Greenbrier Military School - Yearbook (Lewisburg, WV)

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A PERSONAL WORD WITH YOU . It is our privilege at this time to give to you the current school catalog-the book that is our silent messenger, going from coast to coast to anyone who calls for it, and carrying the good word for Greenbrier to you and others seeking a good school. Since we do not find it possible to talk with each of you face to face, we are writing this book as nearly as we can in simple conversational style. We are striving to be especially clear and frank in those vital paragraphs which treat of our ideals, our methods, and our program, with what con- stitutes our philosophy and creed in education. For nearly a century and a half Greenbrier has served young men. For almost a half century those now in charge of the school have watched Greenbrier grow into an ever-increasing sphere of service to the youth of our nation, have seen the school build up traditions of achievement. We do not mean the plant of brick and steel, but the living school of wholesome influence on those entrusted to her care. All of Us Here Have Come to Believe: That our first duty as a boarding school, and a duty of the greatest importance, is to provide for the physical necessities of those entrusted to us, to furnish comfortable quarters, plenty of whole- some well cooked food, nicely served, and with kind considerate treatment that makes for the students' contentment and peace of mind. With this accomplished and in the second place, with a staff of capable and carefully chosen instructors, we feel we are able to lead boys to study, show them how to grasp the subject matter set forth, and develop their ability to work things out for themselves. In this way only will they be prepared to get their more advanced work in college and university, and in after life. We do not try to learn the assignment for the pupil but try to teach him to work things out for himself. Third, a young man should become interested in developing his body and physical make-up by a system of regular exercise and good habit forming practices. The school should provide for this and carry out such a program, encouraging everyone to fall in and participate. We work to this end. Fourth, every effort should be put forth by precept and example, to develop men of character. What does a sound body and the ability to learn or grasp a subject mean to society or the man him- self, if he does not have the character to use them? The development of high character is an important requisite in a sound program of education. In a survey made of H. Chandler Hunt, interviewing seventy-six business institutions concern- ing about 4,000 discharged employees, he found that of the vast number of people who lost their jobs, only ten per cent of them were let out because of lack of ability or technical knowledge, and that the other ninety per cent were deficient in character and personal trait development. When carelessness, inability to get on with one's associates, laziness, dishonesty, lateness, lack of initiative and of ambition, etc., are responsible for so many failures, is it not essential that charac- 22

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PART II Educational Philosophy and General Program

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ter building be emphasized above everything else in this period of a young man's development, when the ruling principles of his life are being molded? Courage, truth, honor, self-control, and clean living and thinking are elements of character emphasized at Greenbrier and constantly held before her students. Our desire is that every Green- brier Cadet be a man of honor. We are proud to assure you that these are not just the beliefs of the writer alone, but that they are the ideals of our whole administrative staff and of our faculty. We make every effort to employ faculty assistants who are real true instructors and educators, and are themselves examples to the boys with whom they come in contact. We are proud also of what we call that valuable intangible- The Spirit of Greenbrierne meaning the attitude of the students toward the above program and the ideals of the school. They have the will to succeed in school activities, and in after life. Note our rifle team record with its number of National Championships won, our'ROTC record of superiority, our successful athletic record considering it as a whole, our publications considering their high rating by many press asso- ciations and the many trophies won, our scholastic record as measured by the success of our graduates in colleges, universities and service schools. For example, no graduate recommended for entrance into West Point or Annapolis by our faculty has ever lost out or failed to graduate-almost a unique record, I think. We are proud of our hundreds of graduates of past years, the positions in business they now hold, their records of influence and leadership in their respective communities, the worthwhile life they are leading. We hope to continue to render a service to many of the upstanding young men of our country. We would be glad to serve you. Please study our program as set forth in the later pages of this booklet and let us hear from you. We shall be glad to give any further explanations, or answer any question that may arise in your mind. From the Old Brick Academy, Built Prior I to 1812, Greenbrier i Military School Traces Its Ancestry - r '.f.t, - . 23