Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-26
Its Influence on Student Life
Discussed by Educators.
ANNUAL CONVENTION HERE
Association Representing Colleges
and Schools at New Willard.
TWO WELCOMING ADDRESSES
Commissioner Macfarland and Elmer
E. Brown of Educational Bu-
reau Extend Glad Hand.

Utilization of the college fraternity in
student life was the topic of discussion
at the first session of the twenty-third an
nual convention of the Association of Col
leges and Preparatory Schools of the
Middle States and Maryland. held today
at the New Willard Hotel under the aus
schools Of Washington. President John
d. Moffat of Washington and Jefferson
College called the meeting to order at IL
O'Clock. and after a few announcements
by the secretary, of the local commit
tee, introduced Commissioner Mcfarland,
who, with Commissioner Elmer f. Brown
of the United States bureau of education.
welcomed the delegates to Washington in
a brief address.
1.-The honor of. your visit is highly val
ued by the National Capital said Mr..
Macfarland, (which, with its keen appre-
citation of all intellectual service, knows
what it means to the whole country. This
is more and more an educational center,
and If we knew only what is being done
by our own colleges and schools, If we
knew only the fine men and women who
are teaching in them, We should be able
to appraise highly what you are doing.
Patience and Courage.
We know your ideals and how pa
tiently and courageously you strive to-
ward them and what that means to the
men and women who are your product
and to the future which will be in their
hands. This Is an incomplete world, full
Of incomplete human nature, and the only
satisfactory theory is that life is a school.
Like all strong men and women you are
impatient with your own failures, and
that way lies new success. But you
ought not to be discouraged; it is good
to praise our own time which is our
golden opportunity, II not our golden age.
Il believe you are doing as good work
ates who have made true success prove
1t. This association is an evidence of
steady improvement in educational serv-
ice. readjusting as it. is the relation be-
tween colleges and preparatory schools to
the betterment OF botn. Like the uneX-
pected service of the Carnegie teachers
fund. in raising the standard of excel
lence, 1t is, in less than a quarter of a
century. doing just that thing. 1t is easy
for us outsiders to give advice. Some of
it you might accept.
Mended or Ended.
You might agree, for example that
foot ball must be mended or ended
When we enter upon more delicate and
intricate questions you have the right to
say that you know best. You are your
own severest critics and we can safely
trust you. You believe that the great OBJ
ject is to make real men and women, who
shall be ready for what life has in keep
ing for them, and that what is most
needed is a greater interest in the studies,
even though the value of athletics and
society is freely granted. The man, the
,l~,ll
the same interest in learning that the stu
dent has in athletics or society will do the
world an immortal service"
Commissioner Browns Address.
In his address of welcome Commission
er Brown paid a tribute to Commissioners
Macfarland, who, he said, has welcomed
so many visiting delegations to Washing
ton and the news OF whose resignation
has caused sincere regret among the peo-
pie of the capital.
Reference has been made he said,
ito the large automobiles which are used
for seeing Washington. l have always
noticed a great difference between the
people who ride in these cars here and in
other cities. The people riding around in
Washington have an unmistakable air of
owning everything they look at This
characteristic of the sightseeing crowds
here may be because there are so many
bridal couples among them; but 1t Is
more likely due to the fact that they
really do own all they see. To welcome
you to Washington is really only. to re-
mind you that you are at home, and to
urge you to make yourself feel that
way.
Commissioner Brown invited the dele
gates to visit the bureau of education in
its new quarters and assured them that
they would be cordially welcomed.
I'VE appreciate greatly what you have
done in the past and we trust that the
present session will be as fruitful of
things really done as your former ses-
sions have been"
President Moffat Responds.
In his response to the addresses of well
come President Moffat said that he had
always come to Washington with a sense
of part ownership in the National Capt.
tal and that as he had bought numerous
articles that had come from Europe, he
felt also that he had contributed to its
support. He was surprised, he said, to
learn from Commissioner Macfarland that
his share in the yearly contribution to the
capitals expenses had been only 6 cents.
II had not heard he declared, that
the tariff was SO far reduced. However,
have not the slightest idea just where
my contribution has gone
In introducing Clarence F. Birdseye,
the College Fraternity in Student Life,"
President Moffat said that the subject
was one which interested all teachers, as
the fraternities had already been intro
duced into the high schools and before
long even the kindergartens would proba-
bly, have them
Growth of Fraternities.
Mr.. Birdseye's paper gave history OF
the growth of the college fraternity and
told how in the early institutions home
and college home life were paramount
and the instruction incidental.
I'VE use one unfortunate expression in
speaking of our colleges and the life of
the studets therein" said Mr.. Birdseye.
I'VE say OF the lad about to enter col
lege: He is leaving home We might
better say: He is going to another local
ity for four years, where he must find
new and quite different home conditions,
which will exert their moral and social
influences upon him as an Individual but
through an essentially different embodi-
ment ard environment.
'"Ine lad has been fitted for the curric-
ulum depa rtment of the college, in which
he will be under strong stimulus and
control: but has he been at all fitted
for the college community life or the COL
lege home life, and under what stimulus
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