Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 181]

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173 In the cour.se of Ancient Languages six terms of Latin and three of Greek are required, and three terms of Latin or French, and three terms of Greek or German are required in addition. The Latin of the course, either in whole or in part, is taken by students who do not take the Greek, and so are not candidates for a degree in this course. The number of students in the full course has always been very small owing to numerous causes. From the opposition to the course outside of the University it has never been prominently advertised or known that such a course was provided. The expense of full classes would be no more than of small ones, and I would question whether more prominence might not be given to the department without any injustice done to any other school of the University. Without any comparison as to the relative merits or advantages of different courses it may be said that there are always many students who want a course in Ancient languages, and there seems no reason why they should not come here as well as to go elsewhere. I have no wish to criticise any opinion or to enter into any discussion in connection with the question of the study of languages, but only suggest that as there is such a course here the public should be informed of it as in regard to other courses, that it may be known that the demand always existing may be satisfied at the University of Illinois. The discouragements of my position during the nearly thirteen years I have been in charge of the department of Ancient Languages have been considerable, sometimes it has seemed unnecessarily so, and if I had not had work in history and in the library which I felt was recognized as worth the doing I should have been tempted many times to give up the struggle, but there has always been the hope of better times for my department, a hope which I still strongly cherish. For some years past the instruction in Greek has been given by the Assistant in Ancient Languages, and I have reason to believe the work has been very well done. I have myself taught the Latin. The objects sought in a course in Ancient Languages are so generally agreed upon that it is hardly necessary to go into any explanation as to intentions and purposes, yet I may say that in my instruction I have kept largely in mind the knowledge of English to be gained through other tongues and have endeavored to give what help I could in that dirertion. I am, sir, yours very respectfully,

J. D. CRAWFORD,

Professor of Hiatory and Ancient

Languages.