Tennessee Military Institute - Radiogram Yearbook (Sweetwater, TN)

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Believing that successful government depends on respect for law rather than multitude of laws, we make such simple, common-sense regulations as are sufficient to safeguard the best interests of the individual pupil and the school as a whole, and such as the pupil's best judgment is bound to approve. By firmly, constantly, and consistently enforcing these regulations, govern- ment becomes an easy and not unpleasant part of directing the school. Having read the foregoing, prospective pupils and patrons may readily infer our interpretation and enforcement of the following regulations: REGULATIONS 1. NIGHT ABSENCE-Absence from premises after retreat is prohibited. 2. LEAVING TOWN-Leaving the vicinity of Sweetwater without permission is heavily penalized. 3. DRINKING-Any cadet found guilty of drinking intoxicants, or of having such in his quarters or possession, will be immediately dismissed. 4. GAMBLING-Gambling in any form prohibited. 5. HAZING-Hazing in any form forbidden. Penalty: Immediate dismissal. 6. PROFANITY, OBSCENITY-Profane and obscene language at any time or place forbidden. 7. CIGARETTES-Cigarette smoking positively forbidden. 8. FRATERNITIES-Fraternities or secret societies under any name are for- bidden. Penalty for organizing or promoting such an organization in T. M. I. is dismissal. 9. CHEATING AND LYING-Cheating on recitation or examination, lying to any officer, or other conduct unbecoming to a gentleman will be se- verely penalized. Penalties for tardiness, absence from required formation, inattention in ranks, etc., vary according to announcements during the year. We reserve the right to increase or decrease the penalties in whatever manner may be necessary to reduce such offenses to a minimum. LEAVE OF ABSENCE Penalties for absence from the school without permission have been men- tioned in Regulation 2. With these to deter the indiscretions of the boy, it would seem to be unnecessary to say more as to absence from the school. However, our experience proves the contrary. We have far more trouble with parents in their unwise requests for leave of absence than we do with cadets being absent without permission. This experience warrants a SPE- CIAL APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION on the matter of keeping the boy at Page Twenty-Three

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GOVERNMENT A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. Likewise a school is no better than its government. Scholarship in the Faculty and excellence of buildings and equipment are wasted in schools lacking in governmental con- trol. In such schools, pupils spend their energies on things other than the real purposes of the school. Most parents have witnessed the failure of some school under such conditions. Successful school government consists of sensible regulations carried out with firmness and fairness by teachers of personality. Much is heard these days about resentment of restraints by teen-age boys. This is probably true in schools of varying policies and in home life where one boy compares his restrictions with the liberties allowed to his friends by their parents. In Ten- nessee Military Institute government is characterized by uniformity, firm- ness, and fairness. Consequently, boys here recognize the fairness of the oflicers in charge of government, and therefore accept in fine spirit the re- quirements made of them under the regulations of the school. Any school can impose prohibitory regulations, but not every school can succeed in having its prohibitions accepted in such spirit and good humor by its pupils as to accomplish the real purposes of school government. The suc- cess of Tennessee Military Institute along this line has served as the founda- tion on which to build high standards of scholastic attainment and to main- tain uplifting and inspiring influences on boys enrolled. IDLE-MIND Somebody has said, in language more expressive than elegant, DANGERS that the idle mind is the devil's workshop. This is probably true to a greater or less degree in all stages of life, but is cer- tainly true of the period of boyhood. The busy boy never causes trouble. On the other hand, when there are idle hours of the day or night during which the boy is left to his own inventions and devices, the live youngster will invent and devise and also execute. Unfortunately, many of his schemes for whil- ing away the hours are mischievous and dangerous. KEEP THE Hence, our first eiort toward orderliness and good government BOY BUSY in Tennessee Military Institute is directed to keeping the boy busy. We undertake to prevent the idle-hour offenses against school government by removing the idle hours. The ounce of prevention here is worth the pound of cure. This must not be understood to mean that life in T. M. I. is one continual grind of drill or study, but it does mean that there is such definite provision for the use of every hour in the boy's daily sched- ule that he does not have long periods to himself in which to brood, or be- come discontented and unhappy, or to plan and carry out trouble-producing schemes. For the exact hours of the daily schedule, see page 34. When a boy has met his military and academic requirements for the day and used the night study period in preparation for the following day, he is ready for bed. Page Twenty-Two

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his place. Furloughs will be granted to all cadets to visit their homes or friends during the Christmas holidays unless provision has been made for them to remain in the school during this period. We urge parents particu- larly not to request furloughs for their sons at any other time except in cases of necessity or emergency. In such case We insist that the request be sent di- rect to the Superintendent. Any wise and reasonable request will be granted, but We reserve the right to withhold permission where no sickness or other emergency is involved. N 0 furloughs will be granted except to visit home or near relatives. Under no circumstances will permission be granted for week- end visits to near-by cities. From every angle furloughs are detrimental. Every class missed means a lowering of class standing of the cadet. In addition, trips home or else- Where do not satisfy the boy, but rather tend to arouse the desire for other trips. Other cadets are disturbed thereby, and seek similar permits from their parents. Since we emphatically disapprove of leaves of absence except in cases of serious sickness in the home or some similar emergency, we place all responsibility for the furlough on the parent. No cadet is permitted to withdraw from the Institute a few days prior to the Christmas vacation or the close of the spring term. SPENDING MONEY Parents are urged to co-operate with the management in holding down the useless spending of money by cadets. A cadet in T. M. I. needs very little money. His needs in the line of clothing, books, and other necessary sup- plies are attended to through our commissary or through orders signed by the Quartermaster, which are charged to the HQ. M. account. For other spend- ing, an allowance of a dollar a week is sufficient. We suggest a deposit for this purpose, from which one dollar is issued to each cadet every Monday morning. Signed vouchers are required of the cadet, and these will later be sent to the parent on request. The sending of money direct to cadets is unwise and dangerous to the individual cadet and to his associates. Page Twenty-Four