Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

languages, Biblical literature, doctrine and philsophy, Instruction is also given in the methods used in organized religious life. It is the purpose of the division to produce well-rounded church workers and leaders within the scope of its endeavor, and to inspire its major students to seek seminary training beyond the work given here.

The principle objectives of the Division of Social Science are (1) to provide a broad understanding of society and to develop intelligent attitudes in the interpretation of social, economic, and political values; thereby to encourage an alert participation in American democratic life and constructive Christian leadership in the pursuit of the highest standards of human relationship, and (2) to prepare for specialization in the professions requiring basic courses in the fields covered by this division. This applies particularly to the legal profession, social welfare work, classroom teaching, the government service, business and economics, the ministry and religious service, and also to graduate study in these fields.

The primary purpose of the Division of Teacher Education is to assist the prospective teacher to gain an insight into and understanding of the interests, wants, and needs of people; to establish a sound philosophy of the importance and purpose of education in a democracy; to learn the principles of child growth and development as these principles pertain to all areas of living; to understand the basic principles of teaching; and to develop skill in actual teaching procedures. It is a further purpose of the division to contribute to growth in all areas of student relationships and self-understanding so that graduates of the Univer sity may be better prepared to find satisfactory places as productive members of society. It is recognized that the preparation of teachers is a function of the entire University. A third purpose of the division is, therefore, to co-ordinate all services in such ways as will best contribute to the development of each teacher candidate.

It is the aim of the Science Division to provide curricula that meet the needs of students in a liberal arts college. This need may range from general information pertaining to scientific knowledge and application, to the more detailed and rigorous requirements for students expecting to become professional scientists in either the pure or applied sciences.

Cumberland College endeavors to help the student develop intellectually, physically, and socially.

INTELLECTUALLY--The college seeks to contribute to the intellectual development of the student by broadening his field of knowledge through an understanding and appreciation of the humanities and the physical, biological, and social sciences; by teaching him the scientific approach to the solution of problems, in order to develop in him the ability to think for himself and to evaluate situations and to arrive at conclusions in the light of all available knowledge; by helping him to appreciate work that is well done, and to encourage him to do every task to the best of his ability whether it be in the field of education, business, art, music, religion, literature, science, or other areas; by acquainting

him with the heritage of the American way of life and an understanding of the religious, social, political, and scientific advance of mankind; and by interesting him in current events and changing world conditions.

The college also aims to provide the student with the background and essential intellectual tools for his chosen vocation. Through the testing and guidance program of the college, the student who has difficulty deciding upon a vocation will be helped to make a choice in accord with his interests, abilities, and aptitudes. The student who plans to do advanced work after graduation from college will be given the basic courses of study required for admission to graduate or professional school.

SPIRITUALLY--The college proposes to assist the student in broadening the horizon of his Christian experience and to help him develop spiritual insight and a realization of the need for spiritual development. The accomplishment of this objective is sought through the following means: the study of the Bible, the influence of Christian teachers, chapel programs which emphasize the spiritual side of life, participation in the religious activities of the campus, the student's affiliation with the church of his choice in the town, and emphasis on the development of an appreciation for the Christian home and its place in the community and in the nation. With the development of the spiritual side of life, the college seeks to implant in the student a sense of moral values and the importance of standing for and defending moral principles.

The college gratefully acknowledges the support of Kentucky Baptists and realizes that its responsibility as a denominational school is in the developing of Christian leaders for church and community life.

PHYSICALLY--The college seeks to impress upon the student the importance of individual physical health and to create in him an interest in community and national health. It stresses the importance of good health as an aid to accomplishment and to enjoyment of life. It teaches the importance of physical exercise and participation in sports as a means of effecting emotional release and as a manner of bringing about relaxation. It is felt that competition in team sports teaches play and sportsmanship.

The achievement of the aims and objectives proposed above is sought partially through the physical education and intramural programs of the college.

SOCIALLY--It is recognized that life on the campus is a laboratory of social experiences and that a spirit of cooperation with and consideration for others can be developed through association with students in campus activities. The college would seek to inculcate in its students a sensitivity to the needs of others and a sympathetic understanding of people and their problems. Through social participation, the student learns the importance of poise and refinement and comes to understand how to adjust himself better to life situations. The college endeavors to focus the attention of the student on the beauty of the Christian home and the importance of Christian principles and ideals in the strengthening of home life. It would promote in the student a sense of responsibility for community leadership and develop in him the realization that he is an integral part

Redeemer, shall have a faculty, every member of which shall acknowledge
Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, a belief in the fundamental teachings of
Evangelical Christianity, and an acceptance of the Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments as the word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and prac
tice. They shall further promise in humble reliance upon the grace of God
so to live and teach as to give expression to the Christian faith."

