Plymouth State University - Conning Tower Yearbook (Plymouth, NH)

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Our Campus Chris!mas Tree

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The Conning Tower of 19 3 7 Marion Edith Giles Critic Plymouth Normal School, B. of Ed.; Summer School, Boston University; Ed.M., Boston University. Berthe-Marie Dcsmarais Critic State Teachers College. Lowell, Massachusetts; Boston University, B.S., A.M ; Substitute teaching in Lowell High School; Bartlett Junior High School, Lowell. Massachusetts. Marion Katherine Seavcy Principal of Training School Plymouth Normal School; Rhode Island College of Education, Summer; University of New Hampshire; Boston University. B. S. in Ed. Katherine Longley Critic Gorham Normal School, Gorham, Maine; B.S., Pennsylvania State College; Bates College Summer Sessions. Marguerite Waegcncere Critic Plymouth Normal School, B. of Ed. Lulu M. Hoyt Critic Gorham Normal School; Castine Normal School. Hy-annis State College; Boston University, B S. in Ed. Mary Elizabeth Roberts Gertrude Ida Shaw Kindergarten Registrar and Graduate, the Wheel- Secretary to President ock School of Kindergarten and Primary Training. M3] Mrs. Mabel Haigh Mary Lyon Hall Matron Mrs. Edith A. Beal Dietitian

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The Conning Tower of 1937 A Quarter of A Century of Teacher-Training Service When we P.N.S. students walk through the sunken garden or enjoy the comforts of our well equipped dormitories, when we are working in our classes or in training, we little realize the wise planning and ceaseless effort of a quarter of a century that have made possible our advantages. Twenty-five years ago the campus consisted of three buildings, the school, a dormitory, and a small rented cottage. The Principal lived in what is now our infirmary. There were one hundred and twenty-nine students enrolled, and nine Normal School teachers. Two years after Dr. Silver came, the Legislature made the first appropriation for Mary Lyon Hall. In 1916 Dr. Silver was made director and in 1929 he became president of the Normal School. During these years the plant has grown rapidly. Mary Lyon Hall, Samuel Read Hall, the Library, Russell House, Grafton Cottage, Coos Cottage, Belknap Cottage, Strafford Cottage, the Greenhouse, and Administration House have been added. The sunken garden, Langdon Park, and the camp at Loon Lake have been acquired to make our school a beautiful and enjoyable place in which to live and learn. Our President has not allowed material progress to overshadow educational advancement. Three and four year curricula have supplanted the earlier ones of one and two years, and next year Plymouth Normal School will be on a four-year standard for all groups, granting the degree of B.Ed. Under President Silver, Plymouth Normal School has qualified as a Grade A Teachers’ College. Besides increasing the enrollment, improving the campus, and raising the scholastic standards of the school, Dr. Silver has never been too busy to listen kindly to his students, whether the trouble has been general or personal, and in a quiet way, he has helped many. Last Commencement a fitting tribute was paid to Dr. Silver for his quarter of a century of service. The following editorial is taken from the Plymouth Record: “For twenty-five years the town of Plymouth has seen Dr. Ernest L. Silver go unassumingly about his tasks as head of the Normal School. For twenty-five years he has slowly, but steadily built up the school campus, has raised the scholastic standard so that now Plymouth Normal School ranks high among the teachers’ colleges of New England. His reticent and shy manner has perhaps made it hard to realize that he is among the leaders in educational circles, but the results that he has obtained prove conclusively that he is one of the foremost in his field. “High tribute was paid Dr. Silver at the Normal School Commencement on Tuesday and the remarks made by Dr. Pringle, Mrs. Harriman, Mrs. Elkins [151