New-York tribune., 1907-12-01
MOLLYCODDLE DANGERS
SCHOOL, LIFE TOO EASY.
Sneaker at College Conference Teits
of Educational Defects.

Dr 7,1or,as stockhan, Baker professor at the
1ocob Tome Institute at Port Deposit, Md, In
his address on the Preparation for Cohese a'
a Means of Education, at yesterday SESSION
of the Association of Colleges and Prepara'ois
Schools at the New York City College. toio N1'
hearers that the schoolboy of to-day uiu nv
do enough work and that he is the creature Oh
so rnan.- distractions that the real opoecI "
going to school is frequently forgotten he ue-
clared that as soon as this evil is corrected os
publc sentiment and the schoolmaster oe''ei
results would be obtained from the coheee anu
university men Dr. Baker said. IT part
The boys of to-day are too old lhes Ito,
lost much of the charm of boy1Shness III ii'e
efforts to ape the manners and mannerlsh'S VI
their elders. 1 venture TO say that the oos VI
seventeen is far more sophisticated persoh
than would have been possible twenty-five 9eai'
ago"
Dr. Baker blamed the varied engagements VI
the schoolboys and their high pitched amuse-
n,ents-athletics dramatics and so-calied nnusi-
cal organizations-for making the efforts OF Tue
scfoolinaster tasteiess TO the boy.
I'VE hear a great deal nowadays. sald Di-
Baker "about the manly boy. and ABOUT tne
dangers Of his becoming moliycoodie' out III
our efforts to anluse him and to make his schooi
life attractive we, are in danger of developing
a. race whose later course will be Tor more ui9
pStrOUS
vigorous course OF plain living and high think
ing Too much help is given TO him by private
coaching, annotated textbooks and simpiined
tasks which take from him the responsibility
that he ought to bear AS a, result. DR.. Baker
concludes 1--WE are in danger OF producing q
mental n1ollycoddle-a type whose inteliectuai
powers are distressingly sickly and stunted- Inc
mental r1ollycoddle is not unusual product OF
this our forcing process.
"The boy improves most quickly mentally
morally and physically who is kept the busiest
We do not want nation Of prigs nor OF pook-
worms nor OF professors, heaven forbid but we
can make OF more scholars and more rear
students. We can dispense with quite little
nervous energy IL we can have more right
thinking
In the discussion that followed DR.. Bakers
address. E. T. Jeffers. president of York Col
iegiate Institute. OF York Penn, said:
1--WE are TO teach boys how TO make life. not
q living. 1 believe that thoroughly educated
man makes better living than one who Is not
educated and / also believe that the former VIII
want a better living than the latter. But edu-
cation Is not necessary for living. Anybody
can earn a living that is willing to work"
Professor Hervey. OF Columbia University.
spoke in favor Of a state board of examiners
conducting examinations for entrance TO col
ieges and argued that the pupil should be re-
Ieved of the ordeal OF two examinations by
having the college accept the certificate Of the
state board J. c. Croswe Of the Brearly Hall
School, did not consider The condition OF student
efficiency in our colleges gloomy as had been
pictured The education Of the American. he
said. as not In such dangerous condition as
our discussions would lead us to believe. Ninety
nine per cent Of our applicants to colleges pass
the entrance examinations
The convention adjourned after invitations
had been favorably received from Franklin and
Marshall College. at Lancaster, Penn. TO hold
next years sessions there.