach class was
given a section o the room. Posters
told the students which section to
occupy, and'in3tead of chairs wlth e.
wide arpr'on which to write, the seats
ordlparlly used In these rooms were
maa'e use of and the students com
pelled to write on lap-boards.
Now that examination week Is past
and tho second semester well begun,
the inquiry is made as to whether the
new plan of conducting examinations
met the expectations of the University
administration, and whether it will be
continued in tho future. Little can bo
learned regarding the origin of the
scheme, its real object, or tho plans
regarding future examinations, but It
is known that the experiment was not
regarded as a success, and that the new
system Is not permanent. One trial
has been sufficient to Batlsfy the origi
nators of the new method that there
are no particular advantages In It suf
ficient to Justify ItB continuation. No
express announcement of its abandon
ment can bo obtained from headquar
ters, but various indications point
clearly to a quiet return to the older
method.
Among the members of the faculty
opposition is almost unanimous, and
varies chiefly In the intensity of its
expression. Some of them were In
clined to bo rather emphatic In their
condemnation, asserting that tho sys
tem would Inevitably lead to the abo
lition of examinations ly the majority
of instructors. Others moroly say that
the system worked no .better than thoy
expected 1$ to, and they did not beliove
ft would bo tried again. For tho gen
eral feeling of disapproval the sud
denness of the appearance of the new
scheme Is no doubt largely responsible,
and a good many hasty expressions
will probably be withdrawn when ft is
discovered that no further attempt will
be made to carry it out That it will
be abandoned is almoBt a certainty,
and its dlsappearapce will be welcomed
by practically every one who came In
contact with it.
Our Zmsday Letter
It Is tho hope of The Ncbraskan
to fill this column each Tuesday with
a letter from somo alumnus of tho
University who is at present outstdo of
the state. After a week or two, these
letters will bo especially written to and
for Tho Nebraskan; but tho following
extracts from a personal lettor of
Frank S. Phllbrick, '00, enable us to
begin the series at once through tho
use of borrowed material. Mr. Phil
brick writes from Berlin University,
which ho soon loaveB for a somester
at the University of Paris. Ed.
A NEBRASKAN AT BERLIN.
I fell In love with Germany at first
sight, during my first five days In
Hamburg and Hannover, but I long
ago recovered. Hamburg is a very
handsome city with a hustling and
Interesting street life. There Is no
crush of business such an an Amer
ican expects in such a port Still less
can ono find In Berlin such a thing,
although a city of two million; nor la
there any quarter that can vie In mas
sive blocks with the heart of Amer
ican cities of equal size. But for clean
liness, solidity, variety of architecture
in city blocks, and street life com
bined, I do not know how wo could
pass Hamburg. Hannover Is a beau
tiful place with Bomo charming resi
dence districts not merely modern
and beautiful houses (or "villas," or
"palaces" they would call thom horc
doubtless). though there are. plenty of
J those but vlth a mingling of old
places and formal gardens that tono
down their neighbors pleasantly. Ber
lin Is not particularly attractive ex
ternally. Its business streets are only
ordinary. It has no heavy, handsome
city street, but only blocks rather fit
ting a city the size of Hannover.
Unter der Linden, though It has some
brilliant cafes and shops, is nothing
extra as a business street at all; and
though flanked by several palaces, em
bassies, etc., and beautiful with rows
of limes along broad pedestrian ways
In Its center, it Is rather mediocre as
a boulevard In short, a decided dis
appointment. Germans do not know tho comforts
of life in their homes, and an Amer
ican's first weeks here are consequent
ly unpleasant. Business Is not quite so
easy In somo ways, either partly be
cause of formality and slowness, as In
banks, and partly because of official
self-esteem. Besides, as you will bo
told when you look for rooms, an
Americans" are rich; nothing is too
high for tho "American standard," and
as sure as your face, speech, broad
shoes, flared coat or rolled hat betrays
your nationality, so surely will people
"do" you If they can. I know one
Westerner hero whoso theory Is that
whenever he asks a price in a store
he must buy something, and that It 4s
easier to pay any bill than to object.
You can imagine tho results of such a
lack of back-bone, financially.
The University of Berlin- has some
remarkable departments as compared
with our own schools. They give al
most 870 courses In medicine, and ono
can learn almost any Oriental language
that he pleases. This latter, however,
Is peculiar to Berlin and is not trvp of
other German universities, being the
result of engrafting on the university
hero what Is practically an independ
ent school for the linguistic training
of candidates for the colonial and dip
lomatic services. In history and polit
ical science the opportunities do not
seem to mo extraordinarily remark
able although there is of course no
school at home where ono could begin
to have the courses given here in his
torical aids. Only a few general
courses even are given in modern his
tory. But courses in everything
courses for beginners, courses tabids,
seminars, etc. tho cataloguo makes
a rath or formidable list.
Tho Royal Library, of about 1,000,
000 volumes, has a manuscript author
catalogue, very Imperfect from an
American point of viow, and in its old
er parts often exceedingly hard to road.
Tho BUbJcct catalogue, such as it is, can
only bo consulted by special permis
sion. Thus tho most important part
of a library to ono working up a sub
ject is hero inaccessible. So, too, with
tho Unlvorslty Library. This has only
about 200,000 volumes and Is very un
ovon outside of German literature. Of
courso American books are In gonoral
unknown. At tho Royal library the
choice of our periodicals Is fairly full,
but peculiar, In medicine wo aro
rightly onough fairly represented, but
not more than fairly. Thoy havo tho
North American Review, but no othor
serious or political magazine; none of
our lltorarles tho Atlantic, Scrlbners,
Harpers, Century; thoy havo tho
American Historical Review, but not
tho Political Science Quartorly, tho
Quarterly Journal of Economics, or tho
publications of - either - the-Amorican
Economic Association or tho American
Academy. .Johns Hopkins Is tho only
university whoBe publications are put
in tho periodical room, and I suppose,
no others aro known horo savo through
University exchanges.
Last year thero wore 150 American
mon and 52 women in tho Unlvorslty.
Many who como aro undoubtedly
"weak sisters." Wd aro Judged In tho.
jpaln by, those whfl.romowid XntfioljrsviU .
so long as any come, German conceit'
draws tho conclusion ana sometimes
American students aro told so that
the best come, and becauso wo havo no
schools- in tho United States.
So far I havo boon hearing a good.? y
many lectures, and for about a montfi;
Bhall probably continue them. Froin -
tho first I havo been able to foljofy
the general drift of things, and,no,w,
get almoBt everything when payings
close attention; but I cannot$take '.
notes without Instantly losing gYtftittd,
becauso the professors speak too fast,
for me to take their words exactly, and
Uf I try to put it othorwiso of course '
Kno lecture sweeps by me. In fact, I
havo done little work. Tho language
Is perhaps tho most important thing
Just now. General reading to help mo
In that I am doing, but little Qf special
historical reading. Later I shall try
to do considerable reading on political
theories, and somo on Prussia.
PRANK S. PHILBRICK.
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