Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-07
'Thc Honor System Once More

~ honor system has broken out at the
University; but happily, in mild FORM
little likely 10 prove contagious, 1t is not.
true, as reported in some of the newspapers,
that the college has been in any danger OF
taking il although it has been perilous!y
exposed to it for years. 1t would seem that
the navy is still suffering under mild
form Of this dstemper caught from the
Wharton School; but drastic measures have
prevented its spread to the army" So runs
the news,
tI AND what, pray, is the honor system 2
"A Innocent reader it is n boyish device
TO escape the alleged humiliation incident to
writing an examination paper in the pres
ence of an instructor; or, to translate INTO
the familiar language Of sport contrlVahce
TO play the game without the umpire. In a
usual form it substitutes a signed promise
not 10 cheat during particular perlou' "
promise exacted from all, for the usual pre-
cautions against the occasional and eXcep-
tional offender. Transferred from the school
room to the community at large, 1t would
mean the abolition OF the policeman, because
tho virtuous feel it a personal reproacn 10
question the universal honesty OF manKllu'
DISHONESTY as to lessons among school
IL Bows is commonly less a matter OF
morals than 81 matter of mischief. TO outwlt
authority, to take dangerous risks ana Wiis
out is TO gain & reputation for cleverness, q
quality far above the price of rubies, to say
nothing of scholarship What healthy boy
will not repudiate the notion that ne is Il
dig? Learning comes incidentally 10 nun
in the intervals Of sport, If 1t is 10 come AT
ALL His real life iS that with his feliows,
hapny> outlaws in the Sherwood Forest OF
Youth, and pranlss against the constituted
authority of the schoolmaster Sherin or NOT
tingham meet only approval in his irrespon-
sible world. 1t Is unhappy to retain even III
eorlv manhood, the elemental notions of
ohiiSbood II is a misfortune not to outgrow
the hoodlum ethics of boyhood-its ,discour-
tesy, unfairness, rudeness, egotism, selfish
ness
~, is then, vastly to the credit of student
| bodies in universities and colleges all
over the country, that they should have
sought some means 10 better conditions in
the matter of honesty at examinations, by
seeking to arouse in their fellows sense OF
responsibilty and the need of leaving behind
tbo primitive morality of the secondary
schools The desire TO be rid OF the
watcher" too, is not unnatural or unjustihed'
os the presence. the mere existence, OF such
an officer is an affront to supersensitlVo
honesty But Is u written promise TO be
bonest during a given per lod a good way
toward the desired result? And how can We
escape the inevitable inference that a
nron1ise not to cheat today implies the right
TO cheat tOHlOTTOW anu q JHSthS"NiSh 90 "
the cheating of yesterday? Does an honest
man need TO promise to be temporarily no
thief? And who else than the thief need Vt
hind? Moreover, can an honest man bind
| himself by such a promise without in so
| doing impugning his honor?
vT1IIERE is a fine old story, related some
where Of Richard Brinsley Sheridan,
| dranatist, wit, orator, man-about-town.
Seated at table, counting out store OF
| gold by candle light, Sheridan was sur
| prised by his tailor, a patient and sagacious
| man-patient in that he had wated long FOR
| the payment Of certain bills due him for
| habiting this splendid man about town (;
| sagacious In that he had been careful to
| take. Sheridan's note as evidence of the
| money due, after repeated excuses always
ending; "Jenkin, you see, really have no
| money" 90
| Good evening Mr.. Sheridan" said Jen-
/ kin, advancing, note in hand. "You have
/ often told me, sir. that you would pay me
i if you had the money, and that 1 should
| have the first money that came in l see,
| sir, that tonight you are happily provided
| 'My dear JenlXin," said Sheridan "this
| mohey is not mine. lost II last night at
| Brooke's 20 Mr.. Fox and am counting Il
| out 10 pay It over 10 him. You have my
| note there In your hand, written security
that you viii get your money Mr.. Fox has
only my word as a gentleman for security
A eentlomans word must take precedenee q
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