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scale； inasmuch as it is altogether a matter of course and of
common notoriety within the precincts； that this is precisely
what these constituent schools and units now have to do； each and
several； with the sole qualification that they now have to take
care of these matters under the inhibitory surveillance of the
executive and his extraneous interests； and under the exactions
of a super…imposed scheme of mechanical standardization and
accountancy that accounts for nothing but its superimposition。 At
the same time the working force of the staff is hampered with a
load of dead timber imported into its body to administer a
routine of control and accountancy exacted by the executive's
need of a creditable publicity （15*）
This highly conjectural tracing of consequences to follow
from this hypothetical dissolution of the trust； may as well be
pursued into a point or two of detail； as touches those units of
the university coalition that have an immediate interest in point
of scholarship； the Collegiate （〃Arts〃） division and the
Graduate School。 The former being left to its own devices and； it
might be hoped； being purified of executive megalomania； it
should seem probable that something of a reversion would take
effect； in the direction of that simpler scheme of scholarship
that prevailed in the days before the coming of electives。 It was
in the introduction of electives； and presently of alternatives
and highly flexible curricula； that the move first set in which
carried the American college off its footing as a school of
probation and introduction to the scholarly life； and has left it
a job…lot of ostensibly conclusive short…cuts into the trades and
professions。 It need not follow that the ancient curriculum would
be re…established； but it should seem reasonable that a move
would take effect in the direction of something like a modern
equivalent。 The Graduate School； on the other hand； having lost
the drag of the collegiate division and the vocational schools；
should come into action as a shelter where the surviving remnant
of scholars and scientists might pursue their several lines of
adventure； in teaching and in inquiry； without disturbance to or
from the worldly…wise who clamour for the greater glory。
Now； all this speculation as to what might happen has； of
course； little else than a speculative value。 It is not intended；
seriously and as a practical measure； to propose the abolition of
the president's office； or of the governing board； nor is it
intended to intimate that the captain of erudition can be
dispensed with in fact。 He is too dear to the commercialized
popular imagination； and he fits too convincingly into the
businessmen's preconceived scheme of things； to permit any such
sanguine hope of surcease from skilled malpractice and
malversation。 All that is here intended to he said is nothing
more than the obiter dictum that； as seen from the point of view
of the higher learning； the academic executive and all his works
are anathema； and should be discontinued by the simple expedient
of wiping him off the slate； and that the governing board； in so
far as it presumes to exercise any other than vacantly
perfunctory duties； has the same value and should with advantage
be lost in the same shuffle。
NOTES：
1。 〃He has stifled all manly independence and individuality
wherever it has exhibited itself at college。 All noble idealism；
and all the graces of poetry and art have been shrivelled by his
brutal and triumphant power。 He has made mechanical efficiency
and administrative routine the goal of the university's
endeavour。 The nobler ends of academic life will never be served
so long as this spokesman of materialism remains in power。〃
History will relate that one of the eminent captains； through
an incumbency of more than a quarter of a century； in a
university of eminent wealth and volume； has followed a settled
policy of defeating any overt move looking to scientific or
scholarly inquiry on the part of any member of his faculty。
Should a man of scholarly proclivities by any chance sift through
the censorship exercised in virtue of the executive's appointing
power； as might happen； since the captain was himself not
qualified to pass a grounded opinion on any man's qualifications
in that respect； and should he then give evidence of continuing
to spend time and thought on matters of that nature； his burden
of administrative and class…room tasks would presently be
increased sufficiently to subdue his wayward bent； or； in an
incorrigible case； the offender against the rule of academic
sterility would eventually be retired by severance of his
connection with this seat of learning。
In some sinister sense the case reflects credit on the
American academic community at large； in that； by the close of
this quarter…century of preventive regimen； the resulting
academic staff had become a byword of nugatory intrigue and
vacant pedantry。
2。 So far has this predilection made its way in the counsels of
the 〃educators〃 that much of the current discussion of
desideranda in academic policy reads like controversial argument
on 〃efficiency engineering；〃 an 〃efficiency engineer〃 is an
accountant competent to advise business concerns how best to
increase their saleable output per unit of cost。 And there has；
indeed； been at least one tour of inspection of American
universities by such an 〃efficiency engineer；〃 undertaken in the
service of an establishment founded with a view to academic
welfare and governed by a board of university presidents。 The
report submitted by the inquiry in question duly conforms to the
customary lines of 〃scientific management。〃
3。 〃Education is the one kind of human enterprise that can not be
brought under the action of the economic law of supply and
demand。 It can not be conducted on 'business principles。' There
is no 'demand' for education in the economic sense。。。。 Society is
the only interest that can be said to demand it； and society must
supply its own demand。 Those who found educational institutions
or promote educational enterprise put themselves in the place of
society and assume to speak and act for society； not for any
economic interest。〃 Lester F。 Ward； Pure Sociology； p。 575。
4。 Indeed； the resemblance is visible。 As among professional
politicians； so also as regards incumbents and aspirants for
academic office； it is not at all unusual； nor does it cause
surprise； to find such persons visibly affected with those