The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-23
A Study in Education
and Ethics.
By VIM. G. STEVENSON. LII. B.
TcoNcLuDED FROM LAST WEEK. ]

Before commencement, few weeks,
the Senior School was moved to the
hill, and few days after, Mr.. Steven
son was called into the office and
asked by the Director what would be
the effect on the commercial work OF
the removal of the girls from the hill
during the afternoon. The reply was
that the work in the model offices was
in the afternoon. as there was no time
for it in the morning, and if the girls
were kept off of the hill in the after
noon they could not do their work.
The Director then proceeded to foam.
His whole attitude was one that indi-
Gated a soul lost. The writer and an
other member of the Faculty watched
his emotions in dismay. When asked
whether he was going to separate the
boys and the girls, he became wild and
paced up and down the room like a
crazy man. He said no one had right
to ask him such question. The inter-
view revealed to us man to be pitied.
The next day the girls were ordered
from the hill at noon, and for two years
the girls in the commercial depart
ment have been deprived of one-half
their time, and as all their morning
periods were full and there was no Ii
brary suited to their needs below. they
have been deprived of library privi-
leges. The same is largely true of the
girls in other courses. And all be-
cause few parents of wealth object to
sending their sons to co-educational
school! The member of the Faculty
who had spent twenty years teaching
in private boarding school for rich
boys in Virginia. and several other
members of the Faculty, who had re-
ceived their schooling in schools of
similar character-English in method
and practice-and the Honorables
Washington w. Hopkins, A. NJ, and
Peter E. Tome, B. Phi, who were I'M
educated in similar schools, were made
very happy by this proceeding on the
part of the Director, but the girls of the
Institute, majority OF the teachers.
the parents of the girls, and the people
generally were not pleased, and con-
slider it a grave breach of trust. But
there was danger of the poor Maryland
girls communicating the elegant boys
who are stealing the heritage of those
same girls!
Prior to the interview above referred
to, DR.. Harris called the writer in one
day, and in roundabout way let it be
known that he would consider it a
favor if the writer would give up his
house to Professor Flint, soon to move
from the University of Maine to the
Institute. A polite negative reply was
given, with good reasons therefor, and
it was some time the next school year
before we found that he had been Of
Tended by our answer.
The success of the four year COM
mercial course during the year IooI-2
was all that those most interested in
its success could wish. The ten grad
yates and the seven students who had
graduated in other courses and had re-
turned for years special work in the
commercial department, all had good
positions before the beginning OF school
in September. Everyone was praising
the course and its results, and saying
that its results were those desired by
the Founder. Its success, however,
caused its ruin, as was seen at the OPEN
ing of school in September, 1902, when,
without consultation. DR.. Harris and
his course of study committee changed
the course to three years course and
reduced the time given to commercial
work. Mr.. Stevenson's letter to the
committee is appended as Exhibit E."
This was the beginning of the end
Students were not permitted to take
the commercial subjects until they had
spent the tlrst year OF their course in
Latin and ancient history under men
who were constantly urging them not
to take the commercial course. Indis-
putable proof of this when brought ia
the attention of the Director caused
him to smile knowingly.
In the spring of 1908 a great adver-
Using celebration costing thousands
of dollars was INDUCED in by Faculty
largely favoring the Boarding School,
Board OF Trustees the majority OF
which had finally agreed to support
DIR. Mackenzie II in carrying out the
plans of DR.. Mackenzie |, and lot OF
visitors from the English type of un-
American schools, who applauded the
theft of hundreds of thousands OF dol
lars from the five classes of boys and
girls for whom Jacob Tome left his