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lock…step with several others with which it had no more vital
articulation than the lock…step in question。
Articulation and co…ordination is good and requisite where
and so far as it is intrinsic to the work in hand； but it all
comes to nothing better than systematized lag； leak and friction；
so soon as it is articulation and coordination in other terms and
for other ends than the performance of the work in hand。 It is
also true； the coalition of these several school units into a
pseudo…aggregate under a centralized control gives a deceptive
appearance of a massive engine working to some common end； but；
again； mass movement comes to nothing better than inhibition and
misdirection when it involves a coalition of working units whose
work is necessarily to be done in severalty。
Left to themselves the several schools would have to take
care each of its own affairs and guide its endeavours by the
exigencies of its own powers and purposes； with such regard to
inter…collegiate comity and courtesy as would be required by the
substantial relations then subsisting between them； by virtue of
their common employment in academic work。
In what has just been said； it is not forgotten that the
burden of their own affairs would be thrown back on the
initiative and collective discretion of the several faculties； so
soon as the several schools had once escaped from the trust…like
coalition in which they are now held。 As has abundantly appeared
in latterday practice； these faculties have in such matters
proved themselves notable chiefly for futile disputation； which
does not give much promise of competent self…direction on their
part； in case they were given a free hand。 It is to be recalled；
however； that this latterday experience of confirmed incompetence
has been gathered under the overshadowing presence of a
surreptitiously and irresponsibly autocratic executive； vested
with power of use and abuse； and served by a corps of adroit
parliamentarians and lobbyists； ever at hand to divert the
faculty's action from any measure that might promise to have a
substantial effect。 By force of circumstances； chief of which is
the executive office； the faculties have become deliberative
bodies charged with power to talk。 Their serious attention has
been taken up with schemes for weighing imponderables and
correlating incommensurables； with such a degree of
verisimilitude as would keep the statistics and accountancy of
the collective administration in countenance； and still leave
some play in the joints of the system for the personal relation
of teacher and disciple。 It is a nice problem in self…deception；
chiefly notable for an endless proliferation。
At the same time it is well known too well known to
command particular attention that in current practice； and of
necessity； the actual effective organization of each of these
constituent school units devolves on the working staff； in so far
as regards the effectual work to be done。 even to the selection
of its working members and the apportionment of the work。 It is
all done 〃by authority〃 of course； and must all be arranged
discreetly； with an ulterior view to its sanction by the
executive and its due articulation with the scheme of publicity
at large； but in all these matters the executive habitually comes
into bearing only as a （powerful） extraneous and alien
interference； almost wholly inhibitory； in effect； even though
with a show of initiative and creative guidance。 And this
inhibitory surveillance is exercised chiefly on grounds of
conciliatory notoriety towards the outside； rather than on
grounds that touch the efficiency of the staff for the work in
hand。 Such efficiency is commonly not barred； it is believed； so
long as it does not hinder the executive's quest of the greater
glory。 There is； in effect； an inhibitory veto power touching the
work and its ways and means。
But even when taken at its best； and when relieved of the
inhibition and deflection worked by the executive； such an
academic body can doubtless be counted on to manage its
collective affairs somewhat clumsily and incompetently。 There can
be no hope of trenchant policy and efficient control at their
hands； and； it should be added； there need be no great fear of
such an outcome。 The result should； in so far； be nearly clear
gain； as against the current highly efficient management by an
executive。 Relatively little administration or control would be
needed in the resulting small…scale units； except in so far as
they might carry over into the new r間ime an appreciable burden
of extra…scholastic traffic in the way of athletics；
fraternities； student activities； and the like； and except so far
as regards those schools that might still continue to be
〃gentlemen's colleges；〃 devoted to the cultivation of the
irregularities of adolescence and to their transfusion with a
conventional elegance； these latter； being of the nature of penal
settlements； would necessarily require government by a firm hand。
That work of intimately personal contact and guidance； in a
community of intellectual enterprise； that makes up the substance
of efficient teaching； would； it might fairly be hoped； not be
seriously hindered by the ill…co…ordinated efforts of such an
academic assembly； even if its members had carried over a good
share of the mechanistic frame of mind induced by their
experience under the r間ime of standardization and accountancy。
Indeed； there might even be ground to hope that； on the
dissolution of the trust； the underlying academic units would
return to that ancient footing of small…scale parcelment and
personal communion between teacher and student that once made the
American college； with all its handicap of poverty； chauvinism
and denominational bias； one of the most effective agencies of
scholarship in Christendom。
The hope or delusion would be that the staff in each of
the resulting disconnected units might be left to conduct its own
affairs； and that they would prove incapable of much concerted
action or detailed control。 It should be plain that no other and
extraneous power； such as the executive or the governing boards；
is as competent or； indeed； competent in any degree to take
care of these matters； as are the staff who have the work to do。
All this is evident to any one who is at all conversant with the
run of academic affairs as currently conducted on the grand
scale； inasmuch as it is altogether a matter of course and of
common notoriety within the precinct