Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927, Part 136

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Publication date: 1922-1927
Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Towson > Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927 > Part 136

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Margaret: - Why Mother, and Grandmother! How sweet you look! Where in the world did you resur- rect such relics, and why do you have them on?

Grandmother :- Why, don't you know what today is?

Margaret :- Why, of course, Grand_ mother, it is Founder's Day.

Grndmother :- Just sixty years ago today I started in at the Mary- land State Normal School. Well do I remember that day. There was only one room, and all the classes were held there, where we studied each in our different line of work. Although this may . seem confusing to you, we did some very fine work.

Margaret :- Had a test the other day and I got "B" in it!

Mother :- What was the subject? Margaret: - Psychology. Would you like to see it?

Grandmother :- We did not have psychology in my time. We were taught academic studies, principles of teaching, music, drawing and phy- sical training.

Mother :- Is that all you studied ? Grandmother :- No, indeed. We had biology too.

Mother :- Did you have real prac- tice in teaching the children?

Grandmother :- Not in a regular mapped out system. We would ob- serve a class and would talk about the lesson and maybe we would teach our own classmates. This was due to the fact that the Practice School was then what we might call a Pay School.

Mother :- Yes, it was not until the school was moved to its present lo- cation in Towson that the practice school became a public school.

Margaret: - Grandmother, were

your tests as hard as the tests we have today? You know we use such tests as the Thorndike Tests.

Grandmother :- Wait, I will read you one that I found today. It was my entrance examination. (She gets paper from desk). Here it is. ( Reads from paper ). There are questions in the various subjects. In arith- metic we had correct and rapid ad- dition and written arithmetic to the end of vulgar fractions.

Margaret :- Grandmother, what is

a vulgar fraction? Common frac- tions are bad enough, but vulgar fractions -.

Grandmother :- Why, they are just the same as common fractions. (Con- tinues to read from paper). In grammar we had definitions, etymo-

from the New Testament. Some of the words we were required to spell were: reconnoitre, arraign, ecstasy, idiosyncracy, perspicacious, vicissi_ tude, loquacious, hyperbole, synec- doche.

Margaret :- I am glad we don't have to spell words such as they are. Mother :- Margaret, why were you so late?

Margaret :- The Senior Class is preparing for its monthly dance, and I had to stay and plan for the even ing's entertainment.

Grandmother :- We used to have monthly dances, too, but the one I hest remember was the last one of the season. We danced those beauti- ful old-fashioned steps of which you know nothing. We had a dancing master at our school to perfect our skill in this line. The last dance that night was the Sir Roger de Coverley.

· Dance.

Margaret :- We are having a Pest and Normal debate tomorrow, Moth- er. Would you and Grandmother care to go?

Mother-We would love to go. 1

well remember the competition be- tween the two societies, which I un- derstand is true today, is it not?

Margaret :- Yes, it is. Grand- mother, did they have literary socie- ties in your day ?

Grandmother :- Not when I went to school. You see, Margaret, 1 graduated the first year, and the lit- erary societies were not originated until the following year, 1867.

Margaret :- That is interesting. Then they did exist when you went, mother. Did they not? To which club did you belong?

Mother :- We did not have the smaller clubs in our societies, due to the small enrollment. I see, though, that the Normals still have the same colors, red and gold; but the Pest colors used to he pink and blue.

Margaret :- Yes, the Pest colors are now blue and gold.

Mother :- It is this way. Margaret. it was not until Miss Tall became Principal of the Normal School that the clubs were formed. But we had our good times, never fear. 1 was a Normal. Once a month the Pests entertained the Normals or the Nor_ mals entertained the Pests, and everybody made merry over the tea cups.

Pantomine.

The Domestic Science Department of the school prepared the refresh- ments for these parties.

Margaret :- If the girls had Do- mestic Science, what did the boys have?

Mother :- They also were taught Domestic Science in an indirect way in chemistry classes to show that chemistry lessons were practical. Prof. George L. Smith, one of our most beloved professors, had his classes make cakes and display them in the Assembly Hall. To keep the boys from becoming too effeminate they were given lessons in military tactics.

Margaret: - Since your classes were so small, Grandmother. how large was the faculty?

Grandmother :- We had four teach- ers, and Dr. Newell was Principal.

Margaret :- Do tell me about Dr. Newell.

