The Acting President saw the need of a closer relationship, which would
not only strengthen the high schools, but would relieve the University
of its elementary courses by eventually making the high schools the
equivalent of the German Gymnasia; in effect the present junior
colleges, the establishment of which we are now witnessing in all the
larger high schools. Professor Frieze therefore proposed that special
faculty committees be sent to examine the character of the work in the
high schools of the State. If this were approved, a certificate stating
that a proper preliminary course was satisfactorily completed, would
admit any student to the University without examination. This simple
plan was severely criticized by some educational authorities of the time
as revolutionary and as a lowering of standards. It soon justified
itself, however, and has come to be the general practice; in fact, it
has also been extended to cover a reciprocal arrangement on the part of
all the leading state universities as well as many of the privately
endowed institutions. Again Michigan led the way.
The growth of the University continued undiminished, and soon the need
of a large auditorium became increasingly apparent, to say nothing of
more offices and class rooms. The Legislature therefore voted in 1869
the sum of $75,000 for the erection of the present main section of
University Hall lying between the two original wings, the first
buildings of the University. This included a large auditorium, seating
nearly 3,000 persons, with a chapel and the necessary offices and
recitation rooms on the first floor. The tower, which was the striking
feature of this building, was replaced in 1898 by the lower and much
safer dome of the present time.
The ability and success with which Dr. Frieze had conducted the affairs
of the University was publicly recognized by the Board of Regents at the
end of his term, and it was on his advice that the invitation was once
more extended to his former pupil at Brown University, Dr. James B.
Angell; this time with successful results.
CHAPTER V
PRESIDENT ANGELL AND PRESIDENT HUTCHINS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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