Albany College of Pharmacy - Alembic Yearbook (Albany, NY)

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A Parting Hurt» in thr (Hians nf 1917 There is seldom a more inspiring sight than a group of young people, boys and girls, gathered in an institution, for one common purpose, that of preparing themselves to go forth into the world to begin life’s work. Nor is there a more responsible position than that of one who undertakes to guide and instruct such a body. The success of such work does not lie on one side alone. There must be union of purpose and effort to accomplish the best results. The student who does not appreciate this fact, does not come up to the full measure or attainment that he is supposed to desire, nor can the teacher who does not appreciate his responsibility and is not inspired by the young faces before him, render good and efficient service. There jmust be a union of purpose and concerted action to secure best results. The Class of 1917 is nearing the time of departure from its Alma Mater, and the future life of each member will reveal to what extent this period of instruction has been utilized. Two years have passed since we came together as student and teacher. The relations have been very pleasant. We have come to know each other well, our good and poorer equalities. Some of you have exceeded expecta- tions in your application to the work which was before you; some have not come up to what was promised at the beginning. Each one will have approval or lack such in themselves. If there are those who feel that they might have been more persevering in their efforts and it acts as a stimulus for the future, it will prove of value, and many there are who I know will have a satisfaction, if not pride in reviewing the past because of attainments secured. The future will soon begin to spread out before you and the position you may occupy, either as principal or assistant, will to some extent at least, call upon you to apply knowledge acquired. The pharmacist can and should assume a position in the community where he resides of an advisory and helpful character. This he can do by applying the knowledge for the conduct of his work. To-day this work, by force of circumstances, is of a mixed character, part commercial, and, I am sorry to say, far too small a part professional. It is to be hoped that you have a love for your work. If you have not and are in it solely as a means of livelihood or for the position it gives you, you will not contribute 20

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recognized than il is that the examination system is a very imperfect one for determining proficiency and serviceahleness, and that it should be em- ployed. not mechanically, mathematically and arbitrarily, but intelligently, judiciously and judicially. Il is absurd to allege that a man’s fitness to practice pharmacy or medicine should be determined by an arithmetical differentiation between 74.9 and 75.0. And yet such distinctions may take a year of useful service out of a man's life. Plato and Socrates are held to have been great teachers, but they probably would not Ire admitted to an examination for a teacher’s license in our public schools to-day, and cer- tainly the “ academies ” of the greatest teachers the world has known would not be registered under our present laws. It may he said that the ends attained justify the means employed, but some of us who have been engaged in teaching many years do not feel very sure that this is the case. Latter-day methods place too much emphasis upon size and wealth, and encourage the larger, but discourage the smaller, institutions and make it harder for the poor «nan, or even the man of moderate means, to enter the professions. Tt needs no marshalling of sta- tistics to show that the richest of our F.astern schools and universities are, to the student, the most expensive, and as the smaller institutions are dis- credited and crowded out the poor man’s chances are diminished. This is often denied, but every' teacher knows that it is true. Exceptions there arc to all rules, and opportunities exist here and there for men of excep- tional ability, though poor, to secure an education and entrance to the professions, but for the average man the chances arc rapidly diminishing. A few weeks ago the writer was discussing professional education with two lawyers and a relative of one, who was a university teacher, and one of the lawyers said to the other. “ Why, judge, if the requirements when you and T studied law had Been what they arc now neither you nor I would be in the profession,” and the statement was agreed to by the gentleman addressed. And if it be said that, in the various professions, the average ability of the members is greater, and their fitness to render useful service is superior by reason of their better supervised and regulated training, and that the moral tone of the rank and file has been elevated by our examining, registering and licensing methods, there are many educators whose memory is long enough to go back three or four decades who would be unwilling to assent to such a view. The time is coming when some of these matters will be re-examined, and the advisability of restricting indivdual liberty in many directions in which it is now controlled by legislative enactments, will he called into question. W. G. T. 19

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to tlie advancement and upholding of a high standard in the pharmaceutical world. Some of you may use the knowledge acquired here as a foundation for more advanced work in this or closely allied lines. All must realize that the end of your present work is only the beginning of a broader and more extended field of labor. You cannot remain stationary, you must either advance or fall behind. There may be some who are of opinion that they are not by nature or surrounding conditions on an equality with others, it is not always those who appear to, and in fact may have advantage over others, who succeed to the greatest extent. The world is wide; the outlook and opportunities are greater than ever; in all probability just as good in your environment as in some distant locality. The race is not always to the strong and swift. A consistent and persistent purpose, slow in pursuit it may he, will in all cases bring no small measure of satisfaction and success. Allow me to urge you to hold fast what ydtf'have obtained, and deter- mine to add to it. always bearing in mind that your Alma Mater stands ready at all times to aid in every possible way. A. B. H. 21