The Yale Law School.

251

gage in it, is one of the surest indications the general principles of the matter in hand, of the earnest spirit of the school. and asking for their application to actual or The four professors who have been spoken hypothetical cases in illustration. They are of as doing the substantial part of the work encouraged to ask questions freely, in order follow in the main the system of oral recita that no points of obscurity or difficulty may tions upon reading which has been previ be left in doubt, and that the students may ously assigned. They deliver lectures in be trained to a careful criticism of their read cases where the nature of the subject or ing. This is never time wasted, for even special circumstances make treatment by re questions which seem foolish may indicate

a real difficulty and en citations inexpedient; able the instructor to but in such cases the meet it. This method student is required to is much more produc take down dictated ab tive of good results stracts or notes, and to than the lecture sys prepare himself upon tem; for however able them as he would from a lecturer may be, and a text-book. The however well prepared other lecture courses are some of them in his lecture, it cannot expansion of impor reach the student as tant subjects which effectively as an exer have been previously cise in which he is re quired to do some of taught by recitation, some of them discus the thinking, — where sions of the law in its to catch the connec higher and broader ap tion of one question plications and rela with another, as his tions. They give the companions are called opportunity of inves upon, and to find a tigating the subject in solution for the one detail if desired, but which may at any mo are rather designed to ment be asked of him supplement other work self, he must be con JOHNSON T. PLATT. so that a general and stantly on the alert. systematic view of the Whether earnest in whole field of legal science may be presented. their work or not, few students are so care This is a general statement of the relation less of their instructor's efforts or of their which the lecture courses bear to the reci own reputation for readiness and ability, as tation work, especially in the undergraduate to be found inattentive when so called upon. course. The point here to be emphasized is The question which requires thought gener this, that the basis of work is the recitation ally receives it, and makes the more perma system. nent impression; if not convinced by the It is intended that the student shall have, logic of the professor, there may and pro a*s nearly as practicable, the benefit of private bably will be discussion by the student with instruction from his professors. To this end his companions or private investigation. The the recitation is made quite informal. A advantage of this system is that, besides in large portion of the hour is usually spent in suring a careful study of the text, the student questioning the students individually upon is trained to ready analysis of facts and quick