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CLASSICAL STUDIES.
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tion. They think, with many other prominent educators, that the humanistic studies train the man, whereas the sciences train the specialist.

This is not the place to discuss fully the question of the value of the study of Latin and Greek for liberal education or general culture. Still, we cannot refrain from enumerating a few testimonies in their favor; and that they may be the more effective, we shall exclude those of professors of classical languages, who in this matter might be looked upon as prejudiced witnesses who speak pro domo sua. Many interesting statements were made some ten years ago by the ablest schoolmen of Germany in the famous Berlin Conference preparatory to the "New Plan of Studies" for the Higher Schools of Prussia, which was promulgated in 1892.[1] The relative educational value of the various branches was discussed most thoroughly, and it is surprising to find what professors of mathematics, natural sciences, and medicine have to say in favor of classical studies. Dr. Holzmüller, Director of a commercial and industrial school, said: "I am a mathematician and professor of mathematics, a thorough Realist, but I sound a warning against exaggerating the educational value of mathematics in higher schools. The range of thought and ideas in mathematical studies is narrow; whereas the linguistic studies have many more forms of thought at their disposal."[2] Professor Helmholtz of the University of Berlin, one of the leading scientists of the nineteenth century,

  1. See Report of Commissioner of Education, 1889-90, vol. I, pp. 343-398; and especially Schmid, Geschichte der Erziehung, vol. V, Abteilung I, pp. 357-422.
  2. Duhr, p. 89 foll.