Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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16 The MASSASOIT Recent progress Contributed by I . I . Doggett, pb.D., president of the School C l IIS year is the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Training School. Glancing back over these twenty years, it must be said that they have been marked by steady upward growth. There is a larger life, and a more stimulating atmosphere about the Training School than ever before. The problem of training leaders for Christian work, except for the ministry, was in many respects a new one, and this institution has rendered important service to the cause of education in working out a course of study and training that is calculated to fit students for religious leadership among young men, and develop their administrative talent. The scheme of work here is remote from the old monastic idea of education. It aims to make leaders who can respond to the environment of the twentieth cen- tury. It does not seek to teach students a certain set of theological opinions, but to make men who will think and grow. ' file development of the physical department has been a unique con- tribution. We have done much to make the physical directorship an office in the modern church with a similar function and much the same dignity as the medical missionary. As the theological student studies divinity, here the student studies humanity. Among the recent developments have been courses of study for work among boys. All students now study boy life, the boy nature, and to a considerable extent methods of work among boys. Another recent development has been the furnishing of men for the playground and summer camp movement. In most cases, these are not as vet permanent positions, but last year thirteen of our undergraduates were occupied in this manner for the summer. These courses of study at the Training School are built upon a recognition of the demands of modern

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The MASSASOIT is day, State and City offices, Railroad Branch, New Rochelle Association, and West Side Neighborhood House; Wednesday, visit to Morris High School with Dr. Gulick, thence to East Hall and Columbia Gymnasium with Dr. Meylan. The final event was a much needed plunge in the swim- ming tank of the university gymnasium. Many amusing incidents occurred to give spice and variety to the occasion. Only passing reference must be made to the Grand Central baggage episode, where sixteen stalwart youths stood ready to revenge our beloved president against the injustice of the railroad baggage man; to the persistence of some of our number to voyage to “Dreamland in the midst of important conferences; and to the incessant and delightful tones of the leader ' s whistle, to bring the delinquent into line. One lasting impression was the fact that men, not machinery or equip- ment, are the real vital factors in the successful Association ; and because of this our responsibility as leaders in a modern movement is tremendous.

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The MASSASOIT i: life as created by industrial and city conditions. History occupies a fair proportion of the time of the student, but more time is spent in psychology, sociology, and the like — in the study of present-day conditions. Another development has been the growth in the course in English. Power of expression is fundamental in any form of .Christian leadership. The literary societies, and the courses in English and in literature have developed greatly during the past few years. The course in English literature has greatly expanded. No extended attempt has been made to build up a general library, but on the special subjects taught here at the school, we have an unsurpassed equipment. Not only in the technical subjects of Association literature and physical training, but in Bible study, sociology, psychology, literature and methods of religious work, the Training School has a thoroughly up-to-date collection. The three laboratories in the physical department, which were intro- duced some years ago, have steadily grown. This term there are some fifteen students taking the work in histology, and it is interesting to watch them studying structure under the microscope, each one making his own slides. The courses in hygiene, massage, and physiology of exercise have been considerably developed in recent years. In the gymnastic and athletic department, perhaps the most noticeable development has been increased attention to different forms of athletics, though the gymnastic work has been systematized and graded and developed in many particulars. Another step in progress has been the stiffening of the conditions of admission to the school. There have always been some college graduates among the students. The average age of last year’s entering class was twenty-four years. Most of the men have had a high school training or its equivalent. In recognition of the standing of this institution, upon the endorse- ment of a number of the leading educators in this state, the Massachusetts legislature has recently granted to the Training School the right to confer in the secretarial course the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Humanics (B. H. and M. H.), and in the physical course the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Physical Education (B. P. E. and M. P. E.). These degrees