Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. K.Y. Tu, November 5, 1929
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. K.Y. Tu, November 5, 1929
Subject
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. K.Y. Tu, November 5, 1929
Description
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. States the bill for the high school course won't be paid until instructions from Tu's father are given. Explains last instruction were for Tu to return to China, but if Tu objected strongly enough, a position in a trade organization or business school should be acquired. Chastises Tu for returning high school without consulting with Stearns and going against instructions given by Tu's father. States Tu's interest in social and athletic activities is the reason Tu did not succeed at Huntington School. Returns school bill.
Transcription
November 5, 1929
Mr. K.Y.Tu
438 Columbus Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
My dear Tu:
I have your letter of November 4 with its rather surprising request, and I can only say that until I receive instructions from your father to pay bills incurred by you through the continuance of a high school course which should have been completed years ago, I cannot take this step. My last instructions from your father were to the effect that you were to return to China, but that if you objected too strongly to this he would continue to authorize to meet necessary expenses only on condition that you secured a position in some trade organization or business concern, like the Ford school, in order to learn some useful trade that would be of value to you on return to China. Our correspondence at the time shows that your father’s position was made very clear to you and was thoroughly understood by you. You yourself assured me that you would seek for such an opening at once.
The fact that you have gone back to high school at your age and without even taking the trouble to advice me in advance is only another indication of your unwillingness to cooperate with your father and me and carry out instructions. In all my dealings with scores of Chinese boys I have never been treated in this way before and you cannot blame me, therefore, for having lost faith in your reliability. Further, the Huntington School authorities themselves assured me that the main reason why you had not attained greater success in your work with them was your interest in outside social and athletic activities. Needless to say, I would not be either legally or normally justified, especially in view of your father’s explicit instructions to me, in advancing funds for the purpose you have specified. It seems to me nothing short of a crime that at your age you should be willing even to continue with elementary high school work which in itself is going to accomplish little or nothing towards fitting you for a reasonable position in your home land or for rendering to your country that higher service which your father cherished when he made the sacrifice involved in sending you to America for education.
I hate to write you in this vein but no other course in open to me under the circumstances. I am consequently returning your school bill for which neither I nor your father has assumed responsibility. Needless to say, this situation distresses me greatly, but I have pleaded with you so often and in the friendliest fashion that I feel it necessary now to speak my mind plainly and promptly, however much you may resent my words and however much it may hurt me to speak them. My obligation is primarily to your father, as you must readily recognize.
Very sincerely yours.
Mr. K.Y.Tu
438 Columbus Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
My dear Tu:
I have your letter of November 4 with its rather surprising request, and I can only say that until I receive instructions from your father to pay bills incurred by you through the continuance of a high school course which should have been completed years ago, I cannot take this step. My last instructions from your father were to the effect that you were to return to China, but that if you objected too strongly to this he would continue to authorize to meet necessary expenses only on condition that you secured a position in some trade organization or business concern, like the Ford school, in order to learn some useful trade that would be of value to you on return to China. Our correspondence at the time shows that your father’s position was made very clear to you and was thoroughly understood by you. You yourself assured me that you would seek for such an opening at once.
The fact that you have gone back to high school at your age and without even taking the trouble to advice me in advance is only another indication of your unwillingness to cooperate with your father and me and carry out instructions. In all my dealings with scores of Chinese boys I have never been treated in this way before and you cannot blame me, therefore, for having lost faith in your reliability. Further, the Huntington School authorities themselves assured me that the main reason why you had not attained greater success in your work with them was your interest in outside social and athletic activities. Needless to say, I would not be either legally or normally justified, especially in view of your father’s explicit instructions to me, in advancing funds for the purpose you have specified. It seems to me nothing short of a crime that at your age you should be willing even to continue with elementary high school work which in itself is going to accomplish little or nothing towards fitting you for a reasonable position in your home land or for rendering to your country that higher service which your father cherished when he made the sacrifice involved in sending you to America for education.
I hate to write you in this vein but no other course in open to me under the circumstances. I am consequently returning your school bill for which neither I nor your father has assumed responsibility. Needless to say, this situation distresses me greatly, but I have pleaded with you so often and in the friendliest fashion that I feel it necessary now to speak my mind plainly and promptly, however much you may resent my words and however much it may hurt me to speak them. My obligation is primarily to your father, as you must readily recognize.
Very sincerely yours.
Creator
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
November 5, 1929
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence