USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Extracts from the minutes of the yearly meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia, 1923 > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
Third:
The three separate duties specified in this Query have been attended to by all our Meetings.
Fourth:
There are eleven schools of the class queried after ; this does not include the large school at Atlantic City, which while a Friends' school does not fall under the class in mind.
Of the eleven, three are large schools, one, the largest day school of its kind in the city of Philadelphia; and another is a close second to it.
Two of the schools are under joint committees of the two bodies of Friends.
The children and teachers attend mid-week meeting, when one is accessible. In one case a special Friends'
46
Meeting is held each week in the school house, attended by members of the Committee and often visited by Minis- ters of other Meetings.
The school at Atlantic City holds a Friends' Meeting on its own initiative each week, which has been visited by members of the Committee in charge of the school.
The teachers in our schools are not all members with Friends, but the greater part of them are and all are sympathetic toward the high moral and religious standards of the schools.
Fifth:
The Queries addressed to this Meeting and to its subordinate Meetings are read and answered therein as directed.
47
Report of the Yearly Meeting's Committee on Education
During the past year the eight schools under our care have continued to implant quietly in the minds and hearts of the children within their walls, seeds which we trust will germinate and bear rich fruit as time goes on.
Just before the Yearly Meeting last year we were saddened by the passing away of our valued Superinten- dent, Gertrude R. Sherer. Olive R. Haviland, who for years had been closely associated with her and had greatly assisted her during the last few months of her life, was appointed her successor. Our new Superintendent has given unstintingly of her time and strength, and an exam- ination of the schools today reveals the success with which her work has been attended.
The spirit in the schools is noteworthy. The local committees, teachers and pupils believe thoroughly in their institution, and this attitude is reflected in the school atmosphere. The difficulties-and they are many-are surmounted.
Perhaps you would be interested in a brief survey of each school as made by our Superintendent. As there are several larger Friend's Schools in this Yearly Meeting which are not under the care of our Committee they, of course, are not mentioned. The Superintendent tells us that Fallsington School has grown this year by improving living conditions at the school and employing an extra teacher ; that. Lansdowne has a group of teachers who are displaying unusual teamwork in school matters; that Downingtown has just organized a Parents' Association whose earnestness of purpose means much to the school ; that Media finds the school year all too short to carry out the splendid plans of a teacher of large vision ; that Frank- ford, through the excellent work of her teachers has been able to pass children on to corresponding grades in public school with half a year to their credit; that Haddonfield
48
has blazed the way in wholesome co-operation of neigh- borhood and school, and has created a fine school spirit ; that London Grove, while waiting for a community school to be completed has had a struggling year-one brave teacher handling five grades with the same number of children that two teachers handled last year ; that Atlantic City School has made itself a necessity in the community and backed by a larger faith and a more enduring hope. it may become a mighty Quaker outpost.
The work of our Superintendent has been supplemented by the systematic visiting of schools by several members of this Committee. This has proven quite valuable, and a number of constructive suggestions and improvements have resulted.
The financial situation is giving us much thought. As a preliminary the Treasurer's report is set forth :
YEARLY MEETING'S COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Receipts and Payments for Fiscal Year 1922-23 as Estimated Third Month 16, 1923.
GENERAL FUND
Receipts
Balance Ninth Month 1, 1922, increased by $2,321
temporarily advanced to Gift Fund. . $ 2,360
Yearly Meeting's Appropriation. 5,000
Interest 124
Payments $7,484
For services of Superintendent, including salary,
travelling, secretarial office expenses. .$ 2,150 Salary and expense of Special Teacher 1,500
Appropriations to individual schools. 800
Tests and measurements and health work in schools 375 Expenses connected with teachers' meetings .. . . 250
49
Miscellaneous expenses 175
Estimated Balance Eighth Month 31, 1923, in- creased by sums which may have been ad- vanced temporarily to Gift Fund. 2,234
$7,484
The Gift Fund now consists of a cash balance of $429, and bonds worth about $3,600, but as it owes $3,000 to the General Fund the net amount of the Gift Fund remaining is slightly over $1,000. The net interest receipts of the Gift Fund (after deducting interest on indebtedness) will be about $72, and the expected appropriations to schools, $100.
The Yearly Meeting is asked for an appropriation of $5,000, the same amount as last year. In this connection, the above Treasurer's report shows that the Yearly Meet- ing's appropriation last year was well spent. $3,650 was used to furnish the schools with an expert adviser in the person of our superintendent, and with a special teacher in art and drawing. Teachers' meetings, tests and measurements, health work in schools and sundries required $800, and direct appropriations to schools another $800, making a total of $5,250. The $250 in excess of the Yearly Meeting's appropriation is met by interest receipts and by drawing upon the Committee's working balance.
One of the striking features of the Treasurer's report is that the Gift Fund is nearly exhausted. This Fund which was originally $10,000 was received six years ago from an unknown donor with the request that the princi- pal and interest be spent in raising the standard of our schools. The fund has been most conscientiously admin- istered and has been of great assistance. The present condition of the schools may largely be attributed to the improvements made possible by this Fund.
In passing, also, we wish to mention the T. Wistar Brown Fund which makes it possible for the Superintend-
50
ent and teachers to attend summer school and to pay extended visits to "model" schools using improved edu- cational methods. Our Schools directly benefit from the ideas and enthusiasm brought back by our teachers under such circumstances.
We must not let the standard of the schools decline. Yet the financial condition of the schools is such that they cannot pay for further needed improvements in addition to their already heavy expenses. Only a Gift Fund, or the income from an Endowment will afford the needed help. We appeal to you again this year for contributions to our Committee to create another Gift Fund or an Endowment for the maintenance or betterment of the standard of the schools. Truly, here is a fertile field close to our doors where contributions will help to pro- vide a better education for children, many of whom will some day be a strength to our Yearly Meeting.
In considering the financial problems of our Eight Yearly Meeting Schools, some of you may wonder whether they are really worth the time, effort and expense required for their upkeep and development. Do they have a real value to the community and to this Yearly Meeting, which is different from that of a public school ? Let us consider the ideals which animate those who have the care of them.
We wish to give the children a worthwhile education. This means not only a thorough grounding in the usual scholastic courses of study, but it means also the develop- ment of the spiritual nature through reverent recitation and study of the Bible, and preparations for citizenship by encouragement of the children in co-operation and in service to others. They should feel that our schools are "places where ideals of love, courage, unselfishness and human sympathy shall stand out in shining array against hate, fear, material gains and prejudice." These are high standards, but it is the conscious effort to attain them which leaves its imprint on the character of the children.
The schools need your sincere interest. Visit them, and encourage the teachers and pupils by your presence
-
51
and helpful suggestions. Be present at the mid-week meetings which our children attend. Your presence is a certain encouragement. Your vocal service may bear more fruit than you will ever know.
Encourage the local committees also. The strongest schools are found where local committees have been most faithful and persistent in their work. The school and the meeting which created it, are one. The meeting has, perhaps, no higher function in the community than to extend the work of the school. Do we not wish our schools to be centres in the community from which life radiates and to which life flows-centres which have a distinct religious as well as educational influence? Good schools do not result merely from good teachers, good supervision and good equipment, but they do result from the devoted efforts, interest and support of meetings and friends, working together with teachers and children for the educational and spiritual good of the school-of the community-and so contributing to the larger life of the state and nation.
For the Educational Committee,
CLEMENT B. WEBSTER, Chairman.
Third Month 26, 1923.
52
Indian Committee Report for 1922-1923
To the Yearly Meeting:
A letter from one of our workers at the school raised the question "What is Tunesassa for? Was it founded for the purpose of teaching Indian children a trade to enable them to earn a better living, or is the main purpose of the school the uplift of the race?" What marvelous possibilities there are in teaching a race of people a better way of life! The same spirit of devotion to ideals and of service to mankind should quicken the life of one who works among the Indians as stirs into action the persons who have given, or are giving, so whole-heartedly, their services in foreign lands. Those of us who are in touch with the splendid workers in Japan, in China and in Europe today realize the tremendous amount of enthus- iasm and devotion they are putting into their work for those faraway peoples. It is this type of well-equipped, consecrated teachers that we need to deal with a race of people at our very door who need positive moral and religious training. It is only as we have our school staffed with the best that our Society has to give that we touch in the most effectual way the lives of our Indian brothers.
A survey of the year's work and of present conditions at the school shows a gain in some respects. The spirit of the school is good. Our workers, as a group, are ca- pable and conscientious and are deeply interested in the best welfare of the children under their care.
The present Senior Class of 5 is as large as the school has had. How to attract older boys and girls to the school and to keep our pupils after they are old enough to earn money is one of our problems. Unlike the youth of most other races, the Indians do not have a keen desire to learn ; -what their teachers must do is to create the desire and then give them that which will most help them to fight against their besetting sins of laziness and indifference,
53
and to spur them on to a realization of their responsibili- ties in life.
We are glad to report that self-government, which now plays an important part in the best modern schools, is being tried successfully in some departments of the school life. Self-control is an especially important lesson for the Indian boys and girls to learn at school, for it is not taught in their homes. It is a great satisfaction to the Committee to have at Tunesassa, teachers who are willing to make this venture in faith. It is only by going ahead with that which seems impossible that great things are accomplished.
It is encouraging to note that several of the Indian young people have availed themselves of the opportunity, recently given, to take agricultural and domestic courses at Cornell University.
The "Tunesassa Old Scholars' Association" continues to give practical evidence of its interest in the school. It has given $100 for tools for the Manual Training Depart- ment, has offered prizes for good scholarship and good conduct, and has pledged $400 for a short course in agri- culture to be given at the school.
The dairy, the garden and the poultry continue to con- tribute toward the material well being of the institution. The dairy herd now consists of about 25 milking cows. The milk is sold to a nearby receiving station which ships to Baltimore. About seventy-five tons of twelve-inch ice have been stored besides selling fifty-five loads to the neighbors. LeRoy Pierce, the Indian who had charge of the farm work last year, has left his position and gone into other work, but the Committee were able to secure a Friend, Jesse D. Mott, to take his place. The latter was an Iowa farmer, and his wife, Margaret Crawford Mott, was a recent teacher at the school. They are occupying the farmer's cottage, which has been nicely renovated for them.
The greatest improvement to the physical equipment made during the year was the replacing of the worn-out
54
and insufficient electric light plant with a larger and better one. The chief repairs to the main building were painting and papering most of the family rooms and refinishing the boys' living rooms. The boys' sitting room has also been. suitably furnished. The boys are making several seats for- the girls' use. The expense of fixing up one of the- teachers' rooms was borne by an interested friend.
A play-shed is, perhaps, the most desired addition to the children's quarters. The older boys and some of the Indians would help build one if funds were available for the materials and to pay a competent workman to super -- vise its construction. The estimated cost is about $1500 ..
The Committee continues to visit the school as regu- larly as is practicable. Since last report twenty visits of from two days to three weeks in length have been made by members of the Committee, who have endeavored to" be helpful to the school and to the Indians on the Reser- vation. In the early summer, William C. Cowperthwaite had a minute for religious service among the Indians. The- three appointed meetings held on or near the Reservation. were thought to be very satisfactory occasions.
Responsibility for growth in the religious life of those- under its care is felt by the workers at the school, as well as by the Committee. We are glad to report that many of the children have been unusually interested in their- Bible lessons this year and that the meetings for Divine- worship both on First-day and Fifth-day have often been times of spiritual refreshment. One of the Committee wrote after a visit to the school, "The children mostly sit very quietly and properly in meeting and it was pleasing" to be told by one of the teachers, who occasionally has sat behind the girls, that she has been conscious at such times- of the spiritual life of the older ones and has been strengthened thereby."
Two members of the Committee-J. Passmore Elkinton and Caroline C. Biddle-were released at their own re- quest. William C. Cowperthwaite, after many years of acceptable service as Clerk of the Committee, desiring to-
55
be released from the position, William Biddle was ap- pointed Clerk for the coming year.
