Page:The study of history in Holland and Belgium (IA studyofhistoryin00frrich).pdf/31

 are scholars of the very first order, are contented with giving the theoretical courses which the law requires and cannot think of initiating into scientific methods hearers who are occupied with other things. In consequence of a mistake in the law of 1876 relative to higher teaching, a mistake which was, however, pointed out to the legislature in good time by the four universities, history seems condemned to remain sterile, while all the other departments of the Faculty of Arts flourish and bear fruit.

In 1879, the hope was for an instant cherished of putting an end to the ostracism of history from the higher teaching of Holland. At that time the minister, Kappeyne, presented to the Lower House of the States-General a bill, one of the articles of which created a doctorate in history.

In stating his motives, M. Kappeyne spoke concisely and very justly: "History occupies an important place in intermediate instruction. More than any other subject it needs professors who have a strictly scientific method. It is necessary that this instruction, which loses all its value if it be reduced to a mere enumeration of dates and facts, should be made in their hands an important factor of the intellectual development of the pupil. It must, therefore, be considered, if not a fault, at least an oversight not to have created a separate doctorate in history, when the law relating to higher education was passed.

"The Faculty of Arts and Philosophy consists of three categories of sciences: the philological, the philosophical and the historical. The absence of a doctorate in history is a deficiency in the provision of the law, and is perhaps only a mistake."

When M. Kappeyne's bill was discussed at the session of February 26, 1879, no objection to the creation of the doctorate was raised; but when the House voted upon the bill as a whole it was defeated by a majority, and the poor doctorate was buried, to wait for a new administration.

But is it enough to fold the arms and wait for the distant day when the law will be revised? Cannot the initiative of