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Students
From the Dean's Report, 1908/1909
"One of the principal problems of the School is the
maintenance of a school spirit among the students. This may seem of
trivial importance compared with academic interests, but in the
training of ministers it has exceptional significance, for nowhere
else does a professional spirit (in the best sense of the term) count
for so much as in the work which clergymen are called upon to do
together. This indeed is one justification for the existence of a
separate divinity school, the curriculum of which necessarily overlaps
at many points that of the college, and at others is a legitimate
extension of it. A half-century ago this was not the case, but with
the changing attitude of theology, affecting both the subjects and the
methods of professional study, the modern theological school has
become of a piece with the college and the university. Consequently it
has frequently been urged that, no valid reason now exists for
maintaining a separate school of theology, but a sufficient, though
not the only answer is the exceptional value to a clergyman of
association during his years of preparation with those who are to be
his co-laborers in ministerial work. Herein also lies one explanation
of the reluctance of many divinity students to attend a
non-denominational school of theology, instead of a school frequented
by men who are to be their nearest professional associates. Having
committed ourselves to the non-denominational principle, we are under
special obligation to develop an esprit de corps among our
students. This, however, constitutes for us an exceedingly difficult
problem on account of the peculiar conditions of our School.
Denominational schools attract students with similar habits of
thought, coming from homes where the same religious papers are read
and the same religious leaders are honored, and by reason of these
common interests and traditions, fellowship is easy and natural. Our
School, however, has a company of students representing many
denominations, among whom these points of contact are lacking and
unless denominational coteries are formed – a remedy which would be
highly deplorable -- the men are apt to hold aloof from one another.
This tendency towards disintegration is aided by the diversified
attractions of a great university and great city. Furthermore a large
number of our students (20% last year) are married, and living, as
they must, outside the Hall, are less easily drawn into the common
life. Moreover, many attend the School for but a single year, and the
comparatively large number of new-comers are with difficulty
incorporated into the life of the School by the few students who
holdover from year to year. In the ordinary theological school, with
three classes, about two-thirds of the students in any given year were
members of the school during the previous year, but with us the
proportion is almost exactly reversed. During file past year only 37%
of the students primarily registered with us had been members of the
School the year before. This indicates the difficulty of maintaining
the corporate life of the School. In addition many of our students are
mature men, coming here to pursue advanced studies who are eager to
use to the utmost the opportunity often long coveted and dearly
purchased, of a year at Harvard, and therefore can give but little
time and strength to sustain the common life of the School. For these.
reasons the problem of maintaining a vigorous school spirit, important
for every school of theology, is especially important and peculiarly
difficult for us. So far we have not been able satisfactorily to solve
it, but the Divinity Club has been exceedingly helpful and deserves
sincere gratitude for its loyal devotion to the interests of the
School."
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This online exhibit was prepared in 2000.
Copyright ©2000-2005 by the President & Fellows of Harvard College
Address corrections or comments to Clifford
Wunderlich.
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