The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-19
LETTER FROM WALDO
DAVIDSON
Caixa 254, Rio de Janerio, Brazil,
n..-...I-- 100

Dear Berca Friends:
The past week has seen the
launching Of our student work-if
work" ! must call it detest the
word used in that sense. as well as
another well-worn friend "field."
Since our arrival in July, making
friends has been our business ] was
introduced to professor in the Law
School. a good Christian man. He
gave me letters of introduction to
eight or ten carefully chosen teachers
and later on these in turn introduced
me to others. So that now we know
very well some twenty professors.
These | visited in their homes, in
most cases, and attended their classes,
generally being introduced to the
students in attendance. Eight pro
fesSors, two from each Of the Law,
Medical, Polytechnic. and Military
Schools, have constituted an advisory
council. Others from the four re-
naming schools will be added next
year. as ! have time to make -thc
necessary connections. Among these
eight counselors of ours is one who
has been mayor Of Rio de Janeiro-
a federal appointment of the Presi.
dent, equal to a Cabinet position, and
later Minister of Justice. very well
known author and editor. in addition
to his professional duties; profess
sor of international law, who goes
in April to Uruguay and Peru at the
invitation of these governments. to
lecture. These are the types of men
who are whole heartedly helping us.
For working Committee or Board
of Directors, we organized groups
composed of one student and one
teacher from each school. This
Committee has had its first session
and is working thru the delicate
process of organization. In addition
to these men, We have eight profess
sors who are giving us strong sup
port, who do not figure on any COM
mittee Among these | might name
the Director of the National Observa-
tory, the Councillor Of the State De
partment, a man who is the John
Bassett Moore Of Brazil and several
others. So we are finding good
STABLE group of men who are all
willing to be of service, and each of
whom may be used according TO his
capacity and to his interests. Our
plan or policy is to make friends, say
little, and learn from all who can
contribute something.
In most cases the professors have
other work which occupies much of
their time. This is not choice, but
the necessity of making sufficient
money to live on forces all professors
to open offices of law, or clinics. etc,
for the schools are as yet unable to
pay sufficient for the teachers full
time. And many of them do a ire
mendous amount of work The Di-
rector of the National Observatory
also teaches a first year class in the
Polytechnic School, tells me he has
all the correcting of examination
papers and notebooks to do And
because he is very thoro and pains
taking, he wastes much spare time
on these things which an assistant
ought to handle. These men, as a
rule, give themselves whole hearted
ly to their work as teachers, and are
a distinct credit to the profession.
A few are Protestants, many Catho-
lies, and many free thinkers or athe-
lists. But contrary TO what | have
always been told, they keep their be-
liefs to themselves, and do not infiu-
ence the students as ! had been in
formed Beyond the subject taught,
the teacher has very little influence
on the student. This is typical of
the things we learn by visiting
classes and TALKING with students and
professors.
| enjoyed two days at the Military
SchOol-the West Point of Brazil
with some 700 cadets. A fine spirit,
with discipline, but less militarism
apparent than in many of our pre-
paratory schools. A democratic
spirit exists among all the student
body. A Colonel, professor in the
school, member of our Advisory
group, tells me that seventy.five per
cent Of the present officers do not
drink, gamble or even smoke This
is apparent in the clean, clear, hon
est faces of the officers one meets.