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

Page 30 text:

THE SERPENTINE Where Some oi Our Faculty Live

Page 29 text:

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

Page 31 text:

CLASS NINETEEN FIFTEEN Anna p. Sskr T is hard to frame a fitting tribute to the life of one whose interests were so closely interwoven with the life of the Normal School. We cannot measure in words that which she has given us — not only in the class-room where she taught, but everywhere in the schjol; she left the imprint of her Christianity uDon all those with whom she came in contact. Although Miss Esler was born in Philadelphia, her home during the greater part of her life was near Berwyn, to which place she moved during her early childhood. Miss Esler began her connection with the Normal School soon after its establishment, and was graduated with the first class, in 1874. For a while after her graduation she taught in the public schools of D nvn- ingtown. Also for several years she was engaged in teaching at the Jamestown College. North Dakota. After she left the college she spent two years teaching in an industrial school for colored people, in Aiken, South Carolina. In 1890 she returned to West Chester and did graduate work at the Normal School. Since 1894 she was one of the most efficient and faithful teachers of the school. Miss Esler entered into the w:)rk of the ' . W. C. A. soon after her connection with the school, and her influence was widely felt by the members of the organization. She lent herself to it with an entire abandon of everything else, and it was through her that many girls came to know their personal Saviour. Perhaps, though, the work nearest to her heart was the Bible study work; not a tew girls testifv that their real appreciation of the Bible dates from the time of their study with Miss Esler. While in West Chester Miss Esler always attended the First Presbyterian Church. She remained to the last a member of the Great ' alley Presbyterian Church near Berwyn, and now lies asleep within the gates of its graveyard. We can never know how many lives have been uplifted by her. Her last thought was for her girls, as she called them. Eminentlv fitted to be a teacher by reason o f her per- sonal interest in everyone, she has left us. While we are saddened bv the thought that she can no longer work with us in her chosen field, yet we are cheered when we realize that she comes into closer relationship with the Master of all good teachers. J. NE J. Pack. rd.