Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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its task increased. 1916 is to see one of the most important forward steps that has been made in the history of the school, namely, the increasing of the course of study to four years, and the addition of several faculty members. President Doggett has given the following statement of the changes which are to be inau gurated in the near future: — THE FOl ' R YEARS’ COURSE The past year has been signalized In’ three things — the retriev- ing of our hnancial position, which was greatly embarrassed l)y the outbreak of the war, the more friendly and more intimate relationshij)s with the ’oung Men’s Christian Association, and the steps for the inauguration of our four years’ course of study. The introduction of the four years’ course is epoch making in its importance to vocational training for the Asscx ' iation calling. This addition in no wa ’ changes the primal pur])Ose of the college. The college aims to fit Christian students for a life service in the ’oung Men’s Christian Association as employed (officers. It also admits young men who wish to serve in allied callings. Students who desire will continue to l)e graduated at the end of three }ears with a diploma. College graduates will be admitted to the junicjr year and ought to secure the ocational degree in two years. The full course in the future leading to a degree will cover four years. This will be open to men who have a high school education or its eciuivalcnt. The four years’ course will give Springheld full college standing, enable it to do its work more effectively, and it is belie ed will attract a larger body of high grade men. We ought to have 400 students enrolled in the near future. The new course of study is based on the Association ideal of studying the all-round man in l)ody, mind, and si)irit. This bases the instruction in religious thinking upon biology, i)sychology, and soci(jlog ’. The ( ' urric ' ulum aims t( do four things — to give a religious education, a training for social ser icc, a liberal culture, and a technical equii)ment for a life of service. It gives the leading features of a college education except the ancient and modern languages and higher mathematics. This establishment of a specialized school which will bring together large numbers of young men who are fitting ffjr the same vocation is in direct line with the educational tendencies of the j)resent time. The great agricultural colleges seek to give a training for scientihe farming and the new School of Journalism at Columl)ia gives a training for Page thirteen

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( ' harge of the institution unhesitatingly undertook this l)ranch of work, securing Dr. Luther Halsey (nilick, then in Oherlin, to work out the course. This was in 1888. Stuck ' uts were l)eginning to come to the school in larger and larger numbers, e ' en from foreign lands, and the need of a satisfactory location for a school which wotild eventually be several times larger than it was during the late eighties was felt. With marked wischmi and foresight for the needs ot the two departments, |)hysical and secretarial, thirty acres of land on the shores ot Lake Massascjit were i)urchased. ’ear l)y ear funds were secured for the erection of buildings and the addition of faculty meml)crs, and to-da ’ a large dormitor ’, two splendid gymnasiums, axjds Hall, the boathouse, and our beautiful librar} ' building overlook the placid clearness of the forest- girdled lake. Four spacious athletic helds, one of them among the hnest in the country, and a new natatorium are included in the physical equi])ment. Otir own power house lights and heats the buildings on the campus, and the latest addition to the school i)ro])crty has l)een a home for the president. As may be imagined, the financial I)iirden of this tremendotis and almost startling increase in equipment, in addition to current expenses, has been ver - heavy. Only the loving gifts (d consecrated, far-seeing men and women and the de oted and self-sacrihcing work of the men in charge cd the scho(d ha e made it pt ssible, and the hearts of Sitringheld men the world around are warm with gratittide and lo e ha ' those who thnmgh their geiKTosity have built up the school to its ])resent position. In 1895 the c ' ourse of stud ’ was extended to three years, and many courses added. The aim throughout its history has been to giw the hnest p(xssible technical training in Association work and physical education, a thorough religious education, and the main elements ot a liberal culture. Ot recent ears it has become the ])olic ’ to re(|uire original investigation, and t this end a thesis is lunv re(|uirc“d of each man who is graduated, which is the Iruit ot his own research. h ' (jur years ago, through an act ot the Lc ' gislattire ot Massachusetts, the name (d the institution was changed to “The International d)img Men’s ( hristian Association C cdlege,” and the authorit} ' tc honor graduates ot th(‘ Sc ' cretarial Dejcartment witli the degree cd Bachelor cd Humanics, and ot th(‘ Physic al I )e]xirtmc‘nt with Bachelor ot Physical Fducaticjn, wasgi en. In 1914 the ( ' ounty W’ork Department, tcjr the training of men tor the rural work of the Oung Men’s C hristian Association, was added as a sub- dc-jjartmcmt cd the- Secretarial Division. This de|)artment is under the supc ' rvision of Mr. W. J. C ampbell, who wasadded tcj the facility at that time. We have ' strivc-n to give an idea cd what the college is to-day, with an indic ' ation of the- marvc-lous way in whic ' h its influence has broadened and ■’ugr twelve

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journalism wliile one is taking his ( ' ollege course. Many of the schools ot commerce, like the Wharton School at the lhiiversit ’ of PeimsyK anki, are established on the same ])lan, and the technical institutions which seek to ht men for leadership in industrial life are in most cases tonr-year nndergradnate courses. The ])lan |)roi)osed at Springheld will estaltlish a great oca- tional college which will ht men for religions leadership among boys and young men. It is anticipated that many of the abler students will go forward for graduate work elsewhere. In securing an education one has two aims — personal develop- ment and a ’ocational training. It is possiltle to secure a training for personal development first and then one’s professional or voca- tional training, or one may major in his vocational subjects and follow cultural subjects while he is securing his professional equip- ment. This latter iilan gives a vocational motive for all stud ’. It determines the selection of one’s cultural subjects. It creates the habit of study for personal development as well as for vocational advancement. In training for social service this is, we lielieve, the better jilan liecan.se the subjects which ht one for social service also have cultural value. Such branches as sociology, psychology, history, and literature, which form the foundations of culture, are at the same time the very means when properly ai)plietl for htting a student for religious and social leadership. The danger is not that one will specialize too early, l)ut that he will become absorbed in his specialty and neglect liberal culture. Every genuine educational institution must keej) both of these aims in view if it would have abiding power. In inaugurating the hmr years’ C(jurse there will be added to the faculty for the year l)eginning in Sej)teml)er a professor in biology, a specialist in boys’ work, and a teacher in medical gym- nastics who will also have charge of the physical instruction for the secretarial men. It will be necessary soon t(j add to the faculty another profes.sor for religious instruction, an additional instructor in English, in the secretarial course an instructor in lousiness administration, and in the physical course an instructor in chem- istry. In the near future there should also l)e de veloi:)ed a course f(jr railroad and industrial secretaries and a course for men from foreign countries. It is j)robable also that the work in religious education will be so specialized as to offer more comj lete courses for training religious work directors. J ' uf e fourteen