The Chautauqua Movement: An Episode in the Continuing American Revolution

We expect that the work of Chautauqua University will be to arouse so much interest in the subject of general liberal education that by and by in all quarters young men and women will be seeking means to obtain such education in established resident institutions [...] [our] diploma, although radiant with thirty-one seals— shields, stars, octagons,—would not stand for much at Heidelberg, Oxford, or Harvard . .. an American curiosity . . . it would be respected not as conferring honor upon its holder, but as indicating a popular movement in favor of higher education. (p. 39)

The field of higher education is, at the present time, in an extremely disorganized condition. But the forces are already in existence, through the operation of which, at no distant date, order will be secured, and a great system established, which may be designated “the American System.” The important steps to be taken in working out such a system are co-ordination, specialization and association. (p. 126)

Promotion of younger men in the departments will depend more largely upon the results of their work as investigators than upon the efficiency of their teaching . . . . In other words, it is proposed to make the work of investigation primary, the work of giving instruction secondary. (p. 97)