Education: Matriculation

In almost every instance, colleges throughout the U. S. reported record enrollments. Successful entrants wrote home about new buildings, strange traditions, peculiar curriculums.

¶Leland Stanford University has two new scientific buildings—the Guggenheim aerodynamics laboratory, the seismological station. In its entering class is Fidel La Barba, retired flyweight champion of the world.

¶ The University of California announced a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr., of more than $1,750,000 for a 500-room dormitory to be known as the International House. Half of the rooms are for women. 300 residents are to be foreign students.¶ Scripps College for Women, which, with Pomona College, has allied itself to Claremont Colleges federation in California for the purpose of integrating the benefits of small college education with the advantages of large college equipment, announced the inauguration of its first president, Ernest J. Jaqua, and the dedication of its first building, the Eleanor Joy Toll Residence Hall.

¶At the University of Southern California, Freshmen coeds, were set to scrubbing sidewalks, in accordance with tradition. ¶ At the University of Wisconsin, famed for its journalistic educator President Glenn Frank, for its great economist Prof. Robert Commons (who dares chew tobacco in the President’s office), Dr. Alexander Meiklejohn* started his Experimental College. At this unit of the University, students will study exclusively a single civilization, the Ancient Greek. In so doing, they are not called upon to master the Greek language. ¶At Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss., 40 Freshmen voluntarily shaved their own heads in a “Free Will Hair Offering”, since upperclassmen are restrained by law from forceful hazing. ¶ Columbia University, in its 174th year, welcomed 64 foreign students from 31 foreign countries. After a year’s study, many of them will return to their native lands to apply U. S. educational methods. ¶ At the Ballard School of the Y.W.C.A., Manhattan, girls are offered a Personality Course. Said Miss Jeanette Hammill, director: “I suppose most women look forward to being married and wish to know the secrets of personality that they may make themselves as pleasant as possible to husbands as well as to people generally.”

¶At Union Theological Seminary, Manhattan, a new teacher was introduced to the student body, Professor James Moffat. He has translated the Bible into colloquial English, changing “Garden of” Eden” to “park,” “a mess of pottage” to “a red omelet,” “Wise men of the East” to “magicians,” the Virgin Mary’s reply to the angel, “I know not a man,” to “But I have no husband.”

¶At Yale, the 227th Freshman Class heard from the lips of President James Rowland Angell that physical health is the first requirement for success. Blond, curly-headed Warren Pershing, son of General John J. Pershing, was one of those thus instructed. ¶ At Smith College, the Freshman class numbered 15 granddaughters of Smith alumnae.

In Canada

French in Ontario. The Premier of Ontario last week announced that the French language might henceforth be used legally for instruction and communication in the public schools. For generations French has been spoken in the schools, though extra-legally. Hence the Premier’s declaration is not revolutionary. But it is significant as a formal recognition of French influence in Canada.

In 1775 some American colonists stood so loyal to King George III that they protested against rebellion by trekking off into the Canadian woods to found a new colony. It was no small sacrifice for these Englishmen to fight the battle against the wilderness all over again. Their loyalty to England cost them dear. Like ail things that come dear, it has been cherished. Even today Toronto considers itself the most loyal city in the British Empire.

Toward Upper Canada crept another people, settlers from the older, lower provinces of Canada neither English-speaking nor English-thinking. Opposite the Detroit River, one of them (the Count de Cadillac) founded a trading station. French countrymen followed, settling small farms, laboring in lumber camps, infiltrating the zealously English Province of Ontario with French blood & customs.

Since these French Canadians were Roman Catholic, they naturally attend schools other than those of the Protestant English children. As the years passed, the population increased. Schoolhouses mushroomed over the Province. It was assumed that these schools were both adequate & English, until 20 years ago. Then it was exposed that they were neither. In most cases the teachers were ignorant of English as well as most other things. Forthwith, loyal Britishers passed “Regulation 17,” requiring that “the language of instruction and communication in all schools be English.”

At first the French Canadians protested bitterly. Then they took to laughing up their sleeves. When lately an investigating committee reported to the Premier that in some counties 90% of the pupils spoke no English, Ontario finally recalled “Regulation 17.” At Toronto. Last week the University of Toronto, province of Ontario, celebrated its centenary. Twenty-seven persons received honorary degrees, among them: Charles Vincent Massey, Canadian Minister to the U. S.; George Howard Ferguson, Premier of Ontario; Stephen Leacock, economist & humorist; Frederick Paul Keppel, President of the Carnegie Foundation; John Huston Finley, editor of of New York Times; Dr. Livingston Farrand, President of Cornell University; Ellen Fitz Pendleton, President of Wellesley College; Henry M. Tory, President of the University of Alberta; Richard W. Livingston, President & Vice Chancellor of Queens University, Belfast.

Chicago Vodvil

On trial for “insolence, insubordination, and the possession of a domineering attitude,” School Superintendent of Chicago William McAndrew said: “They [the School Board] will fire me all right, but they’ll have to stage a burlesque show to do it” (TIME, Oct. 10). After a week’s adjournment of his trial, the second act was presented.

Superintendent McAndrew sat before his judges under a banner inscribed “America First” (Mayor William Hale Thompson’s personal campaign slogan). Little gusts of air brushed the tips of the banner against Mr. McAndrew’s neck. When the superintendent pushed the banner away because it tickled, the members of the trial board scowled blackly at this further evidence of unpatriotism.*

Attorney for the Board Frank R. Righeimer cross-examined Mr. McAndrew regarding the whereabouts of certain textbook files. In these is written evidence that the superintendent had “planted” British textbooks in the schools. Mr. McAndrew refused to answer “on advice of counsel.” Resourceful, Attorney Righeimer rephrased his question, strove to tantalize the “whiskered stool pigeon of King George” into betraying himself. It was a dramatic passage. But it failed. The witness would not answer. A moment later, he tipped back in his swivel chair, whispered audibly, between chuckles, to his attorney, Angus Roy Shannon: “I haven’t got them!”

Up rose President J. Lewis Coath of the trial board, hearty henchman of William Hale Thompson. “Hey,” he shouted, “what do you think this is, a vaudeville show? I’ll have you know this is a serious matter!”

*Onetime president of Amherst.

†Other “old” colleges in the U. S.: Harvard (1636), William & Mary (1693), Yale (1701), University of Pennsylvania (1741), Moravian Seminary (1742).

*A principal charge against Superintendent McAndrew is that he poisoned the minds of schoolchildren with British propaganda relative to the War of Independence.