Believing that we still have a mission to the New York Indians and that it would be a loss to the Yearly Meeting as well as to the Indians if the work was not continued, we ask for an appropriation of $5000, the same as for last year.
We would also bespeak for our Red Brethren every- where an increase of personal interest in their welfare, remembering that our Saviour said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."
On behalf of the Indian Committee,
WILLIAM BIDDLE, Clerk.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts.
Balance on Hand, Third Month 11, 1922-
In Hands of Treasurer
$82.49
In Hands of Superintendent 314.68
$397.17
Appropriation of the Yearly Meeting
5,000.00
Income From Investments and Trust Funds
1,551.38
Income from the T. Wistar Brown Teachers' Fund ..
675.00
From the Emlen Institution
1,000.00
Donations
4,538.38
Farm and Dairy, Including Value of Farm Products Used in the Family
4,974.80
Temporary Loans
2,750.00
Investment Paid Off
1,000.00
From Sale of Baskets
141.53
Incidentals
102.84
Interest on Deposit Account
8.09
Payments.
Salaries
$3,737.32
Farm and Dairy
4,605.25
Family Expenses, Including Farm Products Used in the School
4,061.81
Heat, Light and Water 1,991.00
Repairs and Improvements
1,789.34
$22,139.19
56
3,000.00
Loans Paid Off
Insurance
722.91
Taxes
140.74
Interest
118.54
Investment
998.75
Accrued Interest on Investment
11.94
Incidentals
165.16
Balance on Hand Third Month 12, 1923 :
In Hands of Treasurer $260.92
535.51
In Hands of Superintendent
796.43
$22,139.19
Note :- The amount of temporary loans owing by the Committee is $1350. The principal of an investment in one of the special funds paid off in the amount of $2100 has been temporarily applied to the reduction of the debt. When this money is reinvested the debt will be increased by $2100.
The expense of maintaining the school has increased considerably in the last few years. To meet this added cost it will be necessary to supplement the appropriation by the Yearly Meeting, the income from investments and the products of the farm, by continuing to ask Friends to contribute liberally, in order that the work may be main- tained in the way which we believe Friends desire it to be: conducted.
57
Annual Report of the Westtown Committee
To the Yearly Meeting:
The present school year opened with a gratifying increase in attendance as compared with a year ago, the total enrollment now being 235, 117 boys and 118 girls. Of these, 213 are boarders and 22 day pupils. Eighteen different States and three foreign countries are repre- sented. The membership is divided amongst seventeen Yearly Meetings; 138 are members of Philadelphia and 12 come under the recent "one parent a member" pro- vision, making a total of 64 per cent connected with this Yearly Meeting. The enrollment during recent years, beginning six years ago, has been 188, 194, 232, 239, 205, 235.
The usual proportion of our students, about 70 per cent, plan to enter college after leaving Westtown. Many of course, find it impossible or impracticable to attend college, and we believe that the courses of study now offered meet the needs of most of these. It is gratifying to note how many new pupils, who have previously given little thought to college possibilities, gradually find them- selves drawn into the college spirit, and acquire the am- bition to attend. The total number of former Westonians taking regular college courses or working for advanced degrees, steadily increases. The numbers for the past five years, as nearly as can be determined, have been 76, 88, 116, 146, 163. This year the number is 176, scattered in fifty different colleges and universities ranging from the University of California in the west to Harvard Uni- versity in the east, and Oxford University in England.
A year ago Westtown was made a center for the College Board examinations. This is a saving in time and expense to our pupils, and the taking of the examinations amid familiar surroundings is somewhat less formidable than in the City. Thirty-one of our pupils took college
58
examinations last spring, with an 86 percentage of suc -- cess,-a trifle better than the year before.
The teaching staff of the school now numbers twenty- six, five of whom have part time work only.
Eight of the teachers spent a portion of the summer in. study at various universities ; three are this year spending an afternoon and evening each week at the University of Pennsylvania in advanced study. During the winter a. series of seven lectures on topics of modern methods of education have been given to the faculty by Dr. Arthur J. Jones, of the Department of Education of the University of Pennsylvania.
