The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-29

W al nesiitn OF travel; sometimes IL Is
lack OF self-control and concentration,
a girl wilful and selfish from infancy
whose family have given into every
whim and who has never learned the
discipline OF honest effort A special
psychologist takes the backward girl
aside and finds what Is wrong with her
mental processes
The girls learn that only the workers
are truly happy and In the happy com
munity where work and play are pleas
antly divided. they find In obedience and
service and In the Joy OF work real
zest for life,
The centre Of the classroom Is in the
class, not IN the teacher. The wise
teacher encourages free expression
both In oral and in written work gives
credit for extra reading and sees TO IL
that each girl knows how to study
The head OF each department Is a spe-
clalist and meets her girls not only in
the classroom. but for free consultation
after school and gives time TO back
ward students. She is associated with
them closely In the home life and Joins
In the games and daily exercise Long
tramps through country roads are
taken with the teachers; camping
trips have Nbeen an outgrowth OF the
summer camp and are kept up through
the winter. Many OF the schools have
cabin or farmhouse where the girls
do all the housework over week end
When there Is this sympathetic un-
Outstanding and relation of older sister
on the playground the traditional op-
position between teacher and pupil Is
swept away and the teacher is no longer
looked upon as the enemy.
I Ia firm hot an .A,
theorists, but TO manage successfully a.
girlss boarding school the principal
must be a practical ideaiist. She must
know her girls as they actually are,
their gifts and limitations and what
they need and what they think. They
are scarcely aware of how much she
does understand OF their home condl-
, tons. their attitude and effort IN their
work or their JOY in play. She also
must organize such an institution
wisely. With so varied = course and
, complex n schedule there might be a
chance for Intellectual or superficial
work II each department had not at It's
head thoroughly responsible person
who In turn has the same attitude of
watchful, wise guidance and who keeps
, constantly in touch with the head OF the
: school. Much depends on the head and
, even more on the teachers. and the
loyalty demanded OF the girls must he
felt all along the line. The school must
come first Women have been accused
A OF being too personal in their profess
sional work. That very fault may be
:. turned 10 good account In the teachers
, giving their heart and soul TO their
a part in the school.
y The larger freedom Of the school
/ family gives the girls q freer self-ex-
. preston than at home. In the modern
school II Is impossible for a girl TO be
> left alone or forgotten, che feels the
Q thrill OF the school spirit that demands
9 her zeal and loyalty. Her emotion finds
h an outlet In healthful friendships. in
the rivalry or basketball, In her love OF
Q beauty. revealed and taught through
q art and music. There Is always the
= younger girl for the older one TO helm
there are the occupations for her hands
In the useful arts and for her heart
i and brain. I overheard a girl say: mo
: one has ever made me work before, "
y and another: "The English teacher is
z stern. but / love her"
g The girls share in the government o,
$ the school. The sixth formers are an
Il honored class and their president the
y head Of the student body Much dis
= cipline Is saved by the care the projects
take that the new girls should learn
A to respect the school traditions. In fact
1 as a community the working OF the mod.
. ern girls school is a republic in which
. each member Is made TO feel she has +
: important place and whose laws she up.
holds Joyously and without other com.
a pulsion than the motive OF love and
loyalty. Personal honor is upheld on the
playground as in the classroom and q
girl who has had the rare privilege O,
a living for two years or more In such
-, an atmosphere can never again think
OF herself as the centre Of her own lit.
tie world. She has lived in n happy
paradise OF order and sunshine. of kind
i ness and discipline and congenial com
p panions and friendly teachers.
l 1t might be complained that this /,
I as far from a preparation for the ex
u perience and dlsappointments of real lif,
Il Of the world outside as In her sheltered
n home life. But she has learned many
a useful lessons and often at the cost o
d some tears. Her loyalty to the schoo
r never wavers. She has learned tina
Il there are many things OF value tina
e money cannot buy, happiness from un
I. selfish courtesy and honor as men un
k derstand the word--how TO take simpl.
n fully accept defeat and that to no on
d comes greater happiness than to thu
a one who has learned the JOY OF achieve
g ment and willingness OF self-sacriflce.
i Is this not a preparation for life AM
n will not these very girls be bette
! daughters better citizens and bette
. wives and mothers for the experience
- OF few years in modern boarding
- school, and will not the democracy b.
- benefited by n generation OF girl
- brought up in such an atmosphere?
- 1t is not fair to praise the college an,
" condemn the boarding school; both ar
=" working for the same end. and happ
cooperation between them, more help
" full understanding on the part of III
IL college to the little sister would bring
y better understa nding and appreciation
!, on the part Of the public to the lastin
vi benefit OF the college and the school.