West Chester University - Serpentine Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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Page 16 S ERPENTINE 1914 went to Edinboro, and later to Lock Haven: Professor Andrew Thomas Smith went tu Manstield, and recently to Clarion; and Professor J. George Becht went to Clarion. Recently. Professor Charles A. Wagner left to become the first Com- missioner of Education of the State of Delaware. In Professors F. H. Green and S. C. Schnuicker, the schnol now has two teachers of national reputation as lecturers. The West Chester Normal School has always had an earnest, faithful and ever-growing student body, drawn from all parts of Pennsylvania, and from neighboring States. During its first year it was attended by 170 students, 57 young women and 112 young men. It was not until 1884 that the women nutnumbered the men. In that year the numbers were J45 and 225 respectively. Since 1890 the proportion of women has been steadily increasing. In 1913, when the school had the largest attendance in its history, of its 1103 students. 902 were women and 201 were men. Prior to 1903 the regular course of study required two years for its completion. That year the first class was gradu- ated from a three-years ' course, and in 1913 a new four-years course went into elTect. Graduates of first grade high .schools are admitted to the third year of this new course. The number (if graduato of such high schools who come to the West Chester State Normal School is growing year by year. Everv effort has been made to keep the equipment of the school up to date. It is provided with physical, chemical, biological and agricultural lal)oratories. a shop for manual training, a domestic science k itchen, and work rooms, a school garden, museum, art gallery, and a well selected library of over 16.000 volumes. In 1877. one of the first Summer Schools in the country was held at the Normal School in West Chester, but it was soon discontinued. In 191 1 the Summer School was re-established, and it has received increasing patronage each year since that time. All of the varied activities of school life were early established, and have had a healthy growth at West Chester. The Moore Literary Societv was organized only four days after the opening of the school. The Aryan Society followed in 1879, and these two societies have flourished in friendly rivalry ever since. For years it was the custom on the anniver- saries of these societies to publi.sh The Moore Literary Gazette and Tlie Aryan Reviezv. Later these papers were merged into a monthly priodical. The Amulet, the first number of which appeared in February, 1892. The Young Men ' s Christian Association was formed in 1890. Professor Green, its first and only president, has guided and inspired its work from the beginning. The Young Women ' s Christian Association promptly followed in 189 1. Its members have reason to re- member with appreciation the efficient services of its two latest presidents. Miss Sara S. Kirk and Mrs. F. H. Starkey. Outdoor sports have been features of the school for many years, but the present Athletic Association dates from 1895. The school lecture course, which has been maintained for many years, has been one of singular excellence. Neither effort nor money has been spared to bring to the school every prominent person in public life who ever lectures. Students at West Chester have had the opportunity to see and hear such statesmen as Roosevelt. Taft, ' ilson. Fairbanks. Clark. Cannon. Curtin and MacVeagh ; such men of letters as Howells. Cable. VanDyke, Garland. Eggleston. Markham and Fur-

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1914 SERPENTINE Page 15 LIBRARY

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1914 . SERPENTINE Page 17 ness: such college presidents as Smith, Angell, Hadley, Garfielil Scluiniian, ami Alderman; such musicians as Homer, Bispham, Hoffman, Samaroff, and the Knerset Quartet; and such eminent Americans as General John B. Gorman, Ed- ward Everett Hale, Julia Ward Howe, Frances E. Willard, Jacob Riis, Henry George, Lyman Abbott and Booker T. Washington. The Pennsyhania School Code of 191 1 authorized the State Board of Education to purchase any State Normal School whose stockholders are desirous of selling it to the Commonwealth. L ' nder the terms of this law, tlie State Board of Education lx ught the West Chester Normal School in 1913. The law provides that in case of such purchase, the new State institution shall Lie managed by a l oard of nine trustees appointed by the State Board of Education. Early in 1914 that Board named the following trustees for the reorganized West Chester State Normal Schodl : Joseph T. Roth- rock, Robert T. Cornwell, John V. Craven, Samuel Marshall, Hugh B. Eastburn, Arthur T. Parke, George Henderson, Frank B. Wonsettler, and Harry D. Saylor. Under the management of the wise and public-spirited Board of Trustees, and w-ith Principal Philips still in the fullness of his powers, in charge of its administration, the West Chester State Nor- mal School is entering upon a new era of even greater success and usefulness as a State institution. Smith Burnham.