Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, November 26, 1927
Dublin Core
Title
Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, November 26, 1927
Subject
Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, November 26, 1927
Description
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu. Explains why H.K. Tu's son remains in America after being told to return to China. Explains Andover Academy would not remain a good fit. Contacted local high school to try and obtain a diploma from there. States Kong Y. Tu will stay in a boarding house. States Kong Y. Tu understands he will have to pay his own way after a year or two. Asks for H.K. Tu's opinion. Will follow H.K. Tu's decision.
Transcription
November 26, I927
Admiral H.K.Tu
C/o H.K. Tong
Chihli River Commission
Tientsin, China
My dear Mr. Tu
On the receipt of your cablegram of November 22, which reads as follows, “Kong returns China Fund insufficient cable Commission,” I sent for Kong and we had a long and serious discussion of his problem. The boy is greatly distressed at the thought of giving up his studies in America and returning to the home land. He feels that to do this would be to admit defeat and that the step must necessarily prove humiliating and distressing to you. He has begged, and most earnestly, for a longer trial and under somewhat different conditions, and, after considering all of the circumstances involved, I have felt disposed to grant hie request, a decision which I sincerely hope will not prove unsatisfactory to you.
The character and extent of the work at Phillips Academy are recognised to be of a more exacting order than that prevailing in the average American high school. Further, our high schools provide several courses, not all of them leading to college admission. Those which do not have the college as their goal are in the main considerably easier than the others. Since the dental schools, which admit students who have not secured college degrees, specify only that the applicant shall have had an equivalent of a high school course, it seems evident that Kong would be able to gain such admission through the medium of a high school course with much greater ease than would be possible if he were to continue his studies at Phillips Academy. Kong has, therefore, asked to be given a chance to try some such plan as this, for a time at least, and I have felt inclined to consent to his request.
With this understanding, Kong recently consulted the principal of our local high school, who happens to be a good personal friend of mine, and I, myself, have talked with the principal so that the nature of the problem should be clearly understood by him. He has expressed his interest and will allow Kong to try out the wit in the high school,for the balance of the current term at least, or long enough to enable us all to form a proper opinion as to the chances of success* Under this arrangement Kong will live in a quiet and respectable boarding house in the town not far from the school where I feel sure he will be under good influences and where he should find it comparatively easy to study without serious interruption. I may even be able to get him more attractive quarters in some good home, provided it seems likely that the new plan is to work out in an acceptable way.
Kong understands that a year or two hence he may even be required to earn his own way and without material help from home, but he seems ready, if not actually eager to face a hard handicap even of this kind, which testifies in my judgment to the sincerity of his purpose and the good spirit with which he undertakes the new schedule. Under these conditions I feel that
it is only fair to give the boy this further chance, and I sincerely trust that you will approve. Of course if this plan, too, fails to work out satisfactorily, I shall assume that your cable message of November 22 gives me full authority to instruct the boy to give up his efforts here and return to China.
With kindest personal regards, believe me
Very sincerely yours
Admiral H.K.Tu
C/o H.K. Tong
Chihli River Commission
Tientsin, China
My dear Mr. Tu
On the receipt of your cablegram of November 22, which reads as follows, “Kong returns China Fund insufficient cable Commission,” I sent for Kong and we had a long and serious discussion of his problem. The boy is greatly distressed at the thought of giving up his studies in America and returning to the home land. He feels that to do this would be to admit defeat and that the step must necessarily prove humiliating and distressing to you. He has begged, and most earnestly, for a longer trial and under somewhat different conditions, and, after considering all of the circumstances involved, I have felt disposed to grant hie request, a decision which I sincerely hope will not prove unsatisfactory to you.
The character and extent of the work at Phillips Academy are recognised to be of a more exacting order than that prevailing in the average American high school. Further, our high schools provide several courses, not all of them leading to college admission. Those which do not have the college as their goal are in the main considerably easier than the others. Since the dental schools, which admit students who have not secured college degrees, specify only that the applicant shall have had an equivalent of a high school course, it seems evident that Kong would be able to gain such admission through the medium of a high school course with much greater ease than would be possible if he were to continue his studies at Phillips Academy. Kong has, therefore, asked to be given a chance to try some such plan as this, for a time at least, and I have felt inclined to consent to his request.
With this understanding, Kong recently consulted the principal of our local high school, who happens to be a good personal friend of mine, and I, myself, have talked with the principal so that the nature of the problem should be clearly understood by him. He has expressed his interest and will allow Kong to try out the wit in the high school,for the balance of the current term at least, or long enough to enable us all to form a proper opinion as to the chances of success* Under this arrangement Kong will live in a quiet and respectable boarding house in the town not far from the school where I feel sure he will be under good influences and where he should find it comparatively easy to study without serious interruption. I may even be able to get him more attractive quarters in some good home, provided it seems likely that the new plan is to work out in an acceptable way.
Kong understands that a year or two hence he may even be required to earn his own way and without material help from home, but he seems ready, if not actually eager to face a hard handicap even of this kind, which testifies in my judgment to the sincerity of his purpose and the good spirit with which he undertakes the new schedule. Under these conditions I feel that
it is only fair to give the boy this further chance, and I sincerely trust that you will approve. Of course if this plan, too, fails to work out satisfactorily, I shall assume that your cable message of November 22 gives me full authority to instruct the boy to give up his efforts here and return to China.
With kindest personal regards, believe me
Very sincerely yours
Creator
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
November 26, 1927
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence