UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1935-11-01_Page-037

241. (b) This point deals with our University as a whole. The American Government or the American people ought to be grateful to the American University at Cairo. The history of the American Mission in Egypt dates back to 1870 or about. But never have the philosophy of A,►erican Education penetrated the minds of Egyptians until the last seven or eight years, or little after the foundation of the American University. Seated in its small building in the proximity of the Ministry of Educf-ition, in spite of its comparatively limited activities, it has been rble to uproot some of the worn out theories of Education, to make the authorities question their existing practices, to copy, adapt, and adopt modern ones and above all to introduce to the Egyptians the outstanding educators of the world, notably those of America., their best ideas and ideals. The American University has been the greatest single factor to bring to the notice of intelligent Egyptians in such a short period the best there is of the culture and civilization of America. It has been able to make the people realize that A.:.erica is more than a distant curious land where auto-mobiles, actors, actresses and eccentric incidents are produced. (c) This last point also deals with our University as a whole. Faith is the key word of this last item in the conclusion. We must as one whole unit have Faith in what we are doing. Psychologists say that unless a speaker has faith in his memory and in the genuiness of his ideas he would fail to convey his message. Similarly if a business firm has no faith in whit he is doing he is apt to fail sooner or later. According to this principle if each unit of our University believes that one or more of the other units should be closed, then we as a unit must be lacking in faith. Three of the four units at least are now cooperating more or less. Apparently this cooperation is done without our having faith in some of what we are doing. Something ought to be done at once. Either close the units in which ti;e have no faith if there is sufficient ground to warrant this absence or lack of faith, or else let us be "believersr and act as such. Yours respectfully, Amir B okt o