November 15, 1921

Dear Mother, Father, and Pete:

Your conclusion as to why I would not telegraph aboutdebate was quite right, Mother.

Would you stop at the First Nat'l Bank sometime when you are in town Mother and get me some blank check books -- fillers for my book, I mean, I have only two checks left. Then send them to me, please.

I am still dead tired and feel generally punk.

Love,

Fannie.



[De...?] between their group system and ours
Please return

ENGLISH required freshman year
1. History
**Mediaeval and modern -- this year 48 entered on med. EXEMPTION
2. Ancient
3n. English
4. American         **[...] takes [...], had in high school

Language
1. Latin
2. Greek
3. French        as at present
4. German     Give reason for not differentiating between ancient
4. Italian         and modern
5. Spanish

Physical science
1. Physics
2. Chemistry        167 freshmen entered on science this year
3.  Astronomy     Must have had science
4. Geology

Biological science
1.  Botany
2. Animal biology
3. Physiology         must have entered on science
4. Psychology with lab 

5. Mathematics
1. Trigonometry
2. Analytical geometry
3. Solid geometry

Advanced studies *****************
Only English required fresh. year.
Four chances for free electives, but
a. in addition to groups, only history of art, applied art, Bible and music open to her
b. Therefore is voluntarily passing off requirements and still has freedom
c. Must elect from first two groups, and from 2  out of last  3 before end of soph. year

2. No new subjects added to curriculum--can be based on present catalogue
a. This does not mean that new courses can't be added in time
b. Includes all subjects called fundamental in present system?

3. This plan only suggestion, illustrative of more abstract principle
a. Groups have been tried in Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Goucher, Wellesley, Amherst, Yale.
1. They have come to groups after absolute requirements

Unity of Knowledge
a. Let student establish unity herself
b. We see to it that she has the 4 methods
1. Scientific 3. Linguistic
2: Historic 4. Creative  

At conclusion

Vassar’s preogress has always been toward freedom
a. See old catalogues
b. Present plan does not mean satisfaction with conditions, only a lull in struggle


6. Opportunity of choice does away with repetition of subjects studied in prep school end provides for adaptability of foundation and individual interest

EVOLUTION -- NOT REVOLUTION

7. Conclusion
1. Intellectually passive is taken care of as old system did
2. "                 active must be ” " ”

II. Present plan fails, but we
1. Give freedom and guidance
2.Take over all good in old system and supplement it

III. Added advantages
1. Not direct continuation of high-school
2. Experiments and still some restriction
3. Only four years in college [...]4 years short
4. Freedom to choose

IV. Plea for freedom.
a. In all educational development the progress has been evident
b. Present plan a step in progress over what precedes it
c. A freer elective system is a step in progress, the next step
d.  And this step is evolutionary, not revolutionary
1. Because it takes over what is good in present system and
supplements with the added advantage of freedom

CREATIVE

HISTORIC METHOD
1. Critical study of sources and opinions
2. Relation between movements--source-and events--continuity in history
3. No history distinct from other histories
LINGUISTIC METHOD
1. Value of literature
2. Style and structure
3. Derivation
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Scientific habit of mind
2. Observation of fact
3. Apparatus and experiment
4. Hypothesis
5. Appreciation of Nature
 

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