Grandmother :- Dr. Newell was

born in Belfast, Ireland. He was educated in Trinity College. He came to Pittsburg to take an educa- tional position and later came to Bal- timore, where he served in a similar capacity. He was a leading spirit in ohtaining the appropriation from the Maryland State Legislature, that made possible the establishment of the school. He was Principal of the school from 1866 to 1890. It was the great desire of Dr. Newell that there be a dormitory in connection with the school, so that the county students would not have to board in the city. He was one of the leading educators of his day and many of the principles he advocated are only now being generally accepted in the

schools.

Margaret :- Tell me something about Miss Richmond, of whom I have heard so much.

Grandmother :- I remember Miss Richmond well. I graduated in the same class she did and she had a very brilliant mind. Mary, was not Miss Richmond Principal when you went to school?

Mother :- Yes, from the time of her graduation she climbed higher and higher. Her spirit was felt when, as a student, she entered the school; then later as an alumna, teacher, principal, member of the State Board and as a member of the Building Commission.

Margaret :- Oh, yes: I remember the Christmas wreaths that hung in Richmond Hall parlor were given in

Page 8

TOWER LIGHT

JANUARY, 1927.

memory of Miss Sara E. Richmond, and very soon we shall be able to go there and read the well known Har- vard Classics which were once the private property of Miss Richmond. Mother :- Margaret, tell us some- thing about your buildings.

Margaret :- Our school, as you know. is situated on a high hill in Towson, on a tract of land consisting of eighty-two acres. Our campus is very beautiful, with artistically ar- ranged trees and shrubbery that are attractive at every season of the year.

Grandmother :- I was reading in a book today, and in it I found a most beautiful thought, "To you from fail. ing hands we throw the torch. Be

yours to hold it high." Do you think you are doing this, Margaret?

Margaret: - Yes, Grandmother. We are carrying the torch to hand down to those who come after us. "Thus the old order changeth,

Yielding place to new."

A BUILDING FOR THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

The following interesting details taken from the reports of the Prin- cipal of the Normal School to the sev- I proved; but unfortunate difference of

eral Governors of the State during whose administrations he served will induct the reader into the history of the three sites the Towson Normal occupied before it finally settled on the Towson campus:

Baltimore, January 15, 1872. To His Excellency,

William Pinckney Whyte,

Governor of Maryland :-

It is hoped that the call of the Commissioners' Association for a new building for the State Normal School will be promptly responded to. While St. John's and the Agricultural Col- lege make ample provision for the free education of young men, in spa- cious halls and comfortable rooms, the young ladies for whom the State has undertaken to make a similar provision, have been confined for six years in a single rented hall, and a single recitation room, both of which they must share occasionally with the male students. The school has pros- pered to a very remarkable extent in spite of the almost insurmountable difficulties with which it is sur_ rounded; but it has reached its limit, with its present accommodations; and numbers of Maryland students are seeking for Normal instruction outside the State. The catalogue of one of the

seven State Normal Schools in Pennsylvania shows the names of twenty residents of Mary- land.

"The blind are magnificently housed, In great part at the expense of the State. The deaf and dumb will soon occupy a handsome and spa- cious edifice, the gift of the last Legislature. The insane have been

comfortably lodged. We confidently anticipate that the liberality which has so generously provided for the blind, the deaf and dumb, and the in- sane, will also make provision for those who are seeking earnestly after knowledge and the best means of im- parting that knowledge to our chil- dren. While we hope that all our benevolent institutions will continue to be supported by that Charity

which "never faileth," it must be borne in mind that no charitable in- stitution, however strongly it may appeal to our sympathies, is so ex- tensive in its influence, so compre- hensive in its aim, so far-reaching in its results, or so vitally connected with the best interests of the whole State, as that which instructs and trains the teachers of the young."

Baltimore, January 14, 1873. To His Excellency, William Pinckney Whyte, Governor of Maryland :-

"It was generally expected that the Legislature, at their late session, would provide a suitable building for the school; a bill was introduced for that purpose, the main principles of which were almost unanimously ap-

opinion with regard to the choice of location, prevented hamonious action and caused the bill to be indefinitely postponed. The premises on Paca street, corner of Baltimore, known as Redmen's Hall, which has been occupied since January, 1866, had become not only inadequate, but very objectionable. The increasing busi- ness of Lexington market brought a dense crowd to the front pavement on market mornings, while a 'drink_ ing saloon was next door' to the school-house on the north, and an engine-house on the south. A change was found to be absolutely necessary, and after patient searching and ad- vertising, the Board finally obtained at a very reasonable rent, the spa- cious and handsome house at the northeast corner of Franklin and Charles streets, later known as The Athaeneum Club, perhaps the only building in the city at all adapted to the wants of the school.

creased income of the model schools, but some indispensable permanent improvements were made, amounting to less than $1,000, which have not yet been paid for.

