Repository: UIHistories Project: Convocation - 1927 [PAGE 4]

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rise above the common herd in the matters in which you and they ai en iged and in pursuit ol win h you have >e? your heart !" I he rec rds of college gradual< do not bear out the statements. They are false to the I. nd tl philosophy of lite implied is vicious. No advice could be more destructive o( certain qualities of character necessary not only to individual success, but to the progress of society- Certainly the applif it ion of such a doctrine in air. affairs excepting those of education would very soon eliminate the individual applying them from consideration or success! The main business of the college or university student is to study. It is his duty and should be his pride to do his studying so well that he will be looked on as a master, for his age, of the subjects that he is studying. The age-old advice, "Whatsoever thy hand find to do, do it with thv mi ht " is as sound todav as it ever was. It is a strange doctrine that when you are doing your university work you should "take things easy/' but that when you are settled in your profession or vocation you should spend yourself in it to the utmost. A second common mistake is a belief that acquiring knowledge, becoming trained, getting education, attaining scholarship, is easy. As a recent writer remarks, after quoting from one of the short-cut-to-education magazines:

There you have it Master}' of the tricks which bring early success; belief that there is somewhere a secret magic, knowledge of which will immediately transform one's personality;—the short cut Education is on the air; in this enlightened time one can get it anywhere—like bootleg whiskey. It is proposed now to give adult education by radio. All you need do to achieve scholarship is to turn it an, clos< your eyes, and go to sleep. You can yet it without effort, without knowing that you are getting it, or just who is i lucating you.' The illusion referred to is fostered n o t only by l a y m e n , b u t by orne Colleges and universities. T h e y have inspirers w h o walk t h r o u g h t h e groves and r a d i a t e c u l t u r e , furnish an a t m 0 8 p h e r e of refinement, supply the impel us o\ inspira1 tion. T h e student has only t o look to be inspired ; to listen

'I D Martin, Thi Meaning u\ a Liberal Education^ p iS.

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