Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/847

 DRIFT TOWARD EDUCATIONAL UNITY 831

expense a thorough and efficient system of schools for higher education. In Kansas there are eighteen of these so-called col- leges. Others are being planned. And so throughout all this new country the spread of denominational colleges (not acade- mies) is remarkable. What is true of one state is true of all. The story of these schools that have failed has never been writ- ten, but their name is legion. To maintain many of the feebler ones now is a desperate matter. These schools are doing a good work, it is admitted. But that is not enough. The good is enemy to the best. There is abundant reason for the conviction which President Angell expressed.

That the competition between weak colleges is costly and de- structive is obvious. That a wiser course is possible few are ready to admit. The Jews teach us a lesson in point. True to their keen intuitions in things economic and intellectual, they erect no new colleges, but patronize the best already provided.

Let us examine briefly four of the most significant phases of competition, before discussing the remedy.

1. This species of warfare is peculiarly unfortunate in the educational world. Too often the smaller religious school is tempted not to "pl a Y fair." Damning reports are spread con- cerning its big rival, the state university. It is called godless. irreligious, and even anti-Christian. In other words, the churches withdraw from the state university, as fully as possible, both their presence and moral support do their utmost, in fact, to secularize it and then anathematize it as being un-Christian.

2. Financially, competition is one-sided. For the state uni- versity has back of it federal land grants and all the taxable re- sources of the state. It is dependent on the gifts of no man or sect. It is an integral part of the state and is predestined to (grow as the state grows. It is democratic, and is free and un- fettered in the search for truth and the promulgation thereof. That vexing question of gifts from the predatory rich is elimi- nated. The modern state universities are spending annually from two hundred thousand to a million dollars apiece, and this outlay is increasing yearly by leaps and bounds. One plant of this kind in a state is enough, and is too costly to be duplicated.