New-York tribune., 1902-07-14
TO PUNISH "CRIBBERS."
THE ANDOvER AUTHORITIES BLAME
PRINCETON. But PROMISE INQUIRY.

PRINCETON. But PROMISE INQUIRY.
Andover, Mass, July IS specaD.-Vice-Prin-
cpal stearns Of Phillips Andover Academy
makes the following statement in relation TO the
~cri5bing' Of Andover students at the Princeton
examinations:
The academy authorities would long ago have
made g statement regarding the case had not
Princeton. for some unknown reason, failed 10
notify them Of the fact until the matter had
been before the public for several days. and the
boys concerned had received their reports ana
notices bearing the trouble. PrnceUon's at
fitude in this matter is especially ineXplicabIe,
as the figures given in the newspapers were
considerably exaggerated.
According 10 the methods employed by Prince
4or in conducting entrance examinations any
boy however fit or ef whatever class. and with
out fee. is allowed 70 attempt the examination.
TLis Is tremendous temptation 10 many boys,
who are induced for various reasons to try the
examinations. Complaints against this system
have been constantly made ny Andoyer: but
year ago June, bod the situation reached
climax.
ORDERED TO ADMIT ALL CANDIDATES
Provision had been made for eight or Ten
candidates The night before the examinations
were held about a dozen more boys unexpected
II appeared ana requested permission 10 take
The exanlinat ton. They were refused by the
school the ground that the papers from
Princeton had arrived and that il was too late
20 provide more. One Of the boys then tele-
graphed TO Princeton for the desired permission,
and the next day q telegram from the Prince
Ton register instructed US TO admit all Candi-
dates" and divide papers" This was done,
and the twenty-seven men who finally appeared
re set 10 work, two at each paper. The eX-
animation was VeTitable farce. and the acad-
emy authorities were Justly indignant The
man whom the school had provided to take
charge frankly admitted that he powerless
70 conduct the examination in a proper way.
The extra boys who appeared represented the
poorest element in the school Many OF them
belonged to lower classes and, in our judgment,
were wholly unfit to try college examinatlo
Of any sort Their aim was to get released
from their regular school work or TO pass, II
possIble a small list Of subjects, and to use the
credit thus obtained in applying for admission
70 some other college later
Princeton was notified by US of the situation,
and the other colleges were warned against ac-
ceptiug these candidates. Regular returns. now
ever. we're received from Princeton for eacn
candidate. OF these twsnty-seven men nine
went 10 college at the end Of the year, but only
two TO Princeton, and one Of these as a speclaI
student Four were refused readmlsslon 70 70
An6over and Of the thirteen who returned
seven were either dropped or disciplined during
the year.
This spring four men applied in the regular
way TO take the Princeton examinations. When
The tine came in June thirty-one men appeared.
one-haIf Of whom needed at least one year more
Of work 10 ft them for prelluinarles. me L9ur ,G
who were regularly qualified passed with credit
Of the others. eleven were either dropped al the
end Of the term, or were subject to special
facnl+v votes because of poor work or deport-
ment and this before there had been any IN
tinlation Of the ''cribbing" trouble
PUNISHMENT TO BE METED OUT.
Soon after the examinations began myself
went into the examination room, and. with the
consent Of the Princeton professor in charge,
sent four boys from the room and back 10 their
work These boys were from our lowest classes
and the very poorest scholars in their respective
classes The professor in charge agreed to can
eel their names from the list Of candidates, but
when the reports came back from Princeton all
Of these men were included. and three were
among those rejected for 'cribbing." At the time
! Visited the room I found the boys in some
cases unduly crowded at the ends Of the tables,
and I warned the instructor in charge that in
view Of the character Of the majority of the
candidates. such conditions should not be al
lowed Coming into the room later still. and
finding little change, I again warned him Of the
danger Of exposing boys 10 such severe and
needless temptation. AS the examination at our
request was conducted wholly by Princeton, and
as the academy has official connection with
ft except in providing q ROOM this was the
most that could be done.
The academy viii go to the full extent in pun
ishing those who have been guilty Of this rank
dishonesty. "Cribbing'' has always been severely
dealt with by us. and the present case demands
the severest treatment. most rigid investiga-
ton viii be made, and those who are found
guilty viii not be allowed to return to the
school.