170 HIGHER EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN. since it serves to arrange systematically all the student's knowledge and to furnish the key to all true science. Whatever is infportant in natural science is taken into the course and taught with a philosophical analysis, intended to guard the student against that confounding of mere information with learning, which is the danger of modern education. Physics, mechanics, geology, general and analytical chemistry, all form important parts of the regular obligatory series of studies. This course is calculated to develop and train all the powers of the mind, rendering it capable of understanding and appreciating all branches of learning. It serves as a foundation for special training in any brauch which the student, with his mind matured and trained, may decide to take up. As, however, there are always some who either can not or will not avail themselves of this regular classical training, another course has been added, which offers facilities for acquiring a good English or commercial education. It is called the commercial course, and is completed in four years. It embraces stenography, bookkeeping, an ample course of arithmetic, geometry, and the elements of algebra; and to a complete grammar course it adds the study of style, the principles and practice of the minor species of composition, especially letter-writing, and a course of religious instruction. French, German, and typewriting are elective both in the regular or classical course and in the commercial course. Religious instruction is considered of the first importance in the education which Detroit College aims to impart. Hence Christian doctrine forms one of the regular class recitations, and weekly catechetical lectures are attended by all. The prize in this branch is awarded to the author of the best paper upon the matter of these lectures. Further instruction is given to such as have need of it, or are preparing for the sacraments. For the development of piety there is a sodality, which meets weekly. All Catholic students are expected to approach the sacraments at least once a month. · Special attention is given to the study and practice of elocution. Early in the history of the college an association, known as the Philomathic Society, was organized by the older members of the collegiate department. Its object is to promote a taste for literary study and to afford practice in debate and declamation. The exercises at the weekly meetings include dramatic readings, declamations, original essays on subjects selected by a committee, and carefully prepared debates on questions of historical, literary, and philosophical interest. BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE. The college is under the direction of the Seventh Day Adventist Educational Society. Nearly all of its energy is given to preparatory work and to manual training. Its establishment was proposed by Mr. James White in 1872, and it was founded and incorporated under State law in 1874. The sum of $54,000 was pledged for its support and encouragement. Battle Creek was selected as the site for the college, and a campus of beauty and attractiveness was purchased at an expense of $16,000. A handsome structure was built at once. The college has prospered materially since its foundation. Its courses as first offered did not include studies much in advance of the ordinary high school, but within the last few years the curriculum has been somewhat extended. The college has good facilities for manual training, and has a culinary department in which students are given regular instruction and have practice in the art of cookery. The president has apparently not made annual reports to the State. In his report for 1885 the estimated value of the property of the college was $65,611.94. 171 |