Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 100

line was five, but soon afterward it was raised to ten. "When a student is absent without previous excuse, he shall present two excuses - one for the absence and one for failure to se cure permission to be absent." In 1877 the number was again reduced to five.

The faculty played no favorites in enforcing discipline. Even the grandnephew of Ichabod Washburn received his share - which was liberal. "Charlie presented an excuse today based on a coining music lesson," wrote Thompson to Charles F. Washburn. "I ought to say that his success in his studies here depends on his devoting to them all the time that can be safely spared from sleep, exercise and necessary recreation." Mrs. Washburn promptly came to the defense of her educational plans for her son, and received a firm reply. "It would be a supernaturally good school that could substitute its own for a mother's training with hope of great advantage to a boy. We do insist, however, that other people shall defer instruction, however desirable, to any of our students until they have completed their studies here." One month later, "Charlie" was suspended for eleven unexcused absences. Professor Thompson also recorded, in the following year, that "Washburn didn't cut screws any better than six months ago -poor in drawing." Amusing in the light of his subsequent career, these and other contemporary opinions credited Charles G. Washburn with little prospect of achieving greatness. More maturity and a supplementary course at Harvard produced a man quite different from the boy his early teachers had known.

It was soon realized that Dr. Chadbourne had correctly appraised the destructive impulses of students, and each instructor was advised to keep his room locked during his absence. Each class was assigned a study room, in which students were closely supervised. Outside activities of students were also under faculty surveillance. As early as 1874 the effect of secret societies on members of the school was discussed and the opinion strongly expressed that they should be

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Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999