Show Colleges Must Hold to Rigid Requirements Authority Comments On University Entrance NEW YORK IP Fear IP-Fear Fear that a spreading tendency to relax requirements re requirements requirements re- re for college entrance may result in in the debasement of the college degree was expressed inthe inthe in inthe the annual report of Dr Adam Leroy Leroy Leroy Le- Le roy Jones director of admissions at Columbia University last week Excellent and inspiring reasons reasons rea- rea sons ons he said doubtless can be found for removing certain obstacles obstacles ob- ob to admission It will be argued that if a person can become become be- be come ome educated without knowing Algebra or French French and and perhaps he can elementary can elementary mathematics and nd foreign languages should not note be e required for admission If he can be educated without knowing any ny given subject why ask him himo to o know any specified subject when he e enters college I There is evident in in many parts parta of f the country a tendency of exactly exactly ex- ex this sort Specific subject subject- matter requirements are being given up Entrance requirements are being stated in in vague terms and nd college curricula are being adjusted adjusted ad ad- to the needs of a body of students who may have had little littler or r no preparation in in common and ando no o instruction in in any subject beyond beyond be- be I yond ond the barest rudiments Indeed Indeed In In- deed eed the tendency is is one which in in I effect practically eliminates secondary secondary sec sec- school training as a prerequisite prerequisite pre- pre requisite for college work When first years in college would presuppose no specific in- in m- m formation On this plan there may maybe maybe maye I be e little or nothing in in the first two I f years ears of the college course which the le student could not get in in a first- first rate ate high school and at the end of ofa a college course he may have progressed progressed progressed pro pro- gressed no further further if if as far far in in intellectual achievement than the graduate of a European secondary school chool Indeed from the standpoint of prep preparation for reparation rati n f for r-in r mote more fe advanced advanced- advanced in in ill ill- endeavor the high stand high stand ing ng graduate of many manya a a metropolitan tan an high school is is better prepared than dan the graduate of certain col- col leges He knows something and he helas has las learned to use his mind This surely would mean in in most colleges the debasement of the baccalaureate degree |