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: Page 1, vcl_Letters_Aaron_Fannie_1920-05_029
May 25, 1920
Dear Mother, Father, and Pete:
I am still sleepy. In fact, it seems hard to remember when i haven't been.
I voted for the three big changes at the Studnet's[sic] meeting last night. They are:--student control of census ratings and all non-academic activity of students below grade, student control of regulations and decorum off-campus (practically all of field now covered by the wardens), and voluntary attendance at classes, involving some sort of a cut system. They all carried practically unanimously. They are to go before the faculty, and, if approved, be subject to a two year trial. I am for them in theory more than in practice. I think the chances are that with added responsibility on our own shoulders our own student rules would be be even as strict, if not stricter, than the wardens' rules. However, I think that what has kept Vassar standards higher than those of the other colleges has been the fact that girls under grade are not allowed to participate in any non-academic activities, limited week-ends, etc. I do believe in giving unrestricted student government a chance, but I hope that it will not mean a lowering of standards.
Miss Kitchel made a good-bye speech to us this morning, in spite of the fact that she said she did not believe in them. It seems to be a pet trick for the faculty to tell their classes to think of them, not as teachers, but as friends. That is one thing here that has surprised me particularly. I thought all the instructors would be the old-maid, personality-less variety of my Latin teacher, and it certainly is not that way. They are all so human and full of fun; e. g. Miss Thallon!
We had a cut in history today, in return for which we are required to go to Professor Roselli's lecture on Cavour this afternoon. It brings up in my mind recollections of the beds in a certain hotel in Milan.
I got a complete list of the books read and work covered in French 7-8 in the office of the committee on admission. For additional information I am to see Miss White next Wednesday. The French department certainly does not give you anything without your working for it. It seems to me that they are over-doing it in this case, though. Taking an exam the equivalent of their course and then taking an advanced course and getting what would have been an A if it had not been the instructor's first year in America! Champy returned about a dozen compositions to us, all of which were [written] sometime in the last six months. I tried an experiment once, which I neglected to write to you. I wrote a very superficial essay on Quatre-Vingt-Treize and then I wrote a two hour one on the next book we read. The first took twenty minutes. I got a B on both. There is the value of marks. Incidentally, I got a B on every single paper she returned. She is a queer one, all right.
I did Latin all yesterday afternoon. I finished the Ovid review. Love,
Dear Mother, Father, and Pete:
I am still sleepy. In fact, it seems hard to remember when i haven't been.
I voted for the three big changes at the Studnet's[sic] meeting last night. They are:--student control of census ratings and all non-academic activity of students below grade, student control of regulations and decorum off-campus (practically all of field now covered by the wardens), and voluntary attendance at classes, involving some sort of a cut system. They all carried practically unanimously. They are to go before the faculty, and, if approved, be subject to a two year trial. I am for them in theory more than in practice. I think the chances are that with added responsibility on our own shoulders our own student rules would be be even as strict, if not stricter, than the wardens' rules. However, I think that what has kept Vassar standards higher than those of the other colleges has been the fact that girls under grade are not allowed to participate in any non-academic activities, limited week-ends, etc. I do believe in giving unrestricted student government a chance, but I hope that it will not mean a lowering of standards.
Miss Kitchel made a good-bye speech to us this morning, in spite of the fact that she said she did not believe in them. It seems to be a pet trick for the faculty to tell their classes to think of them, not as teachers, but as friends. That is one thing here that has surprised me particularly. I thought all the instructors would be the old-maid, personality-less variety of my Latin teacher, and it certainly is not that way. They are all so human and full of fun; e. g. Miss Thallon!
We had a cut in history today, in return for which we are required to go to Professor Roselli's lecture on Cavour this afternoon. It brings up in my mind recollections of the beds in a certain hotel in Milan.
I got a complete list of the books read and work covered in French 7-8 in the office of the committee on admission. For additional information I am to see Miss White next Wednesday. The French department certainly does not give you anything without your working for it. It seems to me that they are over-doing it in this case, though. Taking an exam the equivalent of their course and then taking an advanced course and getting what would have been an A if it had not been the instructor's first year in America! Champy returned about a dozen compositions to us, all of which were [written] sometime in the last six months. I tried an experiment once, which I neglected to write to you. I wrote a very superficial essay on Quatre-Vingt-Treize and then I wrote a two hour one on the next book we read. The first took twenty minutes. I got a B on both. There is the value of marks. Incidentally, I got a B on every single paper she returned. She is a queer one, all right.
I did Latin all yesterday afternoon. I finished the Ovid review. Love,
: Page 2, vcl_Letters_Aaron_Fannie_1920-05_029
Mother,
I think Mullaly said she would have the room for you until Friday, June fourth (inclusive). I do not remember whether she said till Saturday morning or not. She is taken after that, I mean all her rooms are engaged. If you don't come, it would be best for you to write to her yourself, as I would not have the nerve to break a reservation a third time.
The skirt materials look alll right to me. Evidently you did not approve of the idea of having one flannel one, or something different from the regulation. There look very pretty, though.
My bowels are all right. They were not for a little while, but I have gotten them into pretty good shape again. That is, I still have to take the vegetable pills.
I think I would like to have a cot in my room next year. I lost my chance on a good second-hand one. Would you rather have me have a new one? I will not try to get a second hand one until I hear from you on the subject.
Love,
I think Mullaly said she would have the room for you until Friday, June fourth (inclusive). I do not remember whether she said till Saturday morning or not. She is taken after that, I mean all her rooms are engaged. If you don't come, it would be best for you to write to her yourself, as I would not have the nerve to break a reservation a third time.
The skirt materials look alll right to me. Evidently you did not approve of the idea of having one flannel one, or something different from the regulation. There look very pretty, though.
My bowels are all right. They were not for a little while, but I have gotten them into pretty good shape again. That is, I still have to take the vegetable pills.
I think I would like to have a cot in my room next year. I lost my chance on a good second-hand one. Would you rather have me have a new one? I will not try to get a second hand one until I hear from you on the subject.
Love,
