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their interference with academic policy； and in injecting their
own peculiar bias into university affairs； that they count
substantially as corporate members of the academic body。 And in
these respects； what is said of the professional and technical
schools holds true also of the undergraduate departments。
It is quite feasible to have a university without
professional schools and without an undergraduate department； but
it is not possible to have one without due provision for that
non…utilitarian higher learning about which as a nucleus these
utilitarian disciplines cluster。 And this in spite of the
solicitous endeavours of the professional schools to make good
their footing as the substantial core of the corporation。
V
As intimated above； there are two main reasons for the
continued and tenacious connection between these schools and the
universities： （a） ancient tradition； fortified by the solicitous
ambition of the university directorate to make a brave show of
magnitude； and （b） the anxiety of these schools to secure some
degree of scholarly authentication through such a formal
connection with a seat of learning。 These two motives have now
and again pushed matters fairly to an extreme in the reactionary
direction。 So； for instance； the chances of intrigue and
extra…academic clamour have latterly thrown up certain men of
untempered 〃practicality〃 as directive heads of certain
universities； and some of these have gone so far as to avow a
reactionary intention to make the modern university a cluster of
professional schools or faculties； after the ancient barbarian
fashion。（9*） But such a policy of return to the lost crudities is
unworkable in the long run under modern conditions。 It may serve
excellently as a transient expedient in a campaign of popularity；
and such appears to have been its chief purpose where a move of
this kind has been advocated； but it runs on superficial grounds
and can afford neither hope nor fear of a permanent diversion in
the direction so spoken for。
In the modern community； under the strain of the price system
and the necessities of competitive earning and spending； many men
and women are driven by an habitual bias in favour of a higher
〃practical〃 efficiency in all matters of education； that is to
say； a more single…minded devotion to the needs of earning and
spending。 There is； indeed； much of this spirit abroad in the
community； and any candidate for popular favour and prestige may
find his own advantage in conciliating popular sentiment of this
kind。 But there is at the same time equally prevalent through the
community a long…term bias of another kind； such as will not
enduringly tolerate the sordid effects of pursuing an educational
policy that looks mainly to the main chance； and unreservedly
makes the means of life its chief end。 By virtue of this
long…term idealistic drift； any seminary of learning that plays
fast and loose in this way with the cultural interests entrusted
to its keeping loses caste and falls out of the running。 The
universities that are subjected in this fashion to an
experimental reversion to vocationalism； it appears； will
unavoidably return presently to something of the non…professional
type； on pain of falling into hopeless discredit。 There have been
some striking instances； but current not ions of delicacy will
scarcely admit a citation of nam es and dates。 And while the
long…term drift of the modern idealistic bias may not permit the
universities permanently to be diverted to the service of Mammon
in this fashion； yet the unremitting endeavours of 〃educators〃
seeking prestige for worldly wisdom results at the best in a
fluctuating state of compromise； in which the ill effects of such
bids for popularity are continually being outworn by the drift of
academic usage。
The point is illustrated by the American state universities
as a class； although the illustration is by no means uniformly
convincing。 The greater number of these state schools are not； or
are not yet； universities except in name。 These establishments
have been founded； commonly； with a professed utilitarian
purpose； and have started out with professional training as their
chief avowed aim。 The purpose made most of in their establishment
has commonly been to train young men for proficiency in some
gainful occupation； along with this have gone many
half…articulate professions of solicitude for cultural interests
to be taken care of by the same means。 They have been installed
by politicians looking for popular acclaim； rather than by men of
scholarly or scientific insight； and their management has not
infrequently been entrusted to political masters of intrigue；
with scant academic qualifications； their foundations has been
the work of practical politicians with a view to conciliate the
good will of a lay constituency clamouring for things tangibly
〃useful〃 that is to say； pecuniarily gainful。 So these experts
in short…term political prestige have made provision for schools
of a 〃practical〃 character； but they have named these
establishments 〃universities〃 because the name carries an air of
scholarly repute； of a higher； more substantial kind than any
naked avowal of material practicality would give。 Yet； in those
instances where the passage of time has allowed the readjustment
to take place； these quasi…〃universities；〃 installed by men of
affairs； of a crass 〃practicality；〃 and in response to the
utilitarian demands of an unlearned political constituency； have
in the long run taken on more and more of an academic；
non…utilitarian character； and have been gradually falling into
line as universities claiming a place among the seminaries of the
higher learning。 The long…term drift of modern cultural ideals
leaves these schools no final resting place short of the
university type； however far short of such a consummation the
greater number of them may still be found。
What has just been said of the place which the university
occupies in modern civilization； and more particularly of the
manner in which it is to fill its place； may seem something of a
fancy sketch。 It is assuredly not a faithful description of any
concrete case； by all means not of any given American university；
nor does it faithfully describe the line of policy currently
pursued by the directorate of any such establishment。 Yet it is
true to the facts； taken in a generalized way； and it describes
the type to which the American schools unavoidably gravitat