Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-01-30

tide. The football team won the state
championship last fall, but the boys
say little about it, That formed a
pleasant diversion, but they are at
Alma for more serious business.
During the day we visited some of
the classes taught by new members
of the faculty We are pleased to no.
tice their courtesy and kindly bear
| ing. And they seem to know their
subject, and what is still more inn
portant, they appear TO know how to
teach We visit with some of them
at the close OF the recitations, and we
are convinced that the students have
sized" them up correctly, and that
they are deserving of the praise they
have received. Trust a student body
in such judgments. They are almost
invariably correct. The faculty mem
Der who does not have the confidence
of the student body may continue to
draw his salary for being profes-
sor,' but a teacher he certainly is
not And the faculty are engaged to
TEACH, not to PROFESS.
In the evening, we had a pleasant
visit with the president in his study
We were glad to see him at such
close range The result OF the time
we spent with him convinced us that
he is a gentleman, and an educator
and an administrator He does not
desire fulsome praise He asked
What do you think of my Extension
plans?' We replied, 1T is an ex-
pertinent, and it is too early to pass
Judgment That's all | can ask he
replied He wishes fair chance to
try certain things and does not de-
sire any bouquets to be thrown at
| him. His ideal is SERVICE, not
GLORY.
He hopes to see Alma grow edu-
cationally This will require few
changes in the curriculum, so that
students can enter the college from a
being required to do additional pre-
paratory work. His thought is that
the college exists for the young peo-
pie, and that it cannot dictate the
courses OF study in the High schools
of the state, but that it should adj
just its own courses that the average
student who is faithful can earn a
college degree in four years from
High school graduation. This. he be-
lieves, will make the college of
reater service to the young people
of the state This will not be so
radical change as it may sound.
But il will involve more clearness in
the catalogue, SO that the way-faring
man, even though he be High school
graduate. can read and understand.
We criticised some things about
the college. (There is no perfect COL
lege-as YETI DR.. Blaisdell does not
resent criticism; he welcomes it. All
that he asks is fairness. He wishes
to know the points in which its
friends consider Alma to be weak.
He is willing to talk things over"
| And when once convinced that there
| is weakness, he is going to work,
and work hard, to remedy it. Such a
man in the course of time is bound to
make a few enemies, but he will also
win host of friends.
The dominant note in DR.. Blais-
dell's mind seemed to be that of SER
VICE. SERVICE for the student
body, for the church, for the state.
In order to make the library more
useful. ministers all over the state
can avail themselves of the use of its
$4,000 volumes. All that is required
is that they shall pay postage both
ways. We have already made use of
this privilege
DR.. Blasdell is able to appreciate
the good qualities of his predecessor.
We like him all the better for this
1t shows a breadth of sympathy that
will tend to make the alumni eager
TO work with HIM We were glad
that the name Of DR.. Bruske was
never mentioned to us by anyone, eX-
cept in tones of kindness and of ap-
probation. DR.. Blaisdell is meeting
the problems of new conditions, real
izing that others have labored, and
have bequeathed to him a noble heri-
tage of opportunity for service.
Our visit to Alma was a happy one
The feeling OF strangeness soon wore
off We felt once more that this is
OUR school We are convinced that
the new administration has opened
very auspiciously. 1t has not only
our best wishes; it has our loyalty and
utmost endeavor. Our thought of
the college is well expressed in the
quotation that Miss Inglis. formerly
teacher of French, once sent in a
telegram to the football team, before
a championship game "'Tis not in
mortals to command success; but you
will do more-you will deserve it"
c. w. SIDEBOTHAM, r.
Chairman of the Synod of Michi