Bloomsburg University - Obiter Yearbook (Bloomsburg, PA)

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|oBiTER.| ' ' ; ,; garf fROF. JOHN G. COPE was born at East Bradford, Chester County, Pa., March 20, 1845. He was rai.sed on a farm at that place and attended the pubHc schools there in his early boyhood days. Later, he entered a private school at West Chester under the supervision of Prof. Fordyce Allen, an exceptionally ' strong teacher, who was called to the pnn- cipalship of Mansfield Normal School in 1866. Prof. Cope was among the stu- dents who followed this capable man to Mansfield, and graduated there in the cla.ssof 1867. He taught for some time at Montrose. He then returned to his home in Chester County and spent a short time on the farm. In 1873 he was called to the Principalship of the schools of Selinsgrove, Pa., where he continued in charge until 18S0. During this time he brought the schools to a very high degree of efficiency ' , proving himself a most forceful disci- plinarian and leader. During the summer vacation of 1877, he was in charge of the Normal Insti- tute, a training school for teachers. In 1880 he took the Principalship of the Lewistown schools, and remained until 188. ). He reorganized the schools and brot them to a very high degree of excellence, making them among the best in the state. From here he was called to the Bloomsburg State Normal School in 18So, as teacher of Arithmetic, in which work he was very successful. His pupils remem- ber with pleasure his stimulating class-room work. It was generally conceded that he could train a wooden post to think. His persistent efforts to proline clear thinking on the part of his pupils resulted in their facetiously giving him the so- briquet of Per Cent of what ? Later he was transferred to the department of Natural Sciences, a as th; work grew he became the head of the department of Physical Sciences, his pres- ent position. Prof. Cope is a most enthusiastic and wide awake teacher. None can de- velop a subject or present it as he can, nor can any teacher so effectively awaken the slow or indifferent pupil. His pupils respect and love him and none goes out from his class without high ideals of what rational teaching ought to be. He is genial, pleasant, sympathetic, patient with the plodding mind and lavish with his time to the earnest student. No teacher has done more for the public schools of Pennsylvania than this quiet, earnest, modest man. He is also quite a sportsman, being very fond of the wild. The trout stream is his joy and as soon as spring opens he miy be foi il with his rod, whipping the streams for speckled beauties. He drinks in he.Uth and inspiration among the mountains for his work.

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I leiaH I ' ROF. JOHS C. COI ' K

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