South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-01
Fl. CAVANAUGH
OPENS SUMMER
SCHOOL At N. D.
"SlOuChineSS" Should Not Be
Tolerated at Institutions
of America, Says Head
of NOtre Dame.

There is among our people no
general belief in the goodness and
Value OF knowledge in itself" said
The Very Rev. Dr. John CsVanaugh,
q. S. g.. president Of Notre Dame
university, in sermon preached
sunday morning in the Sacred Heart
church at the formal opening of the
summer school Rev. DR.. Mathew
schumacher. G. s. g.. dean OF the
summer school. was the celebrant
at high mass. and was assisted by
Rev. Thomas Burke. G.. = G., as
deacon. and Rev. Joseph Burke, =.
<. G.. as subdeacon.
Dr. Cavanaugh's sermon. which
follows. was taken from the text
Blessed are they that hunger and
thirst after justice, for they shall
be filled" He said:
Ny dear Friends.
To-day with simple ceremony We
assist at the formal opening or the
nrst session OF our summer school
We have come 20 beg Gods blessing
on the work. knowing that here as
everywhere else the favor OF Heaven
is the most necessary condition of
success. Unless the Lord keepeth
The city, in vain doth he watch who
keepeth IL. unless the Lord build
the city, they labor in vain that
build it, We are here also 10 con-
secrate 70 this serious labor our best
energies. our undivided enthusiasm
and whatever measure OF talent Al
mighty God has given us 10 work
with IL will help US TO prepare our
minds and souls for our labors II we
reflect upon certain conditions
which manifest themselves IN the
work 6f education IN this country.
Nearly year the ad1utant general
81 the United States army sent 10
all university presidents in this
country a letter concerning faults
in the education OF the young men
who presented themselves for special
military training i'm the officers re-
serve corps. From that letter 1 read
fhe following excerpts;
..SIouchine.sS'' Most GIaring Fault.
Perhaps the most giaring
fault noted in aspirants TO the OF
fCers' reserve corps and one that
might be corrected by proper at
tcntion i'm our high schools. pre-
paratory schools and colleges,
might be characterized by the
general word. ''slouchincss.' 1
refer TO what might he termed
mental and physical indifference.
/ have observed ut camp many
otherwise excellent men who have
failed because i'm our school syS-
tenn sufficient emphasis j. not
placed upon the avoidance of This
mental and physical handicap.
In the work of the better govern
ment military schools OF the
world this sIaclIicSs i'm thought.
presentation and bearing j. not
tolerated because tue aim of all
military training il accuracy. At
military camps throughout the
country mental alcrness aCcu-
racy in thinking and acting. lear
ne-s in cnunciatiOn. surcness md
ease of carriage and bearing mus;
I,c insisted upon for two rca-OEs:
That SUCCESS may be assured as
nearly as human effort can guar
antce IN with the material and
means ut hand. and that priceless
human lives may not be criminal
" sacrificed. Only 10y the pos
session Of these qualities referred
does one become "A natural leader.
I'm addition To this physical
disability and slouchincss il what
might be termed the slOuchinCss
Of mental attitude. Many men
fail 60 measure up To the right re-
auircments set for our officers
reserve because they have not been
trained TO appreciate the import
anCc of accuracy in thinking. Too
many schools are satisfied with an
approximate answer 10 a question.
Little or no incentive il given in
creased mental effort Ia cOOrdin-.
ate ones ideas and present them
clearly and uuequiVOCalIy. In
siStence upon decision I'm thought