Goucher College - Donnybrook Fair Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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Custom for Custom's sake in College Life $ Almost as soon as intellectual activity begins in a child we see him commence to imitate the behavior of those about him, and as conscious activities increase we see the habit of imita- tion continuing without diminution. We are all imitators; we were born so; we've always been so; we always will be. And it is very fortunate that we are so, for a world made up of people who went each his own way without regard to custom would be an impossible world to live in. The common customs of society form the social skeleton, giving strength and stability. Without them all would be confusion and no growth would be possible. There is much of truth in the statement of Commissioner of Education, Harris, t1 do not quote accuratelyl Hthat the object of public education is to persuade'the individual to conform to the conventions of the community. Individual self-control and harmonious action in the community are great desiderata. But all progress is achieved by departing from custom and striking out along new lines. Paulls advice to prove all things and Hhold fast that which is good does not have quite the same ring as the quotation from Mr. Harris. But Paul was a reformer, the first great Christian heretic, unable to agree with either the Jews or the leaders of the Christian Church. Paul did not have an altogether comfortable life. Independence of thought and action doesnit lead to the lazy manls paradise. Intellectual acquiescence and conformity in conduct give the life of comfortable ease. It is laborious to try all things ; it is sometimes unset- tling and disturbing tbut its no end of funl. We always have among us the two types: those that fear to be different, who feel con- spicuous and uncomfortable if they are peculiar, who value chiefly smooth and pleasant relations with their neighbors, who have a distaste for discussion; and again, those who think relatively more of the principles involved, who have a satisfaction in searching into things and Ending the underlying foundation, who care more to be in agreement with their own judgment than to be like their neighbors. The extremes of either the eonforming or the dissenting types are likely to be disagreeable persons. There is a happy mean. Each person needs a modicum of each quality. So also does each community, the college community being no exception. I The davor that comes from a body of traditional customs is no small element in the peculiar delightfulness of the college atmosphere, and on the other hand that freshness which comes from originality is something we can not spare.