MASS EDUCATION

With his questioning of the modern mechanistic trend of our higher education Dr. Muzzey has added his voice to the already appalling number of educators who advocate either directly or by implication, as Dr. Muzzey does, that we should return to the educational method used a century ago. Such criticism has brought to the fore a controversy as old as education itself.

Although the opponents of mass education have plenty of sound criticism, which should aid greatly in correcting a system which due to its comparative novelty has many apparent defects, nevertheless many overlook the crux of the problem. If the main weakness in the system lies in a popular misconception of the value of a college education and even further academic work for a doctorate, it will indeed be difficult to change the ideas of approximately one hundred and twenty million people. The solution must as a result be found by the colleges and carried out by a more intelligent method of raising the standards of admission.

Many private institutions have already taken the lead in this field and with the current discussion of state institutions, brought to a head by Little's resignation from the presidency of Michigan University, some action which will raise the entrance requirements of state universities is highly probable in the future. In any case it seems hardly fair to criticise the business man for taking a college degree as representing a standard of intelligence above the average. The question is more one which demands action from our educator more than from the general public.