The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-09-14
GRENADA COLLEGE
Citizens of Grenada
100000
100000

The whole intent and purpose Of
this series of open letters to Grenada
citizens is an effort TO arrive at that
sympathetic understanding which
should eventuate in a vital cOOpera-
tion Of all forces for the advancement
and progress of the institution. In
expressing my attitude in this whole
matter L hope that l may be able TO
find such language as will ab Olutely
preclude the possibility OF any ones
constituting my spirit in these utter
anceS to be anything but the kindli-
est, most friendly and entirely I'M
pe%rSonal---if an utterance can be both
friendly and imperSOnal.
Referring again to the subject OF
certificates in special departments and
diplomas, l desire to state that l in
nowiSe deSpiSe the work done for
which a certificate stands. A GER
titicate earned thru the merit of work
Accomplished is esteemed by me as car
rying with it much more Of. worth, and
as deserving higher recognition than
a diploma which is awarded for a price
be that price measured in dollars or
personal favor. That practice of some
of our people to desire and seek the
a ward of a diploma for almost no
achievement is ~defrauding their own
capabilities; and institutions that a.
ward diplomas for work of such fimSy
texture are p~roStituting the cause of
education and degrading their own
profession.
TO illustrate: Since l have been in
Grenada | have held in my hands two
diplomas awarded to one man; one
conferred upon him the degree of
Master Of Arts, the other conferred the
degree Doctor of Philosophy, when DIS
a matter of fact that man had never
done work leading to a Bachelors de-
gree in college, much less having taken
work in Il University. This MAI now
sports" his M. A., but has never yet
had the nerve" TO masquerade in his
Phi. ID. | am under the impression
that the inhabitant OF the office that
furnished those degrees served his term
in the penitentiary up in the state of
New Jersey, but the man who received
them walks about high headed and
deceiveS some. (Oh, the man is
not in town. not even in the state.
Dou't guesS.) This, Of course, is an
extreme case, and | bring no charge
of like conduct IN degree against any
institution | know, but some inStitu-
tiOnS do confer Bachelor degrees upon
girls one or two years out Of high
schools, a procedure that hardly meas
ureS up to the highest ethicS--tU put
it generously.
This evil is one that the Grenada
College in a feeble way is trying, at
least in a measure, to correct. The
two girls who completed oar work last
year was .tOHr gears out Of the high
schools Of the state, which is trO ycGrS
more than is required by many girls
schools. | write the above sentence
fnr the special illumination of a friend
of mine in town. whom I'Overheard
telling a stranger that we do only
High school work. Ny friend, you have
no girlS,--anG hence have not patron
lied the COllOge--and if you have
even been on the college campus,
it was prior to my coming to Grena.
da. This last is personal, but kindly.
Your absolute lack Of information as
to the real status of work in Grenada
College was the inspiration Of these
letters. Thank you. Now, you know
better: quit talking that way.
This informal letter Informally
closes, but--there'> more to follow.
All are most cordially invited to at
tend the opening of the College Tues
day morning neXt.a at $50 a. ~.
w. l.. CLIFTON, Pres.