"The building contains three large school rooms, four recitation rooms, three hat and cloak rooms, an office and a library; it has ample accommo- dations for 120 students in the Nor_ mal School, and 40 in each of the Model Schools; and if it should be purchased by the State, it could be enlarged, . a comparatively low cost, so as to accommodate nearly double these numbers. It was not possible to get possession of the house on any other terms than as tenants from year to year, so that if the next Legislature should fail to make suitable provision for the school, it may be left houseless and homeless. It is

to be hoped that

there will be no more disputing about sites. If the Legislature will appro- priate the money, and leave the se- lection of a site and the arrangement of details to the Governor, the Mayor of Baltimore, and the President, of the State Board of Education, there can be no reasonable doubt that the trust will be faithfully discharged."

Baltimore, January 15, 1875.

"To His Excellency,

James Black Groome,

Governor of Maryland :-

"In pursuance of the Act appro- priating $100,000 for a building for the State Normal School, the Board of Public Works has purchased a site, adopted plans, and placed the build- . ing under contract. The location chosen is in a healthy and pleasant section of the city, opposite the southeastern corner of Lafayette Square. The design is at once hand -. some, simple and convenient-prom- ising the maximum of accommodation for the minimum of cost. If no un- looked for contingency occurs, the house will be completed in the Fall. and at an expense not greater than the appropriation."

(Frank E. Davis was the architect; Messrs. T. C. Basshor & Co. were the contractors. The school took possession of the not fully completed new building in February, 1876; and the building was finally delivered to the State Board in June, 1876).

"The Normal and the Model Schools, and the office of the State Board of Education are now, for the first time, under one roof-a con- venience which can be appreciated only by those who have tried to con- duct a similar business in three sep- KENT STANDS HIGH. arate buildings, half a, mile apart. The location is not excelled by any Following a survey of the public school teachers in the State of Mary- land, it was found that 78 per cent. were graduates of Normal School, or the equivalent. other in the city for health, beauty and convenience; and the propriety of the selection has been fully justi- fied by the fact that one month after opening, there was not a single va- cancy in any of the schools. The Kent ranked sixth among the coun- ties of the State with a percentage of 88. Queen Anne's stands among expenses of moving and refitting, and the increased current expenditure for the first, with 100 per cent .- Ches- rent, etc., will be met by the in-ftertown Transcript.

Page 9

TOWER LIGHT

JANUARY, 1927.

THE PAST AND PRESENT of

THE MARYLAND STATE NORMAL SCHOOL

Upper Left-First location on Paca near Fayette street, Baltimore City (Red Men's Hall) 1866-1872.

Upper Centre-Second location, Athenaeum Club, Charles and Franklin sts., Baltimore City, 1872-1876.

Upper Right-Third location, Lafayette and Carrollton avenues, Baltimore City, 1876-1915.

Bottom-Present location at Towson, Md,

Page 10

TOWER LIGHT

JANUARY, 1927.

TOWER LIGHT

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Student Editors

BY THE STUDENTS OF THE MARY- LAND STATE NORMAL SCHOOL,

LOUISE MANUEL ADELE FLOOK

TOWSON, MD.

ELEANORA BOWLING ELLEN CLARK

Business Manager FOSTER FORD

Managing Editor

ALICE L. MUNN

Advertising Manager

GLADY'S GRIMES

Price :- One Dollar Fifty Cents For Ten Copies.

Circulation Manager HOWARD FLOOK

Single Issues Fifteen Cents.

JANUARY, 1927

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ALUMNI NUMBER.

It is fall. A class enters the por_ tals of a new school. For half a year-a long, and to some an almost agonizing half a year-it struggles to become accustomed to its new and strange surroundings and to learn to love the institution and all it stands for. The rest of that year, and all of the ensuing year is spent by that class in doing what it has been

learning to do; in fitting into the general scheme of things and in hon- oring and loving its Alma Mater.

June comes. The class graduates; leaves, to all appearances, the school that has fitted its members for their professions and for their contact with the humming, seething business of the world, for good. But that class does not leave the school entirely. It is not easy to break off completely and instantly ties and associations that have been

life interests, who can help them to find worthwhile work to knows how to promote co-operation and to develop the team spirit, who as an expert workman herself is able to direct the efforts of others to suc_ forming for two years, and the graduating students still feel themselves, and rightly too, an active part of the Normal School. Some return, later, to visit their old haunts, and to share experiences with their former classmates; but others, too far away or too closely absorbed cessful achievement. To find young men and women of good health, of fine intellectual capacity, of moral purpose and to train them for this leadership the Normal Schools and Teachers' Colleges of America No in their chosen work to break away, have been called into being. find the closest bond between them other type of professional school has and their school, that school's publi- cation, The Tower Light. The had committed to it so great a re- sponsibility for the future security of our beloved country and for the welfare and happiness of our people. May her friends be multiplied and may her enemies be converted-or Alumni number of the Tower Light is significant in that the paper comes forward and proclaims itself what it has always been (although silently and unobtrusively ) a medium of af- filiation between the students now studying In this school and those who confounded. May her resources be have finished their work here.

abundant and her courage unfailing

We are given an opportunity to to the end that we may in the next read of our Alumni's experiences, and generation speak as proudly of our million dollar teachers as we have in this generation spoken of our million to see exactly how they have learned to core with various problems arising in their profession. We learn of Alumni who have become famous, or dollar school buildings and to the who are leaders in their line of work. end also that in that better day the number of such teachers may be fully equal to the increased and ever Perhaps It is fitting, therefore, to re- gard this issue of the Tower Light as somewhat of a bridge, a bridge that spans the years that are here and increasing demands that are certain those that have gone before .- Elean -! to he made upon our American public edge of how to attain this goal. ora Bowling, Junior I.

schools.

THE NORMAL SCHOOL IN THE SERVICE OF THE STATE.

By Ambrose L. Suhrie,

Professor of Teachers' College and Normal School Education

School of Education-New York University.

The paramount problem in public education in this republic of ours is to secure for every classroom - for every group of children -- a competent teacher, a leader, a companion, a foreman who can create worthy

STIMULATION AND TRAINING OF MARYLAND STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

By Sally Lucas Jean.

Several hours are required to make the trip between New York and in Towson, but a moment my thoughts carry me through space and into your midst. The buildings, the campus, your president, the fac- ulty, and the students are all dear to my heart, because of the stimulation and training the Maryland State Nor- mal School gave me many years ago. Six members of my family have passed through the school, and though we are scattered throughout the country, the influence of this in- stitution continues to enrich our lives.

One forgets much of the subject matter studied during student days, but the spirit of the school serves as field a gnide and as an inspiration during the years. The

of activity chosen for my life work is the direct result of "Ella Ricker's magnificent teaching of psychology and hygiene ideals, right attitudes, and permanent in the old Maryland State Normal School, more than twenty-eight years ago. It is possible to draw upon facts, ideas, and methods she im- do, who planted then, in practically every project it is my privilege to under- take. Miss Richmond taught me to think in her classes in the history of education, and Professor Austen opened my eyes to the world around me in his nature work. Space does not permit further allusion to indi- viduals, but I cannot pay too high a tribute to the faculty who gave me so much.

You can imagine my delight a year or two ago when a nation-wide con- test of the Metropolitan Life Insur- ance Company and the American Child Health Association resulted in the selection of a member of the Maryland State Normal School fac_ ulty as the successful candidate for a Fellowship to travel and study in Europe. Best of all, this honor came as the result of institutional effort to develop a functioning health pro- gram, so it can be regarded as a dis- tinction to every member of the fac- ulty and student body.

The school health program of this country and of every other country in the world has been somewhat in- fluenced by the Maryland State Nor- mal School. This fact, of course, adds to the responsibility of every student to raise her own personal health standard, and to pass on to the children in her classes an ideal of healthy living as well as a knowl-

January 5, 1927.

JANUARY, 1927.

TOWER LIGHT

Page 11

MR. JOHN M. CARPENTER

BY HIS DEEDS WE KNOW HIM.

