DISCIPLINE IN THE FRESHMAN CLASS

Two years ago 60 freshmen were separated from College at the end of the first semester, and 45 were placed on probation. Last year 40 were separated,, and 38 placed on probation. At the end of the semester just completed 23 were separated, and 35 placed on probation.

A freshman normally carries 5 three-hour courses, and 1 one-hour course. If he fails in 3 three-hour courses he is separated from College. Infliction of this penalty under such circumstances is based upon the belief that the student is not capable of making a success of the next semester's work. Almost all of our courses are year courses, and if a student fails in the first half of a course, experience has shown that only by the greatest effort can he pass in the second half. And if he has this serious handicap in three courses, his effort must needs be superhuman, if he is to come through the second semester even as Well as he did the first. In this view it is a kindness to the student himself to be separated in the middle of the year.

A student is placed on probation if he has failed in 2 three-hour courses. "Probation is an opportunity, to a student whose scholarship, attendance, or conduct is unsatisfactory, to prove his fitness to continue in College." The implication is that one who fails in two- fifths of his work shows unfitness to continue, but an additional semester is granted him, in the hope. that he will improve. Unless he shows improvement he is separated at the end of the second semester. Since the passing mark is put at the low point of 50 per cent, it may readily be seen that a student is sometimes allowed to remain in College if he has done but a trifle over one-third of the work that is assigned him. We have this semester retained in College, men who received, respectively, total marks of 160, 190, 215, 220, whereas a student whose work was perfect would obtain an aggregate mark of 500.

It may be trite to say, but it is none the less true, that there are usually only three causes for imposing discipline upon freshmen. These are lack of ability, lack of preparation, and neglect of work. The first of these is very obvious to a College faculty, but does not seem to be always apparent to the teachers of the boys, or to his friends. Some boys reach the limit of their intellectual growth by the end of their High School course, and the College would be saved a large amount of unnecessary trouble if teachers and friends were more cautious about recommending such boys to go to College. Their stay in College can be nothing but a disaster and a humiliation to the boys themselves. Lack of preparation is the most fruitful cause of discipline in freshman year. When a boy comes to College with a certificate stating that he has faithfully studied Latin for four years, and his instructor finds that he does not know even his declensions, only one conclusion is possible. The school had no right to issue that certificate. The boy soon realizes where the fault lies. Neglect also plays a part, but apparently to a smaller degree. No doubt freshmen often have their heads turned by the many activities of a College life, and indulge too freely in things outside the curriculum, until' they suddenly find that they have precipitated themselves into a situation from which escape is almost impossible. Several cases of probation this year are directly due to neglect.

But the number of students who are subject to discipline is steadily decreasing, much to the satisfaction of the faculty and the administration. There are several causes contributing to this result, but probably the greatest cause is that the penalties for failure are assessed regularly and without appeal, and students have come to realize that they must live up to the standards set by the College. A few years ago a student with a large number of failures was permitted to drag along for a year or two, until he gave up in despair, or until the faculty, in despair, asked him to leave. Two years ago, 21 upperclassmen were separated at the end of the first semester; last year, and again this year, only three. Separation now takes place promptly at the end of the first semester of freshman year. The most wholesome effect of this regular discipline is that fewer men come to College who are unable to meet the stress.

Of the 57 recent cases of discipline, only 4 were unforeseen. All of the other men were warned repeatedly by the Dean and the class officer, and they were seen several times by the class officer, and an effort was made to assist them to overcome their initial handicap. Some who are now on probation would probably have been separated but for this constant attention, and many who were not disciplined would _ have been separated or put on probation. The system of advisers is of constantly increasing- effectiveness in this regard. The spirit of the upperclassmen has been excellent, and several freshmen owe their continuance in College to the work of the tutoring bureau conducted by the Christian Association The fraternity situation is also helpful owing to the transfer of "chinning day" to the second semester, and also to the decision of the Inter fraternity Council that no freshman can be admitted to a fraternity if he has failed in more than one subject.

The outlook for the future seems bright, but there may be some risk that the present system will not throw the freshman sufficiently upon his own responsibility. He must of himself develop the backbone necessary to face his own problems. Further experience alone will determine whether we are right in assisting him to the extent we are now doing.

Professor R. W. Husband, Freshman Class Officer