Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Chien Luan Li, June 29, 1908
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Chien Luan Li, June 29, 1908
Subject
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Chien Luan Li, June 29, 1908
Description
Typed letter sent from Alfred E. Stearns to Chien Luan Li about Li's academic progress. Explains that unless Li is able to improve, Li will have to withdraw and return to China. Urges Li to work hard and focus on improving academic grades.
Transcription
29 June, 1908
My dear Li:
It was a great disappointment and surprise to me to learn at the end of the term has completely you had failed in numerous studies. Your teachers are all agreed that this is in a large measure at least the results of lack of efforts on your part. I hate to believe this, and yet I would dislike as much to believe that your ability was to be assumed by this long row of failure. Under the circumstances, it has been decided that your return next year must be in the nature of probation, and that unless you are able and willing to maintain a more satisfactory standing, it will be necessary to ask you withdraw.
My interest in the Chinese students as a whole and in your personally leads to me urge you most earnestly to make good those deficiencies, and to maintain from the outset next fall a standing which can cause no further anxiety to your instructors or your friends. It would be little less than a crime if a boy for whom so many sacrifices have been made in order to give him the advantages of an American education should so far forget the responsibilities of his position as to drift into careless habits of work, and to thwart the purpose for which he was sent to this country. Please understand that I am speaking as a friend who is interested most sincerely in seeing you make the most of your opportunities here and fill a position of large usefulness and responsibility in later time.
Very sincerely yours.
My dear Li:
It was a great disappointment and surprise to me to learn at the end of the term has completely you had failed in numerous studies. Your teachers are all agreed that this is in a large measure at least the results of lack of efforts on your part. I hate to believe this, and yet I would dislike as much to believe that your ability was to be assumed by this long row of failure. Under the circumstances, it has been decided that your return next year must be in the nature of probation, and that unless you are able and willing to maintain a more satisfactory standing, it will be necessary to ask you withdraw.
My interest in the Chinese students as a whole and in your personally leads to me urge you most earnestly to make good those deficiencies, and to maintain from the outset next fall a standing which can cause no further anxiety to your instructors or your friends. It would be little less than a crime if a boy for whom so many sacrifices have been made in order to give him the advantages of an American education should so far forget the responsibilities of his position as to drift into careless habits of work, and to thwart the purpose for which he was sent to this country. Please understand that I am speaking as a friend who is interested most sincerely in seeing you make the most of your opportunities here and fill a position of large usefulness and responsibility in later time.
Very sincerely yours.
Creator
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
June 29, 1908
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence