One special feature of this administration was the establishment of a Preparatory Department over which the efficient and popular Prof. N. C. English still presides.
This period is closed with the election to the Presidency of J. F. Crowell, A. B. (Yale), who entered upon his office at the beginning of this scholastic year.
THE PRESENT.
This is an age of progress in almost every department, but in none more so than in educational affairs. The institution that does not imbibe this progressive spirit will soon be relegated to the shades of antiquity. New methods of teaching and of managing young men have now been adopted in most of the leading institutions of this country. Trinity during the past year has made rapid strides toward the attainment of better methods by which the young men of this State may be able to secure thorough collegiate education. This reform has been as marked in the management of the students as in the methods of instruction. A young man is now put on his honor as to his conduct. He is supposed to possess the elements of true manhood, and it is not considered necessary to have spies to watch his every movement. This tends to make him better behaved than he, perhaps, would otherwise be. Each class has a dean and a monitor, a professor acting as dean and a member of the class as monitor. The monitor reports all absentees from chapel exercises, and the absentees hand their excuses to the dean of their class who presents it to the faculty. The decision of the faculty can be learned by reference to the bulletin board. This method, in the end, saves a great deal of time and trouble. There has been better order during the past year than in almost any other year of the college’s history. The libraries of the two Societies have been consolidated and placed in a more commodious and suitable room. A first class reading-room has been established, and now no student has any excuse for being ignorant of the current news of the day, as the very best newspapers and magazines can always be found on the reading-room tables. One of the most beneficial steps taken by the students of the institution was the formation of a branch of the Y. M. C. A., which has already resulted in great good. The grandest movement, though, that has yet been undertaken by the young men of this institution is their having obligated themselves to do all in their power to raise enough money to erect a new building to be used for the library and the Society halls. This shows the enthusiasm that has been awakened among the students by the wise and efficient work done by the various members of the faculty during this year; it shows that they are heartily in sympathy with all the efforts for the college’s up-building. The curriculum has been improved, having been considerably extended, especially in the departments of English and History. Two well equipped, progressive teachers have been placed at the head of these departments, and the result is that the scholars are more thorough on these two important branches of collegiate education. Heretofore the chairs of History and English have been consolidated, necessarily causing the instruction in each to be rather limited. This is the first year in which Trinity has had a President, since the resignation of Rev. M. L. Wood, D.D. Two new members of the faculty have, of course, added no little towards the means of usefulness of the institution. More students have matriculated here during this year than in any one of the past ten years, which should be a great encouragement to the friends of the college. This school year has been indeed a turning point for the better in Trinity’s career, new fields of thought have been opened up to the students. Every alumnus of this institution should feel proud of what his Alma Mater has achieved during this year under somewhat adverse circumstances, and should rally to the rescue, and show his appreciation by doing all in his power to sustain the “new administration” by getting as many young men as possible to come here next fall.
THE FUTURE.
This has been, indeed, an auspicious year for Trinity. Not only has the year’s work been good and the institution brought more prominently before the public, but there has been work done within its walls that is indicative of a bright future and that can be correctly measured only by the future. The President and Faculty have faithfully labored with an eye to the future, believing that time and experience will prove the wisdom of their course. The curriculum has been revised. It is their object to keep it squarely abreast with the educational demands of the age. The College is now divided into two Departments: the Academic, including the first two years; and the Scientific, including the last two years.
The Academic has three courses: the Classical, the distinguishing studies of which are Greek and Latin; the Modern, distinguished by German and French; and the English, requiring English studies only. Mathematics, English and History are equal in the three. Other studies are not equal, consequently, the conditions for admission to College will not be the same for all the courses, the Classical requiring the most. These conditions will be enlarged from year to year as may be thought best. In this Department, special attention will be given to mental discipline, to methods and to laying such foundations in study as will best prepare students for the more independent work and scientific research to follow.