Kutztown University - Keystonia Yearbook (Kutztown, PA)

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Quakers were the first to organize them. These were followed by neighborhood schools which were supported by tuition fees. Free'' schools were established a little later, the fore- runners of our present public schools. The colleges and secondary schools, which appeared later, increased the educational opportunities here in Pennsylvania. With our great public schools, and our excellent colleges, Pennsylvania has become a leader among the states in education. Penn wanted vocational stability for his people, work for all, and Pennsylvania did not dis- appoint him, for it was a land rich in opportunities and resources. The first thing that concerns a people coming into a new land is the soil and what it can produce. Our farming has become famous throughout the nation, and we now have some of the richest and largest farms in this country. The Swedes had an established agriculture before Penn's arrival. The rich soil soon became poor as a result of overuse, but the farmers learned and practiced crop rotat on, and also acquired a knowledge of fertilization, and its value. The best farmers are the Pennsylvania Germans in Lancaster County, who in addi- tion to working the fields, have wonderful dairy farms. Tobacco is a profitable crop in many sections of the eastern counties . The agricultural sections are usually located near cities, and farmers' markets are to be found in almost every town of reasonable size. Pennsylvania has been greatly aided by the establishment of Pennsylvania State College, which maintains a special course in agriculture, an experimental station and extension and correspondence de- partments. V ith all our mineral resources, we have naturally become industrially minded. At first the domestic, or household industries were practically universal in Pennsylvania as in the country as a whole. These grew and developed into the industries we have today. Some of the early —Williamsport Froo Library

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Perhaps the greatest of Penn's promises, at least as it affects today, was that of democracy. For more than a year after receiving the Charter, William Penn gave much time and atten- tion to the formulation and drafting of a Constitution or Frame of Government for Pennsyl- vania. This was not an easy task, because the nature of the Charter gave Penn the posi- tion of feudal lord over a large estate, yet his philosophy of life required that he “put the power in the people.” To reconcile these two opposites was his problem. He conceived the First Frame of Government which provided for a governor and an assembly to be elected by the people. It was a big step in the right direction. Governments,” Penn said, rather depend upon men than men upon governments.” When the first Assembly met, they adopted a code of laws, which pledged along with many other things, religious freedom for all. One of the earliest branches of government of prov- incial Pennsylvania was the Assembly, which was the first instrument of the people's will in the law-making of the state. Public education was provided for, Indian treaties were drawn up and things that most other colonies were slow in obtaining were taken care of by the people of Pennsylvania, through the Assembly. It was the Second Frame of Government that directed the governor and the council to erect and order all public schools and reward the authors of useful sciences and laudable inven- tions,” Thus came the first documentary mention of formal education. It was Penn's hope to educate all his people, with no distinction as to race, creed or station. A lav was passed shortly after the one stated above which read, All persons in the province having children shall cause such to be instructed in reading and writing, so that they may be able to read the Scriptures and to write by the time they attain to tv elve years of age.” The church was most interested in having the children read; therefore the earliest schools to attain this end were the church schools. These were under the control of the local congregations, and the iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinimti! •iiiiiiiiiiiiniimiiaiiiiiiiiiiimiiniiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiii

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industries were the manufacturing of hand-moulded bricks, the quarrying of stone for do- mestic purposes, shipbuilding beginning at Tinicum in 1647, and glass making beginning in 1683 in Frankford near Philadelphia. The first paper mill was erected by William Ritten- house at Wissahickon. Then came the coal industry which has grown to such importance that today Pennsylvania leads all states in the mining of coal. The preeminence of Pennsyl- vania in the iron and steel industry is indicated by the fact that in 1680 the state produced more than half the total output in the United States, while today it leads all states in the pro- duction of iron and steel products. Other fields in which Pennsylvania has become famous are textile manufacturing, leather and the leather products industry, lumber and all its by- products, manufactures based on agricultural products, publishing and printing, and elec- trical, chemical and non-ferrous metal products. Where is all this leading us? We have shown you just a few of the dreams of Penn and how he gave them their start toward becoming realities. All of these realities are because of one man—one man who had the courage to stand up for the rights and wants and needs of his people. We are all proud to have such a background on which to build an even greater state. Our pride in what has been done with Penn's dreams will lead us on to even greater achievements. IVe are indebted to Dr. Arthur I). Graeff and the John C. Winston Com- pany for permission to use illustrations from the book “The History of Pennsylvania.” iiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu iiiiiiimiimiiiiiiitiimimiiiiiiiiiii