Word: strains
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...from every parent. The author (who had herself won the first place in the graduating class and was therefore entitled to speak) urged that the system of placing "honors" at graduation before the pupil at her entrance into school as the chief object of her endeavors "induced a nervous strain incompatible with her highest physical or mental development. The system was not a correct index to either ability or industry; it led to superficial work, done mainly with a view to gain high marks, and the motives for study induced by it are unworthy ones." It is not Vassar College...
...easy to understand how the mistake has been made. Naturally each college has an ambition to raise its standard. Each professor for his own reputation's sake seeks to 'bring up' his branch of study. Whether the boy has physical strength or mental capacity to bear the strain put upon him is not considered. If not, let him go. The standard of work required is set by the capacity of the abnormally gifted or toughest student. Now the fact is that the mass of pupils in any school are not particularly clever nor physically strong. But they, too, have their...
...First - We believe that the nervous strain imposed by the present honor system upon a large number of the students is incompatible with their highest physical and mental development. We know, many of us by experience, that from the freshman year the desire not to disappoint the hopes of parents and friends in this particular leads to worse than useless worry and anxiety, and interferes seriously with that quiet of nerve and mind essential to the best mental work...
...there is every indication of success - a nine who play well together, three men from the 'Varsity and an experienced captain. But while we think the nine have every ground to be confident, let them not forget that the Yale freshmen have an unusually strong nine, but remember to strain every nerve for the victory which seems to be within their grasp...
...true that these conclusions are not strikingly original, but, backed as they are by the author's extensive investigations, they carry a very considerable weight. Many curious habits of students and writers are detailed. When Littre, the French philosopher, felt the strain upon his system produced by continuous thought he repaired his natural forces with doses of fruit, jelly or jam, pots of which he kept conveniently at hand in his study. Gladstone eschews tobacco and only drinks light wines. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes prefers an entirely undisturbed and unclouded brain for mental work, unstimulated by anything stronger than...