In the late fall, work was begun on the erection of the new building for the Home Economics Department. This. building is located on the west lawn sufficiently near the- girls' end to be heated by the main power plant. It will contain accommodations and equipment for the Home- Economics Department and also for the Art Department .. The unique feature of the building is the included cottage,. for actual house-keeping practice. This is a complete- cottage with living room, kitchen and dining room, and four sleeping rooms. Groups of five girls with the Director will live there for a period of time, preparing their own meals and performing the various duties of the home.
Pending the completion of this building, the work in: Home Economics is being carried on in one of the class- rooms of the main building. The room formerly used by this department in Industrial Hall has been given over to the- Agriculture Department, which now has very satisfactory accommodations, consisting of a class-room with connect- ing laboratory on the second floor of Industrial Hall, and a combined shop and forge-room in the basement. Twenty- two boys are taking work in Agriculture; a new course- was offered this year in elementary general Agriculture; open to both boys and girls, and twelve girls availed them- selves of the opportunity. Fifty-two girls are taking work in Home Economics, in courses varying from one-
59
to eight periods per week. Work in elementary cooking and sewing is required in Third Class and below, cor- responding to Manual Training required of the boys ; twenty-eight girls are in these elementary classes ; twenty- four are taking one or more of the advanced courses, which are elective in the upper three classes.
The requirements for graduation include specified courses in English, History and Mathematics and at least two years of a foreign language. A course of 5 years is offered in Latin, 4 in French, and 2 in German. One hundred pupils are studying Latin, 135 French, and 15 German. It is gratifying that so many continue the study of Latin; the courses in German have regularly been maintained during recent years, though many schools dropped this language during the war, and the number of pupils now electing it shows a slight tendency to in- crease.
During the winter term a week-end Vocational Con- ference was held, under the auspices of the Young Friends Committee of the School. This is the third year that such ·a conference has been held. Speakers representing vari- ous professions told of the opportunities for service offered in their particular lines of work, and it is believed that these conferences are of use in helping the students more thoughtfully and wisely to consider their life plans.
On Armistice Day a pageant was held in the school gymnasium, in which the various peoples of the world were represented, each indicating the contribution which that particular people had made toward the progress of civilization. The exercises were participated in by mem- bers of the faculty and student body, the Westtown Community Club and some of the students from the Normal School at Cheyney. It proved to be a helpful community endeavor, and was apparently successful in bringing out the deeper meaning of the spirit of Ar- mistice Day.
The Community Club continues to hold an important place in the life of the neighborhood. Meetings of a
60
social, literary or recreational nature are held each month .. A good interest is maintained in the Bible School, held. each First-day morning for the children of the community,. and the attendance has increased somewhat. Some of the Senior girls assist in conducting the school.
Religious meetings for employees and others interested,. are held in Industrial Hall, each First-day evening. These- meetings are under the care of the Monthly Meeting and the school bus is sent to the various houses on the farm to bring those who wish to attend. Plans are under way for remodelling the old mill into a Community House: as soon as the necessary funds are obtained. This house: when completed will make a very satisfactory center for meetings, lectures and social gatherings, and will fill a. real need in the neighborhood.
In the matter of student government, the responsibility and authority of the Student Body have been still further extended this year, and much credit is due to the members. of the Student Councils and their associates for their faithful and conscientious work. The whole movement is. one of gradual development and education. It does not so much lessen the work of the faculty as divert it into new channels and methods, and demands on their part a fuller measure of sympathetic understanding. It demands on the part of the students, especially the older. ones, the assuming of greater responsibility and the will -. ingness to do unpleasant tasks; and on the part of all, a: greater conscientiousness and personal initiative. It les- sens the sense of compulsion from without, but increases: in even greater measure the necessity of compulsion from within. Some pupils are unable or unwilling to acquire- this self-mastery, and their school-work suffers, at least temporarily ; but the majority respond to the opportunity of self-dependence and reliance, and gain accordingly ..
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.