The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
Let Students Share in the Real Dis
cipline Of the School, Says Head
master Arthur F. Warren

shine far brighter than tho intensest
beams OF introspection. Failure may most
easily come through the arrogance OF
teacher or boy and Infinite tact ana
patience is always needed. But above all
there must be supreme faith In the fact
that boy not only learns from his mis-
takes but rises through them to true
leadership and success. revealing the real
truth to his teachers, his comrades and
himself In these same errors
"In America this scheme or system. 10
but in the making and is too seldom
tried. D. lacks tradition and tradition 10
name conjure with. But across the
water this principle In various forms has
been tried for years and has kept alive
many fine customs. Let me give one IL
lustratiOn:
On the winchester School, England. the
head boy has IN his possession a ring on
the inside Of which there il this Latin
motto: 'Commendat rarior usus.' which
may be freely translated IT Is better for
being used sparingly. When this ring 10
presented by the head boy to the head
master OF the school the latter IL COM
pelied to grant the entire school a holi-
day. But so closely Is the power OF the
ring circled with immemorial tradition
that the holiday rarely occurs. and the
motto IN splendidly observed and literally.
translated into the living examples Of
boys who can be safely trusted with
magic power for the headmaster is some
times forced to ask the boy to present the
ring and claim the privilege.
I'VE may not all wish to try the expert
ment of placing holiday at the within
Of boy. but history teaches us that boys
entrusted with real power grow large and
fast in true nobility Ana that ours IL the
privilege OF sharing this larger growth
! with them. We In America pride our
selves in our democracy, but too often we
proclaim
autocracy and in our methods deny the
established principles OF our boosted form
OF government. Especially In our
great and wonderful school life do we
need to apply the very principles which
we profess to follow.
"Ono personal experience and close.
I shall ever hold In affectionate memory
the conference of boy who came to
/ me to talk over the case of a cassmate,
close friend OF his who had violated
| the smoking privilege OF the school The
| breach OF discipline was known only TO
the boys. not by the school authorities.
| and the offence might have been CLOSED
over without punishment. But this
| special school life was founded upon the
pupils share In the general discipline,
! and Master b was an officer OF his
class. chosen to represent them and the
school ar president for that year. lie
knew that the imposition Of any marks
| he knew that az president Of the school
| he had a duty to perform II. came to
| my study late IN the evening to talk
things over as he said, although I soon
| learned he had reached a decision that
| afternoon when he had fought the matter
out in "a long. solitary tramp across the
fields. My talk with him In summed up
| in few words Master B., the
| school will trust YOU. whatever YOU do
The marks we're given by him; the boy
| was suspended for some weeks tit was
his first offence. and both boys were
Loyalty supported by every member Of
the form.
"In the course Of time the first boy
returned WAS warmly welcomed and
proved his worth by making good, and
by being regularly graduated with his
class. ON that day IN June these two
boys went out to walk arm in arm. That
| evening tn" two came to my study to
| gether to get me to sign their diplomas.
| We said hut little but In schoolboy par
lance We thought heap A sentimental
| story--ah. YES, hut human 7 tell you
that boys can bo trusted with vital
share in the discipline OF the school and
that this very trust will make for the
welfare not only OF the school but OF the
boy.
| What. then shall ba the students
share in the general discipline of the
school" The answer is large one The
high potentialitics OF this wonderful cur
rent. rightly applied. suiges through the
student body with a force that has never
been measured and brooks no resistance.
II gives power and efficiency without limit {:
it answers the call OF the age for Young
men eager for the fray ana unafrald II
| teaches our young men ia early years TO
| cultivate an intimacy with the verities OF
life"