Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
By DUMAS MALONE
Professor Of Bible and Education An
drew College, Cuthbert, Ga.

TT is a far cry from that university
which consisted of Mark Hopkins
on one end OF log and a boy
on the other 10 most modern inst.-
tutions Of learning. For, while In tho
one case the personal factor was ad-
judged of chief importance In the
other II is almost entirely neglected.
II is a matter of common ohserva-
ton that university professors rare
" know their pupils outside the
classroom. They come. deliver their
learned lectures. and then depart to
live until the next lecture a life Who'll
~ apart from that Of their pupils
In the colleges for men while enu-
ditions are not SO bad. there is yet
far too little personal contact be-
tween teachers and pupils Even boo
schools for girls and women The in
dividuaI pupil is often practically
unknown TO her teachers, and is lost
in the crowd. left TO work out as best
she can her own salvation.
The greatest lessons Of life are
taught, not by word, but by deed. He
is the truest teacher who not only
tells his pupils what 90 do. but also
shows them how to do IT, The great
est inspiration toward higher living
comes not so much from hearing or
reading great addresses. articles or
sermons, as in seeing some great life
Hence. real contact between teachers
and pupils is Of vital Importance.
In view OF this fact. the present
situation in our country I'm this re-
gard is deplorablc. In this paper the
matter is considered with reference
to boarding schools of high school
grade and above. Some reasons for
the present situation are noted and
some suggestions are made looking
toward the betterment Of conditions
The first reason why there is to-
day so little personal contact be
tween teachers and pupils is that
there are, in most instances. too few
Of the former in proportion to the
number Of the latter The material
equipment and the enrolment in
American institutions have grown
much faster than have the faculties.
Hence. in many instances, teachers
have so many classes TO meet and so
much work to do that they have no
time TO take an interest i'm their pu-
pills The classes, furthermore, are
often very much too large for any
one to teach them perfectly certainly
far too large for any teacher TO know
every member of them
In many schools and colleges to-
day teachers and pupils live IN dlf-
ferent worlds The students live In
dormitores ON or near the campus,
the teachers often live In entirely diff
ferent parts Of the town or city, 80
they can not enter very readily into
the student life.
Even under the adverse conditions
OF city life, Though there would prob
ably be closer association between
teachers and pupils dld not that old
feeling of antagonism between them
yet linger the land So strong -
this feeling that i'm some cases. a
student who is friendly with the fac
ulty is deemed somewhat as a traitor
10 HIS fellows and as one who is try
ing 10 make himself popular with the
teachers IN the hope Of securing some
favor for himself Likewise. In some
instances. teacher who is friendly
with his pupils s thought TO be but q
seeker after popularity
There is vet another reason for this