One day last June Mr. Norman Woelfel, a member of the Towson Staff, quietly walked into the prin- cipal's office. He laid upon the desk a check for $400 and explained that Mrs. John M. Carpenter of Wells- ville, New York, was presenting it to the school as a memorial to her husband who in May had died quite suddenly. It was Mr. Carpenter's request that the fund be used pre- ferably for loans to men students. The readers of this paper will be in- terested in a few facts of Mr. Car- penter's life. We quote from the Wellsville (New York) Daily Re- porter:

"Mr. Carpenter was a member of the First Congregational Church and for several years a valued member of the Board of Trustees of that church until his health prevented him from serving further. He always dis- played a lively interest in all that concerned the church.

"Mr. Carpenter was also a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230 A. F. & M. At his request he will be buried with Masonic honors.

"A quiet, kindly. thoughtful man, Mr. Carpenter leaves behind him a gracions memory cherished by a host of friends."

Had Mr. Woelfel not joined the Towson staff as instructor in Educa- tional Measurements and had Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, the parents of Mrs. Woelfel, not visited Towson often. this generous gift

"The older citizens of Wellsville will remember Mr. Carpenter as a druggist in the Hall Drug Store. Of and this fine memorial tribute would not have been bestowed upon the school. Let us show our gratitude and apprecia_ later years his chief business interest has been as an oil producer. Pos- sibly no other man knew the oil lands of this vicinity quite as thoroughly tion for the J. M. Carpenter Memor- as did he. He was actively inter- ial Loan Fund by steering into the ested in several different companies school in 1927 two worthy men stu- formed for the purpose of developing dents who will do honor to the oil leases.

teaching profession .- L. L. T.

SCHOLARSHIP LOAN FUNDS.

Perhaps the outstanding student in the school is one who is willing to borrow money for his education. giving a note to return a loan with interest after he has begun to teach. With the view of helping such stu_ dents, the Sarah E. Richmond Loan Scholarship Fund was established through the gift of Sarah E. Rich- mond of $2000.00, presented to her when the Alumni of the school hon- ored her upon the occasion of her fiftieth teaching anniversary in the

school. The capital investment of this fund has increased it until many students whose records warranted their being recommended for a loan here had the advantage of borrowing from it. The Trustees of the fund are Dr. William T. Love. Laura P. Todd and Carrie G. Richardson. This fund has been used exclusively for

Seniors. In 1926, however. the various units of the Alumni Associa- tion throughout the State added $2000.00 to it to be used by either Juniors or Seniors.

Realizing the value of the Sarah E. Richmond Loan Scholarship Fund. Miss Martha Richmond established the Martha Richmond Junior Loan Scholarship in 1925. This was the first single scholarship to be estab- lished for the Junior students.

In addition to this fund there are a number of individual Loan Scholar- ships which are awarded to students who have achieved honor in their high school life and who, without the loan. could not continue their educa- tion. Among them is the Reese Ar- nold Memorial Scholarship given by the student body in memory of Miss Arnold, a Junior student, who died in January, 1922. Another is the Lillian Jackson Memorial Fund, which was given by the student body in memory of Lillian Jackson, a Senior student, who died in March, 1925. The Normal Literary Society established a scholarship in May, 1925, and the Pestalozzi Society met this with a loan scholarship in 1926. Both of these scholarships are for Juniors, and the Societies stipulated that the Juniors to whom they should be awarded would automatically be- long to the Society who bestowed the scholarship.

In 1926 the John Carpenter Me- morial Loan Scholarship Fund was established. Loans from this fund are made preferably to men students of outstanding character and ability.

Among the gift scholarships which have greatly benefitted the students at the Towson Normal School, are those given by the Daughters of the American Revolution, who, through the Maryland Line Chapter, the Mor- decai Gift Chapter and tlie Carter Braxter Chapter, have given sufficient funds to carry them through the

Page 12

TOWER LIGHT

JANUARY, 1927.

school, to four or five students each |the patrons and high school pupils to | huge success.

year up to the present year. The the Normal School to see these proposed plan of the Daughters of | things, and so this mount of mystery the American Revolution to establish the Loan Scholarships on a national basis will in the future. cause stu- dents to receive scholarship loans from this fund instead of having the believe. money given outright.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927, Part 136

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.) Publication date: 1922-1927 Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.) Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Publication date: 1922-1927
Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Number of Pages: 1024