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

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Au rnu u ltomas i mttb. A. M., fh. i. Prtnrtpal of Slip tatc formal Srhool Urat CEhratrr. fa. NDREAV Thomas Smith, A. M., Pd. D., Principal of the West Chester State Normal School, widely known as an educator and ;idministrator, was horn Septeinher 10, 1862, near Norristown, lontgomery County, Penn.sylvania. He is the eighth child and third sou of Ei ' asiiius P. Smith, who died in 1886 and Elizalieth (Haker) Smith who died in 1905. The hoy, Thomas Smith, on the farm, early displayed those qualities of perseverance, fidelity, helpfulness, sympathy, Ihoug ' htfulness for others, uprightness of character and love of Nature and out-door sports that foreshadowed the ideals of the man, when he was to take his place as a leader of men and a guide of the plans and purposes of youth. His early education was received in the schools of Fairview Village and Nori ' istown, Pa. He was an apt pupil, eager foi ' knowledge and anxious to make the most of every opportunity. His ainhition to secure an education and liis keenness of vision, as he looked into the future, were nowhere lietter shown than when he chose to enter a higher institution of learning rather than enter upon a business career which seemed to be looming before him. He had had con- siderable experience as a teacher before he decided to pursue the bent of his inclination and become a student at the West Chester State Normal School. On entering the school, he immediately took high rank in his studies, hold- ing many positions of trust and honor in his class and literary society, and was interested in all phases of the activities of the school, not only those pertaining to the class-room, the literary society and the religious work, but to athletic in- terests, and, as an enthusiastic base-ball player, he has always retained his love for that sport. We may. indeed, remark, in passing, that it is no uncommon sight to see Principal Smith, clad in base-ball uniform, at his accustomed place on second base, whenever the Faculty is called upon to face some opposing team and needs the inspiration of his presence. Andrew Thomas Smith was graduated from the West Chester State Normal School in the class of 1883. He was in his twenty-first year, but his work thus early, gave promise of what his riper years have achieved. In the fall of 1883, when he had barely attained his majority, he accepted the position of first assistant in the Chester Springs Soldiers Orphan School, and the next year was elected Principal. He was soon called back to his Alma Mater to teach in the department of Pedagogy. Page Eight

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Aa a olnUpu of i ' lnrprr ISpgarft an iEalprm. H % (ElasB nf 1921 iSpspprtfullg Spliiralr tliia Unlump nf tn (3m iBrloupii JfrtPitli mtb Npui riurtpal Page Seven

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In ISSG. he was cK ' t-ti ' d Prol ' t ' ssor of Pedagogy ami a liltli ' latiT 1)ffame also ' ice-Priiieipal of the institution, serving in this hist capacity npwards of ten years. During the snnnner of 1885 and 188(3, he devoted himself to the fur- ther stndy of Pedagogy under that famous teacher, William H. Payne, LL. D., Chancellor of the Univei ' sity of Nashville, Tennessee, and continued to pursue advanced studies in ilathematics and Sciences in connection with special work in higher Pedagogy, during succeeding suiinners. . In 1892, Profe.ssor Sinilli was granted a year ' s leave of aliscnce from the school in order that he miglit become a resident student in the New York Uni- versity and complete the course leading to the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy, which he had been pursuing, in absi iilia. He entered the University in the fall of 1892. completed all the re(|uired courses and presented his thesis for which the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy was conferred npon him in June. 1893. This was a notable achievement for a young man not yet thirty-one years of age, who had graduated from the State Normal School just ten years before, and the University especially honored the young doctor liy selecting his thesis as one of the two which were to be published to represent its pedagogical work in the edu- cational world, — a fitting triinite to the mental acumen, pains-taking effort, re- solute determination and high ambition of one whose personal worth was each year inerea.singly manifesting itself. In the fall of 1893, Doctoi ' Smith resumed his work in the school as Vice- Principal and Head of the Department of Pedagogy. Later, he studied one year with Dr. George S. Fullerton. the eminent professor of Philosojihy in the Uni- versity, of Pennsylvania. The work with the New York University and the University of Pennsylvania was reflected in the class-room with great benefit to prospective teachers and in a very tangible way in a text-book on Systematic ] lethotlology. which was adopted in the State Normal School several years ago and has met with nnich favor in educational circles elsewhere. While speaking of Dr. Smith as an author, we may add that he prepared the beautiful booklet Quarto-Centennial History of the West Chester State Normal School, in 1896. and the Historian of the (|Uarto-centennial of 1896 was destined to be the Principal at the semi-centennial in lf)21. In 1898. Dr. Smith was maile Acting-Principal during the absence of the Principal. Dr. Philips, in Europe, foi- a [leriod of four months. ' It will be es- pecially interesting, in the light of subse(|Uent events, to ((uote hei ' e a few lines from the October number of the Amulet, which voiced the sentiments of all, when it remarked, editoi ' ially, — The events of the past two months have made it apparent to all, trustees, faculty, patrons, and students alike, that Dr. Smith, now Acting-Principal, merits to tiie fullest extent the confidence reposed in him by his chief. Dr. Smith has risen grandly to the occasion and won anew the love and esteem of all. In all the vai ' ious duties incinnbi ' ut uiion a Pi ' incipal, he has shown that he jiossesses adiniiiistr;ilivc ability of the highest order. Coming ' events seemed, indei ' d. to be casting a shadow bcfoi ' e. for in less than six months frem the time that Dr. Smith laid down the duties of Acting- Principal, he was called to the Pi-incii)alshii) of Ihe JIansfield (Pa.) State Normal Page Nine