Alexander had actually completed all the academic requirements to graduate in 1909, but had to wait until February 5, 1910, to receive his A.B. diploma because of a certain physical education requirement. In order to be on the graduation list, Alexander needed to demonstrate his ability to swim the length of a pool and receive a certificate of completion. It was not that he did not know how to swim; he just thought the requirement was silly and so he put it off until it was too late to register for the 1909 commencement. This event caused Alexander to think that there was something seriously wrong with an education curriculum that was so structured. The philosopher Dr. Mortimer J. Adler suffered a similar fate as he failed to pass the required swimming test for a bachelor's degree at Columbia College. Like Alexander, he considered it a nuisance. Adler never received his A.B. degree, but so impressed the faculty he was allowed into graduate school to complete his doctorate in psychiatry. Dr. Adler later received his A. B. degree in 1983. According to the New York Times:
The philosopher, Dr. Mortimer J. Adler, stood in his doctoral robes among the members
of the class of 1983 to receive a degree that he failed to get in 1923, because he did not
pass the swimming test then required of all Columbia College graduates.
Alexander decided not to attend Columbia the next term, because he couldn’t “take up my graduate work with any satisfaction,” instead opting to accept a position teaching science at Heathcote School (also known as Heathcote Hall) in Harrison, Westchester County, New York, about twenty-five miles north from Manhattan. This was a private boarding school for young boys, 7 to 15 years of age, which had attained some social prominence since being founded in 1901 by Arthur De Lancey Ayrault. The school had a resident staff of about twenty-five instructors, which meant in addition to a hefty remuneration of $125.00 a month Alexander enjoyed room and board which made for the equivalent of a hefty $160.00 per month. At 23-years-old, Alexander was at last in a financially stable situation and could now save some money to further his academic ambitions. The administrators at Heathcote Hall asked him to sign a contract for the following year, but Alexander told them he didn’t want to be tied down. His intentions during this time were to get a scholarship at Teachers College for the next year as he already had made up his mind to go to Germany again in the summer to resume study at the University of Jena.
The philosopher, Dr. Mortimer J. Adler, stood in his doctoral robes among the members
of the class of 1983 to receive a degree that he failed to get in 1923, because he did not
pass the swimming test then required of all Columbia College graduates.
Alexander decided not to attend Columbia the next term, because he couldn’t “take up my graduate work with any satisfaction,” instead opting to accept a position teaching science at Heathcote School (also known as Heathcote Hall) in Harrison, Westchester County, New York, about twenty-five miles north from Manhattan. This was a private boarding school for young boys, 7 to 15 years of age, which had attained some social prominence since being founded in 1901 by Arthur De Lancey Ayrault. The school had a resident staff of about twenty-five instructors, which meant in addition to a hefty remuneration of $125.00 a month Alexander enjoyed room and board which made for the equivalent of a hefty $160.00 per month. At 23-years-old, Alexander was at last in a financially stable situation and could now save some money to further his academic ambitions. The administrators at Heathcote Hall asked him to sign a contract for the following year, but Alexander told them he didn’t want to be tied down. His intentions during this time were to get a scholarship at Teachers College for the next year as he already had made up his mind to go to Germany again in the summer to resume study at the University of Jena.
Alexander found the work pleasant and easy, since school was only five days a week and ended at 3:00 p.m. The added advantage of not having an armed revolution or martial law in the country was also an attractive aspect to the instructional atmosphere. It was also situated very close to the Harrison Station so he could easily take the train into Manhattan to go downtown, go to Columbia or visit the Spence’s. He started only two days after receiving his degree, on February 7, 1910. His mother, back home in Kirksville was pleased by her son’s good fortune that to his dismay, she started to address letters to him as “Professor” Thomas Alexander. Conscious of appearances, Alexander quickly begged her not to do so.
Alexander supplemented his income by tutoring the children of the well-to-do. He enjoyed the work, but by March, and against his mother’s advice, Alexander had decided against coming back to Heathcote Hall the next year, despite assurances that his salary would increase to $150.00 a month plus room and board (that resolve would change later when he returned from Europe. It was hard not to since the money was good, the work easy and it gave him time to work at Columbia). He knew he had a very good situation in Harrison, but he knew that he would make more with the Ph. D. after his name. The session at Heathcote Hall ended on the last days of May. Alexander sailed from Hoboken, NJ, onboard the S.S. Berlin on June 4, 1910 for Italy. He had reasoned it was just as cheap to go that way as any other, and besides, he had not been to Italy before. This proposed itinerary journeyed north to Switzerland, Venice, the Tyrol, Montenegro, through Austria-Hungary and then to Germany where he planned to spend most of his time.
Commencement exercises for the largest graduating class thus far at Columbia University were held June 1 and Alexander went to see the festivities. It was noted the day earlier as a mention in the New York Times that Alexander was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, generally considered one of the most prestigious of American college honor societies. He promised his mother to mail her his diploma, which was at Philip Spence’s house with other belongings as he prepared to again go overseas.
Alexander supplemented his income by tutoring the children of the well-to-do. He enjoyed the work, but by March, and against his mother’s advice, Alexander had decided against coming back to Heathcote Hall the next year, despite assurances that his salary would increase to $150.00 a month plus room and board (that resolve would change later when he returned from Europe. It was hard not to since the money was good, the work easy and it gave him time to work at Columbia). He knew he had a very good situation in Harrison, but he knew that he would make more with the Ph. D. after his name. The session at Heathcote Hall ended on the last days of May. Alexander sailed from Hoboken, NJ, onboard the S.S. Berlin on June 4, 1910 for Italy. He had reasoned it was just as cheap to go that way as any other, and besides, he had not been to Italy before. This proposed itinerary journeyed north to Switzerland, Venice, the Tyrol, Montenegro, through Austria-Hungary and then to Germany where he planned to spend most of his time.
Commencement exercises for the largest graduating class thus far at Columbia University were held June 1 and Alexander went to see the festivities. It was noted the day earlier as a mention in the New York Times that Alexander was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, generally considered one of the most prestigious of American college honor societies. He promised his mother to mail her his diploma, which was at Philip Spence’s house with other belongings as he prepared to again go overseas.
