The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-07
AVIEW OF COLLEGE LIFE
Evanston (Ill.) Educator Points
Out Its Evils.
SAYS RowDYIsM IS eLoBIFIED.

Principal Henry L. HOLLYWOOD De-
cIares Athletic Contests Are Too
often Made the Excuse For GAM
bling, Drunkenness ana Theft-Ath-
Ietics said to be Tnjuring secon-
Diary MISUNDERSTANDING CaIIed
BAD.
What others call meanness, rascali-
ty and cowardly brutality college men
can fun"
Nearly 300 educators, practically all
OF them college men themselves and
many Of them connected with leading
western universities, stood aghast at
the words. But the speaker. Henry L.
Boltwood, principal Of the Evanston
Qn) township high school, had even
more to say, says the Chicago Tribune
He criticised college life from almost
every possible viewpoint and angle.
Mr. Boltwood was the last speaker at
the conference of secondary schools,
which recently closed in Evanston.
Education in the early days. Mr..
Boltwood began, was the prerogative
of the priests. and few probably real
,ize how largely school and college life
today IS shaped BY the usages and ira
difons Of the monastery and the &c
clesiastics. The dormitory, early morn
ing prayers. the exclusion Of married
students, the prominence still given to
logic and linguisties id the courses Of
study are the survival not OF the fit-
test, but Of the long established Gus
toms of the cloister
More generally existing, even in
state universities ana ii others entirely
divorced from the church, Is the no.
ton that college students are a privi-
legged class and as such exempt from
amenability TO civil law and too often
from the laws Of common dignity and
ciwlity AT any rate, students are
prone to think they are amenahle to
their faculty only, whatever may be
the nature of the offenses they may
commit
an college life and college con-
science ouuages which under The civil
claw are punished with fine and I'M
prisonment and subject the Offenders
TO public contempt are regarded as
matters Of boasting, and a false CONF
munity sentiment shields offenders
from exposure and punishment.
"This idea of special class privilege
reaches outside Of the college into the
lower schools, and the rowdyisIn, vul-
garity ana theft az college men are
glorilied Al college athletic contest il
too often made the excuse for gam
bling. drunkenness, theft and open
robbery plundering restaurants, der
frauding railroads, interfering with
the rights OF the travelling public,
breaking up theaters and mobbing lee
turers.
"What others call meanness. rascal
ity and cowardiy brutality college men
call fun. TO call pilfering spoons, dish
es and sofa cushions and signs fun
is to put on a false label, but 1t does
not change the character of the act.
"The hazing, the mischief the bet
ting on athletics the use of unscru-
puious means to secure good marks or
10 keep on athletic teams the dishon-
I est men whose chief merit ia their
proficiency in athletics, the lowering
Of the standard Of honor in examlna-
I tions. al have comuDting influence
upon preparatory schools
Among the bad things which the
4 college is turning over 20 the second
ary schools are the secret societies,
which are multiplying to an extent
that calls for the attention Of al CD
ucators. Within ten years there have
sprung UP Ia tfre public schools q
least dozen Greek letter societies
which are cheap mutations Of college
fraternities, especially IN the things
iii which the college ffaternities are
most Ill fault. From personal expeFe
ence ] find much harm and little coed
in these school societies. They en-
courage clannishness and self eonecil
| and are subversions Of school aud class
spirit. Loyalty to the society takes
| the place OF loyalty TO the school.
each new society affords pretexts
| for additional social functions and ex-
| ira expenses. School athletics suffer
| from the attempts of societies to give
| their own members prominent posi-
lions. Ridiculous and even dangerous
| limitations are practiced, and scholar
ship IS left out Of the question. They