The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-28
Value of Boarding School
Cannot Be Overestimated
Boys Cultivate Truthfulness and Obedience and Esprit
de Corps-Learn to Work for the Good of All-Live
Simple Life-ThereI Is No Outside Disturbance of
Study Periods.
By ROLAND j. MILFORD.
IIeadmast-r RIdgeacid school. Ridgeaeld. Conn.


must mind first, II there is a mistake 1t
can be Strengthened out later. but obedi-
ence comes first. Discipline is always n
matter OF tact, and no boy resents II so
long as 10 is Just and all are treated
alike. Ind ED the teachers for whom
boys care most are those who are most
strict and most just. The value of board
ing school lies In the fact that there Is
no let up and no change In the discipline /;
when this is SO a boy soon finds out what
he may or may not do. and you do not
have To begin over again each day at the
same place. The respect for law and
order thus acquired lasts through life,
At boarding schoo! can he taught bet
ter than anywhere else simplicity OF l!v-
ing. The conveniences must be provided :.
but not the Injuries. Those who have
learned TO do without the unnecessary
things OF life are sure OF "A very much
happier existence than those who can get
whatever their whiuls may call for or the
spur OF the moment may suggest. In
stead OF extravaganza they have learned
self-restraint. 4 boy brought up in an
atmosphere OF self-contrOl learns its
value. as he can In no other way, and
when he is old enough 10 live without
governors and tutors he chooses the
right way because he has learned 20
control himself.
The great object Of any school is to
make boys work, and here the advan-
tage OF "A boarding school lies in the
fact that everything IL don 10 make il
easy to work. Regular routine, with
every boy studying at the same tire,
removes much OF the temptation TO do
anything else, since there is no one else
with whom TO do 1t. The rewards TO-
good work can be made valuable to a
boy in the shape of extra holidays. and
a boy who works may win privileges,
such as studying in his room. while the
others. under the supervision of a mas
ter, study in the sCheolroom This sys-
TEN works automatically every week or
month and increases "A boys power OF
application or concentration he knows
that he can study in his room only 30
long as his lessons are good and there
fore studies hard TO keep this privilege.
The democracy OF private boarding
schools is sometimes questioned. but TO
those who know them Nowhere does a
boy find his level more surely. no place
Is more deT ocratic or more typical ~
the real American spirit. Those distinc-
tons OF birth or wealth or social posi-
ton that make SO much difference in
the world are in reality accidents in 4
school. they never enter "A boys head
80 eNA'l - i'hltN 'NNlllliltI. tI
its real worth there than anywhere else.
All boys give undue prominence TO
athletic prowess. but that IL character
istic OF adolescence the strong man
was not merely a hero. he was the only
survivor in that period of human de-
velopTent TO which in the races prog
ress this stage OF the boys life corre-
spends. 1t makes no difference 20 boys
what wealth or rank or state their
hero may possess. As they get older
they begin to outgrow their worship OF
strength and the ideal OF service takes
It's place the boy who does most for
the school, though usually OF course in
athletics. wins their approval. Intel
lcctual endeavor does not in general ap-
peal TO a ~schoolboy. but he does recog-
nize service. and with service character.
Democracy means equality OF oppor-
tunity. and all boys start even. There
Is nowhere else so complete a democracy
as in a boarding school. \ boy there
stands squarely and only on his own
merits. II he comes vi to the schools
standard IT makes no difference from
what walk In life he cones.
Athletics in a boarding school must
be kept In their proper place, but they
are necessary and are. indeed, so great
a help II assistance that a school
could not be well run without them
The only question Is to make them a
means and not an end. Boys too often
feel that the school really exists only
that 1t may provide ~elevens and mines
Every boy should ind out or be taught
some game In which he can become
an expert player. 1t does not matter
which particular sport he goes in for MOI
shout he confine his efforts to that one
game. but in one distinct branch Of ath-
| lafig snort bA Shnt,II avail Etnh trn.
iiciency often instils enough self-con-
fdence TO help a boy in his work as
well as his play, and as a rule the re.
suit Of athletic proves Is to raise 4
boys scholastic record. lie has more,
over won the respect of his fellows. AND
that Is often, especially with II shy
and dlffldent mature, the beginning OF O
new life OF interest and purpose and re,
sporsibility.
Between the master and boy Fan grow
up a close intimacy which offers peCu
liar opportunities to the older man L
help In the moulding of a boys char
acter through this most formative perioC
OF his life, A man can make his char
acter count for something not so muCl
by any direct means as simply by beinl
q strong character himself. The secre
OF any real influence with boys Is sin
cerity, Boys quickly see through an,
weakness II a man who wins their re
spect has Il life so full and so usefu
as to make the real teacher almos
scorn any other profession.
In B!dckpOod's for last July there i
an amusing article. by Ian Hay. on "Th,
Lighter Side OF school Life" Motto,
what the house master is expected to b,
and do:
I'm addition 70 all this he must III
an Admirable Crichton. Whatever hi