Classic Poem

If you'll listen for a moment, I will tell you now, my friends,
What is taught at dear old Claflin, when your child that school attends,
I will picture all departments, if you'll use your mental eyes,
How the best of education comes to ev'ry one who tries.

In the handicrafts we train them; ev'ry boy must learn a trade,
Architecture, sloyd and drawing, yea, how furniture is made;
Engineering, ironworking, carpentry, and how to print,
Painting, masonry, wheel-wrighting, tailors made without a stint.

Girls are taught domestic science, coupled with domestic art,
Such will give them independence, which is far the better part;
Cooking, sewing, millinery, needlework, and making lace,
Garment-drafting; Thus we teach them how a busy world to face.

Here we teach them vocal music, and in harmony, so plain,
In the best of composition we your girls and boys will train,
Winded instruments we teach them, and the stringed ones, if you like,
On the organ and piano how and when the keys to strike.

We've a grammar school, a normal, and preparatory, too,
With a college as the cap-stone of the courses — this is true —
We've theology for preachers and we boldly take the stand,
That of Negro schools, our Claflin is the foremost of the land.

Now, the matter of religion we have given equal stress,
Education's never finished when it stands or something less.
Here we teach the Bible daily, and we urge a change of heart,
Heart, with hand and head is needed when life's journey one shall start.

Education that's harmonious, training all the parts of man,
Is the kind we give at Claflin, and I'll show you here the plan.
Heads when trained to do the thinking, hands to dignify the work,
Hearts when rightly trained for worship seldom will a duty shirk.