Smyrna times., 1886-04-21
Report of the President of Della
ware College to the Board Of
Trustees.

TO the President and Members of the
Board Of Trustees of DeLdWare College;
GENTLEMEN Il submit to you my
first report as President of this institu-
ton. My worthy predecessor, Hon.
w. II. Purnell, L. /. D., after a sue
sessful administration of fifteen years,
retired at the close of the last collegi-
ate year with the deserved respect and
praise Of all who knew him in his per-
sOnal and official relations.
1t was an unexpected event when
his mantle fell on me, and l shall deem
myself fortunate if my administration
proves as successful as his.
For nearly two months after my
election to the presidency of the col
lege l was necessarily engaged in the
performance of duties which hindered
me from doing all that desired to do
for the benefit of the Institution.
When l took charge / was gratifed
to see the improvements which had
been made during the vacation. They
consist of Il large Oratory, two large
rooms for chemical laboratories, six new
-dOrmitories, new floors throughout a
large portion of the building, and the
entire edilice newly painted. In a
short time the old, dilapidated paling
/ was replaced by Il handsome iron fence.
The facilities for college purposes have
| been increased by these improvements,
and the whole structure and premises
appear to be renewed with an air of
| freshness and beauty. Many new stu
dents ought now to be attracted to the
classic shades Of this Institution. 1t is
more than half century old, and in
cludes among its alumni 4 number of
our cOuntrymen who have attained to
high positions of honor and trust.
The first term of this collegiate year
opened on the 2d day of September
and since then fourteen new students
have matriculated.
have endeaVOred, with the assist
ance of other members of the Faculty
to so administer the government as to
secure the most salutary results, both
for the reputation of the College and
the good of the students. There has
been no disorder of a fragrant charac-
ter; none, in fact, but such as are com.
mon i'll institutions of this kind. A
few attempts at hazing occurred in the
early part of the first term, but they
were promptly suppressed, and a few
other slight disorders were met with
timely rebuke and elfectually cured
In some instances disorder marks have
been remitted, by the unanimous con.
sent Of the Faculty, when the subse
quent depOrtmentO Of students so marked
gave assurance of satisfactory improve
ment. In all my efforts to secure good
government and prompt attention to
duty, have been warmly supported
by the whole Faculty. 1t has been
our aim to impress students with a
sense Of honor and true manliness
thus stimulating them to become ''S
law unto themselves" Young men
gathered from different localities, with
youthful blood stirred by new scenes
and associations, are apt to forget the
wholesome checks imposed upon them
at home, until, by experience and faith
full training, they learn the duty oil
self-restraint. Even then the infusion
OfOne bad example can be cOunteracted
only by ccaseless vigilance on the part
of instructors, and such vigilance We
are endeavOring to exercise.
You see by the new catalogue which
mas been prepared that the curriculum
has been raised higher in some respects
and that a few other necessary change!
have been made. The principle of co
education having been abandoned by
resolution OF the Board, the depart
ment Of literature, as Il separate anC
lower course of study. has heen elimi
mated. We still have three courses
the classical, the scientific and the ag
ricultural. The last, as the bylaws re
quire, is for three years, and the stand
ard for admission is lower than in eli
ther of the others, so that pupils com
ing from the common schools of the
State, with the requisite qualifications
may be admitted into this course.
embraces the study of English Litera
ture, Applied Mathematics, and Nat
ural Sciences, Chemistry and Agricul
ture, to draw up paper, which is here
with submitted, from which you will
see that special pains will be taken il
the Agricultural course to make it al
the farming interests of the State car
require OF us under the existing cir
cumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
J. II. CALDWELL, President.