One of the colleges for women makes its purposes Christian, with no specific mention of the Baptist denomination until reference is made to the board of trustees.

The charter states:

[ocr errors]

"The purpose of this corporation is to provide for the higher education of women under Christian auspices and within a Christian context, fostering in all its activities and relationships the ideals of personal integrity, intellectualism, freedom, and academic excellence; and to that end, to provide adequately and fully for the maintenance, management, operation, and development of a college at... This institution, a liberal arts college, shall emphasize and develop its academic program in terms of scholastic standards and service, and shall maintain procedures implicit in an educational institution of high quality; and, as a Christian college, shall be primarily concerned to inculcate attitudes, provide activities, and promote learning calculated to deepen and broaden the Christian experience of its students and to prepare them for maximum service in the Christian enterprise."

The mood of the makers of Baptist college charters seemed to be the controlling factor in what was said in the charters. No doubt matter-of-fact lawyers also had their influence sometimes in making the charters seem cold and legal. Some of the most loyal colleges to the denomination had little or nothing to say in their charters about their Christian or Baptist purposes and there is no relation necessarily between what a college sets out to accomplish and what it actually accomplishes. One of the oldest of the colleges and one generally considered to work in close harmony with its Baptist convention does not even propose to be Christian, not to mention Baptist. Under "purposes" there is this simple statement: "The purposes for which said corporation is created are hereby as heretofore disclosed to be educational and for the encouragement, support, and maintenance of education in all its branches." The words "as heretofore disclosed" do not tie in with any purposes, but earlier in the charter it

[ocr errors][merged small]

is made clear that the school is under Baptist auspices.

The newer colleges, strangely perhaps, seem to have more complete charter statements about their Christian purposes than the older colleges have in their charters. The following is from the charter of a recently established school"

"To establish and maintain a school, institute, college or university, and to encourage, support, maintain and promote education under Christian influence and auspices, with the view to the development of the best type of character and to the advancement of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the extension of the Kingdom of God among men."

One of the stronger and larger schools states:

"The primary purpose of this corporation has been and shall continue to be the promotion of the Christian religion throughout the world by maintaining and operating an institution or institutions dedicated to the development of Christian character and high scholastic standing. To this end said corporation will include in its program of general education herein authorized the training of ministers to preach the gospel, of musicians to conduct and develop sacred music and of laymen to do educational and other religious work, and to stimulate by extension and adult educational services the religious and intellectual lives of those who will cooperate in said purpose."

The charters have a sameness about them, especially as the colleges are re

lated to the several states, but at the same time there are interesting differences as

pointed out.

Some of the charters have a bit of the bombastic and overzealousness and to the thoroughly initiated in college work there are set forth some unrealistic aims.

In general, the charters are just about what they should be. Some might insist on more clear-cut aims and purposes, but experience proves that some of the more faithful of the colleges to live up to genuine Christian purposes have the least to say about it in their charters and bylaws. The same is true of individuals--the loudest proclaimer is not necessarily the most genuine believer.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

mal te munges reined no the state conventions of the Southern

te tur" or "he arm of the church" since

ne bol mura de Jam me bory vit the core. structure, and the de

the sons re expected to per

[ocr errors]

aly incans at farmal religious education is required of them in

MİZE A TRAC Vact is appen by the local church.

The charters and catalous Joost every case state expressly that the colleges are to provide opportunties ir learning with a Christian environment and under the auspices of Corsa etters à some cases the state Baptist conventions have expressed their desire to asofir is possible the teachers be members of a Baptist strations are chartered primarily for educational purposes, the philosoçtues and purposes of the schools usually are explicit in their statement of objectives regarding the definiture and of education--Christian.

Though some few colleges and unversites among Southern Baptists have professional schools and most of them offer pre-professional training, all of them have the liberal arts college at the base of the educational program. The extent to which most of them offer professiccal training for teachers, doctors, lawyers, ministers, etc., is the offering of a major concentration of hours within the baccalaureate or master's degree programs. and since professional standards govern the conferring of degrees within the professions, usually only that of teaching is certified by the

* Dr. Barry is the associate Secretary of the Education Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »