The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-05
SCHOOL GIRLS NOW
GOVERN THEMSELVES
Students in a Minneapolis Ina
stitution Adopt New System
Of Self Discipline.

Minneapolis, Minn,-With final cere-
monies to mark the end of an old order
Of things and the beginning Of a new,
the students OF Stanley hall have be-
come a self governing body. Full execu-
tive, legislative and judicial powers
rave been entrusted to certain OF their
own number, chosen by themselves, and
the system OF self government which
has been under way for the last week
has already proved successful.
Some of the rules in force by agree
ment are those regarding punctuality,
order in the halls n leaving the
grounds. No audible conversation is to
be allowed in the halls and no CONVEX
sation during chapel service or during
quiet hours.
The adoptionSof this organized stu
dent government association was the
result OF several weeks consultation
with Mrs. Hickok, of the department OF
science, and h laws governing II are
stated In the charter which was grant,
ed the student body by the principal
and faculty.
That the students are keenly alive to
the Importance of the step IL shown In
the preamble OF the constitution, which
says:
I'VE the students OF Stanley hall. de-
string to develop the power Of Initiative
habits OF self control, a sense of respon-
sibility and q sense of cooperation for
the rights and feelings OF others, and
to instill a knowledge OF political
economy and a spirit OF loyalty to gov
eminent, having been empowered by
the faculty of Stanley hall, do ordain
and establish the constitution
: While the final appeal Is to the Gdyis-
Dry board, consisting OF the principal
and instructors, the students are direct
Iy answerable to the proctors. A great
deal OF responsibility rests upon the
proctors and their duties are most i'm
portant. These officials are appointed
by the executive board and they include
the president, vice president, and rep
resent the house girls and day pupils.
1t Is the duty OF the proctors, who
are selected by the pupils, to see that
the rules arc kept, and upon failure to
do so a pupil will be notified privately
by the proctor OF the separate hall and
after continued d~isobedience, her con-
duct will be reported to the executive
board, which relieves the proctors OF
any further responsibility. After trial
by the Judiciary court, in which the
pupil may be represented by her class
teacher, she Is given a further trial. the
advisory board constituting the su-
preme court Of appeal.
When the ceremony OF presenting the
charter took place the Rev. Theodore
Payne Thurston gav the opening ad-
dress" He said that real happiness
anne In honesty and honorable de-
meanor. In guiding ones self so one
would live In harmony with the law.
law would cease to become a. necessity.
He further said:
do not enter into the attitude toward
your proctors as though they were po-
licemen. 1t Is just as important in it's
way al any Office that can be given.
They are selected by your ballot, by
your votes, to carry out your win. It
gives you the great, tremendous, beau
tiful, unusual privilege and you should
be very careful In tho consideration
that the officers are In no way spies,
but are helping to help you govern
yourselves"
This form OF government exists In
many Eastern and Western schools and
Is the only one established in the
academic seminary schools. The pres
emit regime OF Stanley hall.