Allen Academy - Allenian Yearbook (Bryan, TX)

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resented and have regularly conducted services: Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian, Episcopal, Catholic, and Hebrew. The pastors have proved to be the most loyal friends of the Academy and very hospitable indeed are the different church congregations in their reception of the Allen cadets. HEALTH The health record of the Academy has been remarkable. Wholesome food, proper exercise, regular hours, the careful attention of a competent school physician and a nurse, who re- sides on the campus, together with vigilance with respect to sanitary conditions have made an excellent health record for the school. There have been only a few cases of serious sick- ness in the school's history. That such a record over 58 years is most unusual is evidenced by the fact that Ripley of the Believe it or not Column has requested its use. CHARACTER AND SCOPE The Academy is committed to definite aims: first, to give tc boys and young men a thorough preparation to meet the most rigid requirements for entrance into the higher institu- tions of learning, North, South, East, or West, to carry that preparation further that they may enter college with advanced standing, or to fit them for honorable and useful business ca- reers, and second, to surround its cadets with every safeguard and bring to bear upon their lives every moral and religious force that makes for right thinking and right living. The Academy confines itself strictly to fundamental courses. And we hold that a few subjects well taught give better results than a multiplicity of subjects with many elec- tives. The school is controlled by the Superintendent. It is es- sentially non-sectarian, but distinctly Christian, We believe that the 'supreme aim and end of all true education is the de- velopment of strong, pure, manly character, founded upon Christian faith. X 28

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to have a new meaning for us. The phrase expresses a high idea as well as an urgent practical need. Health and strength of body are beyond price, simply because they are prerequisites to the most useful life. In the light of recent events and tendencies we may add that a school must train more definitely for service, for citizen- ship and for democracy. No school is a good school for an American boy unless it can inspire in him an enthusiasm for our American ideals and institutions, and where possible give him opprotunity to help develop international good will. Since its founding Allen Academy has stood for the above things. The extent to which we are realizing this ideal is evi- denced by expressions from some very high authorities which have come to us in the form of personal letters, several of which may be found elsewhere in this catalogue. LOCATION Bryan is situated on the Southern Pacific and the Missouri Pacific lines, 100 miles north of Houston and 160 miles south of Dallas. Eight miles from the Brazos River, located on a high sandy oak ridge fthe highest point in the countyl, the town is exceptionally free from all local causes of disease. Its health- fulness is unsurpassed by that of any locality in the State. The town enjoys a fine reputation as a. school center. Its excellent public schools, the State A. 8m M. College, and Allen Academy manifest the interest of the people of the community ill educational affairs. Because of the fact that Bryan is the home during the school year of about 6,000 students every pre- caution and measure is taken to keep the town clean and free from the temptations found in the larger cities. Its citizen- ship is cultured and refined, and in the Bryan people its school find great support. The merchants of the city are very active through all of the Service Clubs in the promotion of Bryan as an unusual town for students. Bryan is a city of churches as well as of schools. Perhaps no other town of its size in Texas has so many beautiful and costly church buildings. The following denominations are rep- zv '

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FACULTY We make it an invariable rule to employ none but the best instructors. We believe that the lowest class in Arith- metic or in Reading needs a skilled teacher, a man of broad scholarship and strong character, just as much as a class in Geometry or in Latin. Our instructors are university grad- uates selected for their fitness to teach the subjects assigned to them. Only men meeting in scholarship the full requirements of the Association of Texas Schools and Colleges and the stan- dards of the Association of Southern Colleges and Secondary Schools are employed as instructors. We employ men teachers only, because we believe that boys from twelve to twenty years of age can be better taught by men. We have a teacher to every twelve to fifteen students. The classes are small and the instruction is of a personal nature. Much individual work is done with pupils who need it. ADVISORY In the Advisory system, the Academy has developed a mu- tually helpful plan of bringing closer together faculty members and cadets. Each instructor has a group of some ten boys as- signed to him, and it is his duty to map out, after consulting with the Headmaster, and the Superintendent, the courses of study for his boys, to hold conferences with them regarding scholorship, conduct, future plans, etc., to assist and advise in Various questions in their livesg to act as their special rep- resentative in the faculty meetingsg to advise with their par- ents or guardians, with the idea of helping each boy to find himself and to decide upon his life work and at this time help the boy to prepare for effective and efficient service in the all- out program for Victory in the present war, D Vocational advice of this nature can play a great part in the training of a boy, for, as Browning has said, When the fight begins within himself, a man's worth something. Par- ents should keep in touch with their son's Adviser, and frank- ly and gladly furnish information sought. Upon entrance a boy will be assigned to his Adviser. Each applicant for en- 29