Castle Heights Military Academy - Yearbook (Lebanon, TN)

Page 9 text:

Hmitiffoduietory N AN introduction to this volume, Castle Heights would ask the privilege of suggesting the foundation of a mutual understand- ing, upon which there may be erected, if you choose, the conception of a healthful and useful and happy school home for your boy. As a chief stone of the corner of this foundation the Academy would place its own responsibility to you. It proposes in this book to talk to you about your boyg and in so doing, in expressing a willingness to receive him as a charge, it offers to accept whole-heartedly and genuinely the grave responsibility of doing for him the very utmost that all its wisdom and experience can produce. Sincerely and honestly it pledges its best efforts to do for him what you, as an affectionate mother, as an ambitious and devoted father, would have done for him-would do for him your- selves, did opportunity and circumstances permit. Yet there is another stone in this corner, and one which the Academy would be unfair to itsebf and to you, if it did not call to your thoughUut attention. That is, your responsibility to the Academy. There is built up at Castle Heights a painstaking and carefully planned system by means of which wonderful things may be ac- complished for the normal boy. We know of no other method that will accomplish so much. Yet even this structure of ours, as circum- spect as we may be, as watchful, as resourceful, will inevitably to some degree disintegrate unless the parents of each and every cadet give the Academy the same whole-hearted co-operation towards the upbuilding of the boy that the Academy pledges itself to give the parents. Too much money to spend-ruinous. Consent to drop subjects because they seem hard-weakening. Permission to open credit accounts or to draw checks and sign drafts indiscriminately-demoralizing. Assumption of the attitude that the cadet's duty to the Academy is a matter exclusively between the Academy and the cadet-damage ing. Requesting furloughs except under extreme and most unusual circumstances-destructive of the very spirit of responsibility and routine that is the crowning virtue of military school life. 6

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Encouragement to overstay furlough, to report late at the open- ing of term, to leave ahead of everyone else-all these are injurious to the highest degree, not only to the boy, but also to the institution. With all its heart Castle Heights believes in the happy, pleasant, enjoyable side of school life, but not at the cost of better and bigger and finer things. There are a hundred ways in which the parent can support the Academy, make its work more valuable, its teachings more construc- tive, its law and order more helpful: and there are just as many ways in which the parent, unintentionally, can hinder the Academy, and, hindering the Academy, hinder the boy far more. That is why Castle Heights must in all conscientiousness state plainly and unequivocally, at the very outset, that it cannot undertake to accomplish worth-while results for your boy unless you, for your part, will give freely and fully and continuously of your own co-operation. And now, if you will do this, as naturally you will, let us remind you of the fact that the boys of today, your boy among them, will be the men of tomorrow. Civilization is still in a critical period. Tremen- dous problems must be solved by this next generation. There will be a great need for clear thinking and clean living. , What kind of men are these boys going to be? The Academy is making it' its business to help answer that ques- tion inthe way that every father and mother wants it answered. Consider that boy of yours for a moment. Consider his education. Does he study? Does he know how to study? Has he the exclusive oversight of trained men who know their business? Is his school course properly arranged, or is it at loose ends? ls he passing in his classes? ls he accumulating mere facts, or is he learning to use hisihead? When he gets through where he ls- will he really be prepared for college, for business, for life? Will he be ready to tackle the big job of being a man? Can he think? Can he spell? Can he write a decent letter? Consider his physique. Does he carry himself well? Is his eye clear and bright? Is he in bed every night by ten and up every morn- ing before seven? I-las he the set of the shoulders, the spring of the step, the poise of the head that mean superbly developed muscles, good digestion, abundant sleep, and systematic exercise in the open air? 7