Montgomery Bell Academy - Bell Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 20 text:

“The tradition of Montgomery Bell Academy is well noted by many people, well respected by those who have graduated from it, and well respected by those who are now attending it.” “The regimentation and necessity of doing everything the ‘MBA way’ stifle creativity and produce a lack of individualism. The very tradition which hinders a student, however, provides him with a sense of pride.” “It is sometimes easy to underestimate a great potential. MBA has underestimated its own students’ potential to learn and to be creative.” “Matters of hair and dress are rather transient social customs having no relation to universal honesty and integrity.” “Tradition establishes a simple basis for life, but the man who would stand for himself must examine traditions on which he has set his life and establish his own course of action.” V ' V’! '

Page 19 text:

“Basically, since, there no room for the ‘middle-of- the-roader’ at MBA, there are two types of students at MBA. One recognizes the A 1‘ pr . 1 I value of what MBA represents and tries to ' incorporate its values into himself, since he knows these values are worthwhile. a The other type holds in ' contempt the ideals of MBA considering them too conservative and not ‘with 7 believe that there is still enough room for a person to be an individual within the limits of the school.”

Page 21 text:

vs .-r. “The rigorous competition at MBA encourages creativity in the students. It encourages the individual to be better than others, in his classes or in athletics. I do feel, however, that there is too much emphasis on grades. I don’t really see much chance for a student to express himself creatively when he spends his time worrying about his grades. “The general dogmatic insistence on “the MBA Way” is stifling to creativity.” “Extracurricular activities such as speech, dramatics, art, and debate put to use the creative minds at MBA.” “In order to promote and encourage creativity, the MBA system would have to lessen the emphasis on pure utilitarian knowledge. Perhaps this would hurt some students’ chances of doing well in college, but it would enhance their chances of doing well in life.” “Mere book learning alone cannot replace the need for practical experience. Both are important, and a balance must be found between the two in order to give a young man an undistorted view of the world.” “What is most often overlooked is that MBA develops the most creative function of a human being — MBA teaches one to think.”