The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-18
SUNDAY. DECEMBER IS. 1904.
College Lawlessness.

College Lawlessness.
The spirit of unrest and insunordt'a'
ton which recently broke out among 'nc
B students OF the Virginia POLYTECHNIC IN
stitute liz not confined, unfortunately, 70
\ that institution. We recently saw q l icy -
ter from a professor in a college OF an
other State in which he said that the
members Of his class We're usually 50
r,,de md turbulent in assembling, that
Il VAS with great difficulty thnt he was
ablc to bring them to order for work, and
Il that whenever he went to lecture ne felt
that he was standing on n volcano %hlch
Was liable at any moment to explode.
Grave complaint Of the same char
acter is heard from institutions IN the
North, and recently the Independent pub
lished an article on the subject. II, which
many incidents Of disorder and even a
\ riot among northern students We're re-
: ferred to by way of Illustration,
It must not be forgotten that the school
boys of other general tons were also more
or less rebelious and rotous, and there
are few men of to-day who can truth
fully say that they were always strictly
obedient to school discipline: that they
never attempted TO bar the teacher out;
that they never engaged In a school boy
hot But it must be admitted that the
situation insthis respect IS growing worse
when in all conscience ut should grow
steadily better. if there be anything in
the contention that school training is
Improving in morals as well as in mind,
that 1t Is good discipline and develops
The spirit of obedience Obedience Is at
the foundation OF all Character, OF all
government, and of the entire social
system, and If the schools fail to develop
the spirit OF obedience in their pupils.
they fall at n vital point.
& But tho schools cannot do 1t all, nor
even the main part. The la:wlessncss in
the colleges to-day is due very largely
Ito the lack Of training at home. and this
Is a matter Of serious concern or should
be. to every parent There must be dis
cipline at home. There must be rules
and regulations and the children must be
made to obey in awe and reverence for
the sake OF obeatence. II they are brought
up to be lawrabiding Citizens. 1t will not
do to neglect these important lessons at
home and trust to the schools to supply
them
But there is another reason for the
college rows. This Is n day Of organiza-
tion. and even the boys at some OF the
colleges have caught the spirit OF It.
They understand that in organization
there is strength. and wherever 1t is prac-
tciable. each class in colleges organizes,
elects It. officers, makes itself n compact
mass and acts az body. Wherever there
Is power. real or supposed. there Is the
accompanying temptation TO self-asser-
tivencss and revenge. What an individual
student would not dare TO do on his own
account, an organization OF students will
do with show OF force and defiance
] is the spirit OF the strike and the boy
cott pure and simple, and it IL one Of
the greatest dangers OF the age. 1t tends
~ ruCSripS iiltiN anu rlllG sense
OF Individual obligations. ana to breed
arrogance. brute force, dare-deytltry and
anarchy. 1t is the spirit of rule or ruin.
and II is a menace to our very civiliza-
ton. II is rampant in all departments
OF life. II is the spirit which too often
characterizes trusts, financial instltu-
tions and labor unions in their dealings
With men. and It Is most alarming of all
that 1t is rampant In some OF the educa.
tionul institutions OF the land The odu-
Gators of our boys must reckon with It,
and they must under no circumstances
compromise with II, Discipline must be
maintained AZ all hazards; obedience
must be taught in every way and disc.
bedience and Observation-Disclosures must !ye
dealt With firmly and uncomptomlglngly
no matter what the cost, In doing 80 tn,
Polytechnic Institute and every Other
institution OF learning IN The State VII
have the approval and support Of al
laW-abiding citizens,
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