aint Michael's College May Close

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

The public education system in Lilliland was superb but it needed an average of twelve new teachers a year. To obtain these teachers, it had to advertise in French and English newspapers.

There was a seminary in Lilliland known as St. Michael’s. However, it had come on hard times with limited enrollment and the increased costs of running the institution. A few years earlier Lilliland signed an agreement with St. Michael’s Seminary to educate the teachers that the public schools needed. St. Michaels Seminary would be known as St. Michael’s College. The religious training and teacher education would be in separate divisions. This worked well and Lilliland got its new teachers.

Unfortunately, the seminary administration received word that it must close the facilities.

The Baron asked Professor Hamblin, his chief advisor, to see what could be done. Lilliland offered to buy the institution and keep it running as Lilliland University. Teacher Education, Economics, Business, Philosophy, Pre-Law, Diplomacy, and International Relations would be added to the curriculum.

Everyone with a high school education and diploma could attend Lilliland University free of charge. Enrollment would be capped and if a student did not pass he would be asked to leave and forfeit his seat to another student who was on the waiting list. Lilliland tax dollars would be used to fund the university.

The Baron figured that in order to keep up with the fast changing world situation, Lilliland would have to produce intelligent and well-educated citizens.

Professor Hamblin liked to refer to Lilliland privately to the Baron and Lady Angela as a small country, like a pickle in the middle of a sandwich. The sandwich was made up of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and England.

“Therefore, it is important that we become as bright as we can.”

Lady Angela asked the Professor if he could come up with a better metaphor for describing Lilliland. “How about a can of sardines?” he replied.