the higher learning in america-第34节
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constructions than for any other academic use。 It appears that
the successful men of affairs to whom the appeal for funds is
directed; find these wasteful; ornate and meretricious edifices a
competent expression of their cultural hopes and ambitions。
NOTES:
1。 A single illustrative instance may serve to show how the land
lies in this respect; even though it may seem to the uninitiated
to be an extreme if not an exaggerated case; while it may perhaps
strike those familiar with these matters as a tedious
commonplace。 A few years ago; in one of the larger; younger and
more enterprising universities; a commodious laboratory; well
appointed and adequately decorated; was dedicated to one of the
branches of biological science。 To meet the needs of scientific
work such a laboratory requires the services of a corps of
experienced and intelligent assistants and caretakers;
particularly where the establishment is equipped with modern
appliances for heating; ventilation and the like; as was the case
in this instance。 In this laboratory the necessary warmth was
supplied by what is sometimes called the method of indirect steam
heat; that is to say; the provision for heat and for ventilation
were combined in one set of appliances; by bringing the needed
air from the open through an outdoor 〃intake;〃 passing it over
steam…heated coils (in the basement of the building); and so
distributing the air necessary for ventilation; at the proper
temperature; throughout the building by means of a suitable
arrangement of air…shafts。 Such was the design。 But intelligent
service comes high; and ignorant janitors are willing to
undertake what may be asked of them。 And sufficient warmth can be
had in an inclement climate and through a long winter season only
at an appreciable expense。 So; with a view to economy; and
without the knowledge of the scientific staff who made use of the
laboratory; the expedient was hit upon by the academic executive;
in consultation with a suitable janitor; that the outdoor intake
be boarded up tightly。 so that the air which passed over the
heating coils and through the air…shafts to the laboratory rooms
was thenceforth drawn not from the extremely cold atmosphere of
outdoors but from the more temperate supply that filled the
basement and had already had the benefit of circulating over the
steam coils and through the ventilating shafts。 By this means an
obvious saving in fuel would be effected; corresponding to the
heat differential between the outdoor air; at some 0* to …20* and
that already confined in the building; at some 60*。 How long this
fuel…saving expedient was in force can not well be ascertained;
but it is known to have lasted at least for more than one season。
The members of the scientific staff meantime mysteriously but
persistently fell sick after a few weeks of work in the
laboratory; recurrently after each return from enforced
vacations。 Until; in the end; moved by persistent suspicions of
sewer…gas which; by the way; had in the meantime cost some
futile inconvenience and expense occasioned by unnecessary
overhauling of the plumbing one of the staff pried into the
janitor's domain in the basement; where he found near the chamber
of the steam coils a loosely closed man…hole leading into the
sewers; from which apparently such air was drawn as would
necessarily go to offset the current leakage from this closed
system of ventilation。
2。 This is a nearly universal infirmity of American university
policy; but it is doubtless not to be set down solely to the
account of the penchant for a large publicity on the part of the
several academic executives。 It is in all likelihood due as much
to the equally ubiquitous inability of the governing boards to
appreciate or to perceive what the current needs of the academic
work are; or even what they are like。 Men trained in the conduct
of business enterprise; as the governing boards are; will have
great difficulty in persuading themselves that expenditures which
yield neither increased dividends nor such a durable physical
product as can be invoiced and added to the capitalization; can
be other than a frivolous waste of good money; so that what is
withheld from current academic expenditure is felt to be saved;
while that expenditure which leaves a tangible residue of
(perhaps useless) real estate is; by force of ingrained habit;
rated as new investment。
CHAPTER V
The Academic Personnel
As regards the personnel of the academic staff the control
enforced by the principles of competitive business is more
subtle; complex and far…reaching; and should merit more
particular attention。 The staff is the university; or it should
so be if the university is to deserve the place assigned it in
the scheme of civilization。 Therefore the central and gravest
question touching current academic policy is the question of its
bearing on the personnel and the work which there is for them to
do。 In the apprehension of many critics the whole question of
university control is comprised in the dealings of the executive
with the staff。
Whether the power of appointment vests formally in one man or
in a board; in American practice it commonly vests; in effect; in
the academic executive。 In practice; the power of removal; as
well as that of advancement; rests in the same hands。 The
businesslike requirements of the case bring it to this outcome de
facto; whatever formalities of procedure may intervene de jure。
It lies in the nature of the case that this appointing power
will tend to create a faculty after its own kind。 It will be
quick to recognize efficiency within the lines of its own
interests; and slower to see fitness in those lines that lie
outside of its horizon; where it must necessarily act on outside
solicitation and hearsay evidence。
The selective effect of such a bias; guided as one might say;
by a 〃consciousness of kind;〃 may be seen in those establishments
that have remained under clerical tutelage; where; notoriously;
the first qualification looked to in an applicant for work as a
teacher is his religious bias。 But the bias of these governing
boards and executives that are under clerical control has after
all been able to effect only a partial; though far…reaching;
conformity to clerical ideals of fitness in the faculties so
selected; more especially in the larger and modernized schools of
this class。 In practice it is found necessary somewhat to wink at
devotional shortcomings among their teachers; clerical; or
pronouncedly devout; scientists that are passably competent in
their science; are of very rare occurrence; and yet something
presentable in the way of modern science is conventionally
required by these schools; in order to live; and so to effect any
part of their purpose。 Half a loaf is better than no bread。 None
but the precarious class of schools made up of the lower grade
and smaller of these colleges; such as are content to save their
souls alive without exerting any effect on the current of
civilization; are able to get along with faculties made up
exclusively of God…fearing men。
Something of the same kind; and in somewhat the same degree;
is true for the schools under the tutelage of businessmen。 While
the businesslike ideal may be a faculty wholly made up of men
highly gifted with business sense; it is not practicable to
assemble such a faculty which shall at the same time be plausibly
competent in science and scholarship。 Scientists and scholars
given over to the pursuit of knowledge are conventionally
indispensable to a university; and such are commonly not largely
gifted with business sense; either by habit or by native gift。
The two lines of interest business and science do not pull
together; a competent scientist or scholar well endowed with
business sense is as rare as a devout scientist almost as rare
as a white blackbird。 Yet the inclusion of men of scientific
gifts and attainments among its faculty is indispensable to the
university; if it is to avoid instant and palpable
stultification。
So that the most that can practically be accomplished by a
businesslike selection and surveillance of the academic personnel
will be a compromise; whereby a goodly number of the faculty will
be selected on grounds of businesslike fitness; more or less
pronounce