UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 140]

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ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

125

bad to be made between those whose graduates were admitted to all departments and those which commanded admission only to the colleges of agriculture, engineering, and natural science. Many high schools did not then give Latin, and after experimenting with a system by which " l i t " students could make this up in the academy, Peabody decided that the best kindness to the school system was to demand it firmly. The development of the preparatory department is the development of entrance requirements in this period, for it was consistently stated that all matriculants in colleges other than literature and science must pass examinations in its studies. It was invaluable, both because of the lack of high schools and of the great number of youths who had outgrown physically and mentally the high school age. The intent was always to make it a place for students of eighteen to twenty-one years. Peabody expressed in 1888 a wish to expand the course from one to two years, as this compression of work was too hard for the younger registrants; but this was impossible without a separate building and a full and separate corps. The teaching personnel was made up by drafts on the University faculty, Professors Rolfe, Butler, and others repeatedly serving. During most of the decade the course was divided into two parts, the first preliminary to the two technical colleges and science, the second to literature and science. There was no Latin whatever in the former, but there was English composition, which the latter did not have; and Greek was not required, as it was for the school of ancient languages. UAlgebra and geometry were taken by all, and physics, physiology, and botany by most There was no change in the curriculum, but a gradual stiffening of its standards. Though the University