Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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if 8 THE NORMAL OFFERING Education is with him indeed a- leading forth of all a pupil's best. The teacher is seldom much in evidence himself. After receiving clear directions, the pupil is thrown upon his own resources, outwardly snpported only by the teacher's faith in him. Keenly alive to the pupil's spirit, choice and use of ma- terial, and absolute and relative attainments, our great man is a most helpful critic. As one of his own students once said, You simply have to learn things in Mr. Arthur's classes,-couldn't help it if you tried! Scores of educators from far and near have patiently sought to find the secret of his method. They often wasted their time for they were seeking a hard and fast rule for turning out brilliant students and skilful teachers. This man has no such method. He understands and applies the great underlying principles of human thought and conduct, but he adapts them to the individual and the subject. A certain well- known man tells this story at his own expense. He had visited Boyden's classes, obtained his History topics, and attempted to teach them in his own city High School. One day he visited the History class again, and was distress- ed to find a different order and method in use. After the recitation he protest- ed: VVhy, Mr. Boyden, last year you taught that topic another way. O, yes l Mr. Boyden replied, I know more this year. Besides I teach boys and girls, and the topics have to fit them. ' A Perhaps, after all, the greatest cause of Mr. Boyden's success is his genuine- ness as a man. He possesses the sturdy qualities of mind and soul that win respect. To these he adds personal magnetism, a wholesome sense of humor, tact that does not degenerate into policy, and a gracious sympathy, born of unselfishness and having in it a strong tonic quality. 'Such is our friend. Formed on the good old plan, A true and brave and downright honest man !- Loathing pretence, he does with cheerful will What others talk of while their hands are still.' f N -f15v 'Qrr.r-Qf

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K THE NORMAL OFFERING 7 Jfrih ur Uiarke .7?oyc!en. O LESS a person than Carlyle is authority for thesentiment that great men are not to be accounted for by heredity, environ- mentor the call of the Times. Were it otherwise, we should . ,,,,u40g,, speak in detail of our great man's inheritance of strong body, large brain and warm heart, of his New England training in plain liv- ing and high thinking 3 and of the stirring times that loudly called to educa- tional leadership. As it is, we pass them by with this brief but grateful men- ss r 45-.iz-ru l .-S6- 'f 9: L A, U .V xx tion. The bare facts of Mr. Boyden's life are well-known to all our readers. He was born in Bridgewater, September 27, 1852. He was graduated from the Bridgewater Academy in 1869, and from the Normal School in 1871. In 1876 he took his degree of A. B. with honors from Amherst, and later received the degree of A. M. from the same college. He was principal of the High School in Medway, and then instructor in the Chauncey Hall School, Boston. Since 1879 he has taught Science and History in this school. He has held many important offices, as Educational Commissioner to Jamaica, instructor in the Summer schools at Chautauqua and Cottage City, and President of county, Massachusetts, and New England, educational and scientific associations. 7 Although we. cannot account for a ma.n like Mr. Boyden, yet we delight to dwell upon some of the reasons why we reverence him. To begin with, his scholarly attainments, as well as his scholarly ideals, are of the highest. His grasp of a subject as a whole and in all its parts is prompt and sure. On this foundation he builds special work,which is as intensive as the preparatory work has been extensive. Thus he stands for the ideal student-alert, earnest, thorough, xdiscriminating, persistent, and enthusiastic. True to the family name and fame, Mr. Boyden adds to genuine scholar- ship, unusual power of organization. This executive ability is not of the bustling sort, by which he semed besier than he wasf' It often shows in the poten- tiality of a great reserve. When,,however, the occasion calls it forth, it re- sponds to every need, from solving the most complicated problem presented to the Vice-Principal of a great school to inventing some new entertainment for a party of children. He plans and executes a great piece of new work,--simply, quietly, wisely,-while-other men are worrying over it, or discussing its possi- bilitiesi These two gifts of scholarship and leadership show to the best advantage in the classroom. Hundreds of pupils can testify to the powerful intellectual and professional impetus given them by Mr. Boyden's teaching. The atmos- phere is charged with ozone. Not the mere forms of activity, but eager, puls- ating life that joys in its own spontaneous manifestations can be found there.

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.THE NORMAL OFFERING Q 65156: .59-czozzfzfy. G ALBERT GARDNER BOYDEN, A. M., PRINCIPAL. Eefzzcaizeferzl Sindy of Mafz. ARTHUR CLARKE BOYDEN, A. VICE-PRINCIPAL. Nafzzafal Sciefzee, Hz'sZ0ryL d7Z6Z7.1C'Z.'UZ'! Polify. FRANZ HEINRICH KIRMAYER, Ph. D. Clezsszks and M0dL'7'7Z Lmzgmzges. WILLIAM DUNI-IAM JACKSGN. Scienee, English Lz'z'emz'zne, MafhemaZz'cs. CHARLES PETER SINNGTT, B. S. .Naiuml Science, Geography. I-IARLAN PAGE SHAVV. Physica! Science, fzzeizzsfffzkzl Labomfoffy.