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the point which this segmentation of the school year would
indicate。 So also there prevails a system of grading the credits
allowed for the performance of these units of task…work； by
percentages （often carried out to decimals） or by some equivalent
scheme of notation； and in the more solicitously perfected
schemes of control of this task…work； the percentages so turned
in will then be further digested and weighed by expert
accountants； who revise and correct these returns by the help of
statistically ascertained index numbers that express the mean
average margin of error to be allowed for each individual student
or instructor。
In point of formal protestation； the standards set up in this
scholastic accountancy are high and rigorous； in application； the
exactions of the credit system must not be enforced in so
inflexible a spirit as to estrange that much…desired contingent
of genteel students whose need of an honourable discharge is
greater than their love of knowledge。 Neither must its demands on
the student's time and energy be allowed seriously to interfere
with those sports and 〃student activities〃 that make up the chief
attraction of college life for a large proportion of the
university's young men； and that are； in the apprehension of
many； so essential a part in the training of the modern
gentleman。
Such a system of accountancy acts to break the continuity and
consistency of the work of instruction and to divert the interest
of the students from the work in hand to the making of a passable
record in terms of the academic 〃miner's inch。〃 Typically； this
miner's inch is measured in terms of standard text per time unit；
and the immediate objective of teacher and student so becomes the
compassing of a given volume of prescribed text； in print or
lecture form； leading up to the broad principle： 〃Nichts als
was im Buche steht。〃 Which puts a premium on mediocrity and
perfunctory work； and brings academic life to revolve about the
office of the Keeper of the Tape and Sealing Wax。 Evidently this
organization of departments； schedules of instruction； and scheme
of scholastic accountancy； is a matter that calls for insight and
sobriety on the part of the executive； and in point of fact there
is much deliberation and solicitude spent on this behalf。
The installation of a rounded system of scholastic
accountancy brings with it； if it does not presume； a painstaking
distribution of the personnel and the courses of instruction into
a series of bureaux or departments。 Such an organization of the
forces of the establishment facilitates the oversight and control
of the work； at the same time that it allows the array of
scheduled means； appliances and personnel at its disposal to be
statistically displayed to better effect。 Under existing
circumstances of rivalry among these institutions of learning；
there is need of much shrewd management to make all the available
forces of the establishment count toward the competitive end； and
in this composition it is the part of worldly wisdom to see that
appearances may often be of graver consequence than achievement；
as is true in all competitive business that addresses its
appeal to a large and scattered body of customers。 The
competition is for custom； and for such prestige as may procure
custom； and these potential customers on whom it is desirable to
produce an impression； especially as regards the undergraduate
school； are commonly laymen who are expected to go on current
rumour and the outward appearance of things academic。
The exigencies of competitive business； particularly of such
retail trade as seems chiefly to have contributed to the
principles of businesslike management in the competing schools；
throw the stress on appearances。 In such business； the 〃good
will〃 of the concern has come to be （ordinarily） its most valued
and most valuable asset。 The visible success of the concern； or
rather the sentiments of confidence and dependence inspired in
potential customers by this visible success； is capitalized as
the chief and most substantial element of the concern's
intangible assets。 And the accumulation of such intangible
assets； to be gained by convincing appearances and well…devised
pronouncements； has become the chief object of persistent
endeavour on the part of sagacious business men engaged in such
lines of traffic。 This； that the substance must not be allowed to
stand in the way of the shadow； is one of the fundamental
principles of management which the universities； under the
guidance of business ideals； have taken over from the wisdom of
the business community。
Accepting the point of view of the captains of erudition； and
so looking on the universities as competitive business concerns；
and speaking in terms applicable to business concerns generally；
the assets of these seminaries of learning are in an exceptional
degree intangible assets。 There is； of course； the large item of
the good…will or prestige of the university as a whole；
considered as a going concern。 But this collective body of
〃immaterial capital〃 that pertains to the university at large is
made up in great part of the prestige of divers eminent persons
included among its personnel and incorporated in the fabric of
its bureaucratic departments； and not least the prestige of its
executive head； in very much the same way as the like will hold
true； e。 g。； for any company of public amusement； itinerant or
sedentary； such as a circus； a theatrical or operatic enterprise；
which all compete for the acclamation and custom of those to whom
these matters appeal。
For the purposes of such competition the effectual prestige
of the university as a whole； as well as the detail prestige of
its personnel； is largely the prestige which it has with the
laity rather than with the scholarly classes。 And it is safe to
say that a somewhat more meretricious showing of magnitude and
erudition will pass scrutiny； for the time being； with the laity
than with the scholars。 Which suggests the expediency for the
university； as a going concern competing for the traffic； to take
recourse to a somewhat more tawdry exhibition of quasi…scholarly
feats； and a somewhat livelier parade of academic splendour and
magnitude； than might otherwise be to the taste of such a body of
scholars and scientists。 As a business proposition； the
meretricious quality inherent in any given line of publicity
should not consign it to neglect； so long as it is found
effectual for the end in view。
Competitiv