Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-11-03

ClOn Oh SUCH importance ana cnafac-
ter as to inspire both Faculty and
Student body.
"Again l find myself in conflict
with tradition. Should a college
make it's students study at prescribed
hours? We should not forget that
most of US are in America because
our forefathers were dissatisfied with
the artificial restraints of arbitrary
power in Europe. Naturally, this old
institution is very much concerned
with the good habits and proper de-
corum Of it's students, but we are
equally concerned with their develop
ment in personal responsibility. No
thoughtful parent wants his son to
become a dollhouse flower. Out in
the cold drafts Of the worlds vigorous
competition where only the personally
responsible men forge ahead, hot
house plants soon wither. The COL
lege ought to be an ideal transitional
stage for the seventeen-year-old boy
who is leaving the affectionate care Of
his parents to engage later in a bust
ness or profession. There ought to
be on the campus influences both of
the home and of the world. The high
est task of this College Faculty is to.
determine what those influences are
to be; to present them clearly and live
them substantially. So long as shall
be permitted to have any influence in
conducting the affairs of this college,
we shall have not only scholarly and
cultivated men to instruct your sons,
but they will be good men to guide
and lead them. In word, we Of this
| Ia ~ 10
the rules of kindergarten in the adj
ministration Of the students private
affairs, but we are endeavoring to
find the secrets Of right living and
the great principles of human con-
duct, and to give life to them on this
"Some years ago, the experiment
was tried of making this institution
military college. It was not alto
gether successful, for the simple rea-
SON that unless designed for special
purpose, such as the Naval Academy
or West Point, or influenced by ira
dition or community pride, military
college is an un-American institution;
and, while we hold that it is the duty
of every institution and good citizen
to play constructive pert in the nat
ional defense, we find that in apply
ing all the rigid and monotonous rules
of military discipline to the average
college boy, much of his originality,
personality and spirit of aggressive
ness is destroyed. The more we have
of the military, the less do we have
of the human element. While mill
tary training in it's proper place. con-
Quoted by high grade men, is of con-
siderable value to most young men,
we have seen to it that at this insti-
tuition it has been placed in position
subordinated to academic require
ments.
"Replacing a book of many rules,
characteristic of our temporary mill
tary regime, we have dared to have
only two rules for the guidance of our
Student body. First, the rule IF hon.
or; second, the rule of hard work.
Because we, too of the Faculty are
human, we forgive in advance the
minor frailties of the students. Be-
ing treated as men and gentlemen,
our students have been quick to sense
cur attitude towards them and to re-
spond worthily
"In order that we may remain a
vital factor in the Educational sys-
tenn of this State, we are concentrat-
ing our energies upon the courses
leading to the degree of Bachelor of
Arts. We are determined that the
courses in that limited field shall be
of such standard, so fine that you
will with confidence and pride want
to send your sons here for their COL
lege education and life's inspiration.
If we are to carry this program thru
we need first and foremost an able
faculty.
"There is on our campus a tulin-
poplar tree, estimated to be over 600
years old. Our campus is under the
spell of it's broad dimensions, its
serenity, it's majesty. 1t was calm
and commemorative before Columbus
was born. It witnessed perhaps the
massacres bv the Indians. Washing
ton and LAFAYETTE have stood under
it's boughs. Perhaps some wander
ing breeze brourht the roar of British
guns to it's hearing, when, in the War
Of 1912 Baltimore was being bonn
barded, and Francis Scott Key. one
Of our graduates, was writing the
Star Spangled Banner. Tt has heard
the voices of our students who later
became governors, senators. judges
land men Of affairs in this State. Its