PAPERS PRESENTED AT GENERAL SESSIONS 81 



We have respect for Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, 



at least in the attempt of leaders in those organizations 

 to make them count in the solution of this very problem, 

 but "we are not quite so sure of the average student's re- 

 action if we follow the college comic papers. TVe are 

 familiar with the student fallacy that people who stand 

 high in their classes are "grinds" and do not succeed in 

 life. Students do not take the trouble to make a study 

 of Who's Who and other biographies to find that there 

 is a tremendously high correlation between success in 

 life and Phi Beta Kappa in college. The shortcomings 

 of our national honor society lie in the fact that they 

 recognize attainment too late in the course and too late 

 to increase the number of possible Phi Beta Kappa's. 

 Just to make Phi Beta Kappa or Sigma Xi is not enough 

 to stir the imagination of the freshman. Either these 

 societies (at least Phi Beta Kappa, as I know little of 

 Sigma Xi) must change their base somewhat or new 

 honor societies must come to help select able students 

 at the beginning of their course and stimulate and en- 

 courage them throughout. 



Three years ago we founded such a society at Eock- 

 ford known as the Socratic Society, organized to ap- 

 peal primarily to undergraduate interests. At midyear, 

 students of superior attainment and promise are elected 

 from all four classes, particularly the freshman. Three 

 elections during the four years in college make one a 

 permanent member. The standards of scholarship are 

 as high as Phi Beta Kappa. A formal initiation and 

 ceremonial are held at midyear. The claims of the so- 

 ciety are placed before the students by the students 

 themselves each year at a special fall convocation. 

 Eockford, it may be said in passing, also attempts to 

 recognize achievement in the appointment of student 

 assistants in the various departments and in the use of 

 a large student aid fund and in a number of other ways 

 common to all colleges. 



This matter of a reward and recognition is perhaps 

 the most fruitful field for study in this connection. In 

 the old days when colleges were small, personal contact 



