Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-07
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY DISCIPLINE
a Comparison of the Past withthe Present
No. /.

mo. L.
In order to comprehend and APP
preciate the true nature Of that sys-
tenn OF discipline most appropriate to
colleges and universities, we shall be
much assisted if we turn our thoughts
back for moment to the system in
vogue half century ago, and which
had been prevalent previously for a
time, "of which the memory OF man
runneth not to the contrary"
1t is within the memory OF many
now living that the system OF govern
ment adopted and which prevailed in
American colleges, was OF the most rig
id and unbending character. The stu,
dent body and the constituted authori-
ties, were recognized, on all sides, as
utterly antagonistic. There existed no
sympathy-there were no points of con-
tact OF a social nature between them.
From the first entrance OF the student
into the institution the understanding
was, that he was expected to keep him.
self, and to be kept by others, at re.
spectful distance from the presiding
teacher The tendency of such sys
tenn in its very nature is to generate q
feeling OF antagonism between the two
parties, and the result was, in most
cases, that the gentle amenities Of so
cial life were unknown in the scholastic
sphere. Fear was insisted upon as the
emotion to be cultivated by the pupil
and severity characterized the demean
! or of the instructor.
These extremes may not have beer
universal, yet it was evident that th,
intercourse of the two parties partool
far more of the element Of opposition
than OF harmonious cooperation.
The history of certain Southern
college written by prominent mem
ber of its faculty, many years since, re
veals the fact that, for years together
scarcely a session passed during whic
there did not occur some outbreak OF
serious nature among the students
There the non-intercourse system pre-
vailed. So, if we read the records {
another institution further north, dul
ing the earlier years OF its career, wher
we shall find the system OF scholasti
antagonism holding sway in its mo-
disagreeable form, the fact will be obv
Gus, that disorder among the studen
was so common an occurrence that
was expected to take place every yea
The faculty accordingly found then
selves called upon to provide again
such outbreaks, just as regularly as
arrange the schedule of lectures, or fl
other necessary exercises of the colleg
This fact is not true only of the two i
stitutions mentioned; it was the norm
state OF the ancient regime repe
that the vicious principle that lay at Il
foundation of all this misrule so cor
mon among the colleges of that ear
day, was the stern dividing line deei
: ed essential, separating pupil and
structor, which very naturally degen'
ated into real antagonism.
1t is ground of real qualification, tn
y in large measure, this system has 60
into desuetude in American colleg
notably in the South. In lieu of t
principle Of opposition, there has gr
ually succeeded that system which n
be considered the Patriarchal, or
rental rule, whereby the teacher con
a just as nearly as possible into the pl
of the parent in relation to the puI
This system requires that every pu
be treated as a child. In former
of college government there was
much Of fear; Of stern dignity OF I'M
course; of distance and reserve; an
% prehension of too great familiarity
the part OF the pupil; want OF cou
sy and common politeness in the m
@ ner OF the instructor toward the pu
as though this were an unbecom
> condescension on his part.
There is, however. lingering n