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

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these tributes are strikingly eoiienrdaiit in empluisizing the l)enctits (h rivi-d from Dr. Smith ' s addresses and series of lectures. His research work has been conducted on broad, l)asic lines and his conclusions are sane. He has his subject-matter logically arranged and it is of most excellent (juality. His sterling character as a man, his training and experiences as an educator and lecturer, have fitted him peculiarly for this work. He is a forceful, cultured speaker. His fine command of language and his platform presence are inspir- ing, while his originality and force of thought never fail to interest and con- vince. He is one of the most eifective educational lecturers we have had in the school for .years. All of our instructors join me in expressions of apprecia- tion and in the ho])e that he may return to us within the near future. This last is from the State of Washington, and there are others of like tenor. Dr. Smith is a recognized authority ' in the i)i-oblems connected with child- study and his lectures on Eye and Ear-JIindediiess, Fatigue, Children ' s Untruths, and Rights and Duties of Childhood are especially valuable, as also those on Life Problems, Educational Psychology, General Ped- agogy and Special Methodology. which have been given in series of five or more in various stales of the Union, with the appreciation already noted. After Dr. Smith ' s graduation from New York Univei ' sity, he spent three months in travel, principally in Mexico, and his poi ular evening lecture, Glimpses of Mexico, was heard many times with pleasure and profit by large audiences. While we thus esteem Dr. Smith as a careful administrative and educa- tional head, a skilful class-room instructor, an interesting and inspiring lecturer, it must not be forgotten that these phases of endeavor have permanent value only as they portray the character back of them. It is, therefore. Dr. Smith, the man, the Christian gentleman whom we most love. His ingenuousness, his unselfishness, his sympathy, in a word, his Christian character, illuminates and emphasizes what hi ' does, not only as an instructor and a lecturer shaping the ideals of seekers after truth not only as an administrative head inspiring his associates with the professional spirit, but also in the capacity of an adviser and counselor, as he tries to make the young men and young women under his care see his point of view, thus leading them on to higher levels of thinking and acting, and as he aims constantly to make them happy in the endeavor as well as in the achievement. It may be added that Dr. Smith is an elder in the West- minster Presbyterian Church of West Chester where he conducts a Men ' s Bilile Class. He is Vice-President of the Chester County Historical Society, a mem- lier of the State Educational Association, thv- National Educational Association, and other organizations. It will thus iic seen from tlii.s imperfect estinuite of Dr. Smith that he has rendered and continues to render most valuable service in the cause of Christ, in fostering the cause of education in general, and in urging the need of professional training for teachers, in particular, ami it is plain from what has been said that he is well qualified by scholarship, experience, professional train- ing, administrative ability, dignified Christian character and those fine per- Paqe Sixteen

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It is of special interest to note in this connection that the West Chester State Xormal School, during the years of Dr. Smith ' s absence, had enlarged its curriculum, broadened its horizon, and had been taken over by the State, thus losing its character as a private institution and becoming a State Xormal School witii all the benefits and resi)onsil)ilities incident thei ' eto. The Department of Education had become more important each year and needed expert and thor- oughly equipped persons at the liead of it. When a vacancy occurred in this department. Dr. Smitli accepted the Professorship of Education and brought to it a wealth of valuable expeiience, both as an assiduous student of educational problems and as a careful and successful administrator. He was cordially wel- comed by his former colleagues and friends to the school to which he had given so numy years of valuable service, when the institution was in its fornmtive period, and his influence was .soon felt, not only in the school, but also in all phases of the life of the coiiniiunity. After a number of j ' ears of service in this department, he was unanimously elected Principal of the West Chester State Normal School in May, 1920, to suc- ceed the late Di-. George IMorris Philips, who had been at the head of the school for the long period of thii ' ty-iiine years, and who passed to his eternal reward the March previous. Dr. Smith is the fifth Principal of the school and is proving each day a worthy siiccessor of Principals Cook, Chandler, Maris, and Philips. This is also Dr. Smith ' s fifth Prineijialsbip, and is a fitting clinuix to Chester Springs. Mans- field, Clarion and Detroit, and it is evide nt to all that he will leave no stone un- turned to make the State Normal School of the First District a still greater force in the educational world, and enhance still more the value and indispens- ableness of Normal School ti ' aining as a pre-rei|uisite to successful, not to say, intelligent work in the res])onsibh ' pi ' ofession of teaching. In that connection it should be noted here that while Dr. Smith, as a class- room instructor, has left an indelible impression upon thousands of teachers who are successfully solving the problems of the school-room, his influence has reached a wider public and enli.sted the co-operation of sentiment and active sup- port of those who have listened to his lectures and addresses. He has been in constant demand as a speaker, whether to address a body of teachers at their county institute, a body of directors in annual session, a Sabbath School con- vention, a Business Men ' s banquet, a Club of Women, a Men ' s Bible Cla.ss. or State Normal School constituencies in other states. In this way he has helped to mould public opinion and has accomplished a work whose effects cannot be estimated. Testimonials bearing upon this come not only from this state, but other states as well, and are conclusive and discriminating, as a few thoughts gleaned from a score and more will show. These come from nmny states and from such men as Dr. Winship of Massachusetts. President Fess of Ohio, Ex- State Superintendent Pattengill of Michigan, Professor Kinnamon of Kentucky, Superintendent Boyer of New Jersey, President Bryan of New York, Super- intendent Hemmig of Indiana, Principal Na.sh of the State of Washington, Su- perintendent ilcCreary of Illinois, Su] erintendent Wright of Maryland, Pres- ident Gordon of Oklahoma, and many others. Coming from places so remote, Page Fifteen

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soiial qualities tliat make the tjenial gentleman and eompanionalile friend, to fill the high position to whieh he has been called by the Boaixl of Trustees of the West Chester State Xoi ' mal Sehool. and. supported hy a liody of loyal alumni, appi ' eeiative students and symjiathetie associates, Dr. Andrew Thomas Smith has the best wishes of all who know him. and they sincerely ho])e that he nmy enjoy many years of active service, as he guides the affairs of a great school to still greater achievements, and seeks to make the teachers who go out from its halls active, eft ' ieien! instruments in the cause of human betterment and capable especially of rendering service of permanent value to the youth of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or to the cause of education, wherever in the Providenee of Go ' i tiiey are called to labor. WALLACE PETER DICK. Page Seventeen