Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 11.djvu/735

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This remarkably italicized passage shows at once that Mars Hill Academy believes in the coeducation of the sexes. In another portion of the circular, however, we learn that, although the boys and girls are frequently brought into the presence of each other, the strictest care is taken "that all observe a proper distance." Furthermore, every pupil signs an elaborate pledge never to "seek or accept a private or secret conversation or correspondence with any pupil of the opposite sex from my own, and that I will never receive a proposition for such correspondence or conversation, or anything tending thereto, without immediately committing the same to the principal," and so forth, and so forth, and so on. Thus we see that coeducation, at least in this school, can hardly be considered dangerous. The morality of the scholars is also advanced by a Scriptural exercise of an hour in length every morning before breakfast. Here is a part of the result:

But the crowning glory of the school is to be found in the certificate given to every student at the end of his or her course. It is described thus:

"To every pupil, great and small, will be presented a, containing a concise statement of the progress of the pupil, with the name. State, county, and post-office, of the same. These certificates are very beautiful; they are beautifully printed in four colors. In the centre is a representation of the earth, showing the equator, tropics, and polar circles. Around the horizon of the northern hemisphere is printed in green, 'Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.' The southern hemisphere is bounded by—'Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole