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

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CLASS NINETEEN FIFTEEN high athletic standards. These Meets have served to make the school widely and well known in athletic circles, and have demonstrated what such contests should be. Every branch ot athletics eng-aged in at the school has been singularly free from any taint of professionalism or other questionable methods. True sportsmansliip and the strict amateur spirit has been the sole aim. The course of study and the standard of scholarship have been steadily raised. lr(im the opening of the school until 1903 the regular course was two years. Be- ginning with 1903 a three ears course was reipiired. Since 1913 a four years course has been in efTect. In addition to turning out thousands of the l)est etpiipped teachers for the pub- lic and ])rivate schools of the State, this school has furnished from its Faculty. Princi])als fur four other State Xormal Schools, as well as superior men and wo- men for (jther high educational positions. The recently-established courses in Agriculture and Domestic Science ha ' e proved a great success and have materiall) increased the efficiency of the curricu- lum. The past year has furnished greater opportunity for ])ractice teaching in the rural school, a fact which is much appreciated by the students. With a Board of Trustees presided over by the able and tried veteran. Captain R. T. Cornwell, Secretary of the first Board, organized in 1871 ; with one of the most distinguished citizens and foremost educators West Chester and the State of Pennsylvania have known. Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock; and men of the integritv, ex- perience and power of Hugh B. Eastburn, John B. Craven, Arthur T. Parke, Sam- uel Marshall, and those loyal and aggressi -e rei)resentati ' es of the Alumni, Frank- lin I j. Wonsetler and Dr. Harry D. Saylor, supported and encouraged by a reunited and enthusiastic Alumni ; a scholarly and high-minded Faculty, and a i roud and de- termined student body, with Dr. George Morris Philips still in the full vigor of his manhood, all wi irking in perfect harnionv — with such forces what mav we not ex- pect from the future ? Clvuk E. Euixger, M.D. 19 5G593

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THE SERPENTINE ciety occurred only a few years later, in 1879. The friendly rivalry existing- be- tween these societies has served to keep them always at a high standard of effi- ciency. Since 1892. The Amulet, a high-class school periodical, has been a potent factor in the school life. In 1890 there was organized a strong Young Men ' s Chris- tian Association, to be followed the year after fy the formation of a Young ' omen ' s Association, which have had large influence on the life of the members. Sabbath and mid-week devotional exercises and Sunday morning Bible Classes have been features of the school life for years. For the past twenty-seven years there has been an annual winter course of lectures given in the school chapel for the benefit of the students. To even enumerate the distinguished men and women who have been heard here would require more space than it seems desirable to give. Suffice it to say that they include the most eminent in their res])ective spheres which the country has produced, comprising scholars, statesmen, educators, men of letters, jurists, ex- plorers, artists and nuisicians. The general character of these courses may best be illustrated by the mention of a few names : Three Presidents, Wilson, Taft, and RoQseyelt; one Vice-President, Fairbanks; Speakers of the House of Representa- tives, Senators, Cabinet ofiicers, Justices of the Supreme Court, and other promi- nent public officials have appeared here. Many Presidents of the great Universities and leading Colleges of the country are included in this notable list. Among the musicians may be mentioned : Madam Hcnier, David Bispham, Josef Hofman, Wm. H. Sherwood, Madam Samaroff, and others equally well known. Among the Ex]2l(2i£i:3, nien as: Commander Robert E. Peary and Paul B. du Chaillu. Au- thors, including: Edward b ' verett Hale, William Dean Howells, Henry VanDyke, Thomas Wentworth Iligginson, (ieorge W. Cable, James Whitcomb Riley, Ed- ward Eggleston, Horace Howard Furness, Edward Markham, Hamilton Mabie and Julia Ward Howe. The annual trip of the Senior Class to Washington, D.C., under the guidance of the Principal and other faculty members has proven a valuable educational fea- ture in the final year ' s work. Among the new and advanced educational features open to the students of the school are the courses which were established last year by the University of Penn- sj ' lvania, by means of which they are enabled to take courses here under the regular University Professors and receive credit toward University work. lany of the students are this year carrying such courses while pursuing the regular Normal work, and will be enabled thereby to materiallv shorten their courses when then en- ter that institution. The Department ofPhysical Training has for the past thirteen years, in addi- tion to its regular gymnastic and athletic Closed Meets, also conducted an annual Open Meet, to which all High Schools, Preparatory, Technical, and Normal Schools of the State are eligible. From twenty to thirty or more schools yearly compete here on Wayne Field. The greatest care has been exercised to conduct these ac- cording to the most approved methods and to foster in every way clean sport and

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THE SERPENTINE Where Some oi Our Faculty Live