Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. H.K. Tu, September 13, 1926

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StearnsBox28Folder0003_093b.jpg

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Title

Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. H.K. Tu, September 13, 1926

Subject

Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. H.K. Tu, September 13, 1926

Description

Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to H.K. Tu. Discussed finances with K.Y. Tu over the summer. Worried over K.Y. Tu's inability to assume responsibility and treat finances in business like way. Explains K.Y. Tu was difficult while staying at the summer camp; refusing to meeting regulations. Relayed H.K. Tu's message that K.Y. Tu will return to China if progress isn't made. Explained circumstances of H.K. Tu's position. Hopes the new school year will bring progress.

Transcription

September 13, 1936
Hon. H. K. Ta
The Ministry of Navy
Peking, China
My dear Mr.Tu:

Thank you for your letter of July 19 which reached me during the summer holiday.

I have had several long talks with your boy during the summer and am very much disturbed over his seeming inability to assume responsibilities and to treat his finances in a business-like and careful way. The director of the camp where he has been this past summer told me at the end of their session that your son was the most trying boy they had in their group, because he was constantly seeking to avoid meeting the customary regulations and offering all kinds of excuses for his delinquencies. He is careless and impulsive and a bit stubborn when an effort is made to bring him to reason, and I find It next to impossible to get him to keep his expenses within reasonable limits. I have assured him, however, that, unless he could give a better account of himself in matters of this kind, I should strongly advise you to call him back to China and give up the attempt to secure the American education which you so much desire for him. I told him further of your new appointment and of the statements made in your last letter to me to the effect that it would be more necessary than ever for him to curtail expenses, but I am afraid this made little impression upon him.

I dislike exceedingly to write you in such a discouraging vein, but I feel that it is only fair that you should know the exact situation and the difficulties which confront me in this particular case. I have told you son that out of over sixty cases of Chinese boys with whom I have dealt intimately within the last twenty-five years, I was forced to class him with only two other boys who had caused me serious anxiety. I begged him for your sake and for his own to change his attitude and make a real effort to cooperate with us in the endeavors that we were making wholly with a view to his own best progress and interest in the end. I can only hope that this coming year will reveal a better spirit on his part and that I may have much more favorable reports for you in the future.

Very sincerely years

Creator

Dr. Alfred E. Stearns

Publisher

Phillips Academy

Date

September 13, 1926

Rights

All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy

Language

English

Type

Correspondence

Collection

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