It's Academic

Below you will find extracts of the faculty meeting minutes of the Pennsylvania State Normal School of the Second District (now known as Millersville University). These extracts are from the volume covering 1892 – 1896. This volume has not yet been uploaded to the Keystone Library Network digital collection.

Oct. 3, 1892: Teachers are to give pupils every opportunity to learn to express themselves properly. Teachers are to dismiss their classes promptly. Teachers are to come to chapel promptly. Teachers are to “hustle”, not to be negligent or tardy but always prompt.

Oct. 13, 1892: Mr. Croll seems to be wasting his time. He is seen too frequently standing around in the hall.

Oct. 31, 1892: Strickler and Mancha were reported for carrying shovels up into the hall. They each received 5 dem[erits]. Mr. Strickler was reported for swearing, he recieved 5 demerits. Mr. D. Ritchey was reported for swearing, using tobacco in the building and not extinguishing his light at the proper time. He received 11 dem.

Nov. 21, 1892: There will be a sociable on Thanksgiving evening. There is to be no dancing on the chapel platform.

Jan 16, 1893: It was decided that dancing on Fri. and Saturday evening in the chapel shall be discontinued.

Feb 6, 1893: Mr. Pinkham, chairman of the committee on the gymnasium suits for the boys, reported that a suit consisting of
Gray Pantaloons for $2.00
Black Sweater .75
Shoes 1.00
Black Belt .25
Total 4.00
would be a very neat and appropriate suit for the boys.

Feb 13, 1893: Mr. Bitner stated that some of the boys came to the table with their sweaters on, which does not seem appropriate. A short discussion of the subject was participated in by several members of the Faculty. It is thought that the matter will regulate itself.

Feb 13, 1893: Ladies will not clean their rooms before the sounding of the gong.

Feb 27, 1893: Snow-balling must be discontinued in the front campus.

Mar 13, 1893: Boys should not loaf and smoke about the ladies gate. Gentlemen students should keep off the grass in the front yard. There must be no ball playing in the front campus.
The erasers should be cleaned more frequently.

Apr. 10, 1893: The teachers will tell their classes how to move in the halls. Always turn to the right even if you are going in the opposite direction.

May 29, 1893: The senior class does not seem to be doing as well as they did before the honors were given out. It is thought that the honors should be given out nearer final examination.

June 26, 1893: Mr. G.W. Lewis was reported firing torpedoes. He received 10 dem.

June 30, 1893: Girls are not to stay all night in Lanc[aster]. They are not to go to any of the parks in Lanc.

Feb. 5, 1894: Mr. Lansinger, chairman of the committee, to investigate the report that Mr. Stump was selling hard cider to our students, stated that some of the boys in the village bought something at Mr. Stump’s which was strong enough form them to fall. It is not known than any of our boys bought anything to drink at Mr. Stump’s. Mr. Brubaker stated that he heard positively that Mr. Wells got cider at Mr. Stump’s. He sells it at 3 cents a glass. A rumor states that Messrs. Probert, Weiss, and Long have been drinking. Also that Mr. Powall was intoxicated on his birth-day.

Feb. 5, 1894: The committee appointed to consider what constitutes cheating (beg leave) to offer the following report:
1. Any student found using aids of any kind, or found having aids in examination that were previously prepared by himself or obtained from anyone, shall be considered guilty of cheating and shall be at once dismissed from class.
2. Any student found giving aid to any student in examination, shall be regarded as guilty of cheating, and shall be hence dismissed from the examination.
3. Any student allowing any one to copy from his paper, or so arranging his paper as to enable another student to copy from it, shall be regarded as guilty of cheating, and shall be dismissed at once from class.
4. Any student observed looking on the paper of another, shall be considered as cheating, and shall be at once dismissed from class.

Feb. 5, 1894: Mr. Zug confessed that he has been using profane language in the building, he said he could not help it. He hears it at home. No punishment given.

Letter to Mr. S.B, Shank
Feb. 12, 1894
Mr. S.B. Shank,
Millersville, Pa.

Dear Sir,
As secretary of the Faculty, it become my duty to inform you that your son Edwin, is now in only four studies, viz: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Chemistry; and is not doing very well in these. Besides he is absent from class on an average of once a week from each class.
Can you not aid us in having him attend class more regularly? Would it not be better for you to sign his excuses?
Yours truly,
Geo. W. Hull
Sec. of the Faculty

 
Letter to Mr. Charles P. Powell
Feb. 12, 1894
Mr. Charles P. Powell,
Maple, Del.
Dear Sir,

As secretary of the Faculty it becomes my duty to inform you that your son Walter, brought with him on his return to school after the holidays some whiskey which he said was given to him by a friend (young man) in Phila. He drank some of the whiskey on his birthday to cure himself of a sever cold. He has given up the remainder of the whiskey and has promised that he will not drink any intoxicating liquors during his stay at this institution. In other respects he has been a good boy.
Very truly yours,
Geo. W. Hull,
Sec. of the Faculty

 
Mar. 5, 1894: Miss Landes stated that there is a great deal of improper clapping in the literary societies, and asked if any thing could be done to prevent it.
The Prin. stated that there are a few boys here who are both bad and malicious. The hall teachers should be unusually vigilant at the end of the session.

April 2, 1894: Practicing on the bicycle on Sunday is not allowed.

April 23, 1894: Loafing in and near Lincoln hall must be discontinued.

Sept. 24, 1894: A discussion concerning the boarding was participated in by several members of the Faculty in which it was indicated that the bread was not as good as it should be, and less meat would be preferable.

Nov. 12, 1894: It was suggested that the students should not come to the dinning room with sweaters on. Prof. Pinkham will speak to the gentlemen about the matter.

Dec. 3, 1894: It was suggested that the refreshments served at the sociables is objectionable, 1st because they are abused by students going down several times, and 2nd because they are expensive.

Dec. 10, 1894: It was stated that Mr. Clyde Hosletter had not brought the mouse referred to in the last minutes, into the Page Society, but had simply caught it while in the meeting of the society, and left it go again. His punishment was remitted except the 10 dem.

Dec. 10, 1894: Messrs. Brewer and Mesner, continue to go to the dining room with sweaters on.
Messrs. Kerfer and C.A. Apple took carpet from Mrs. Williams and put it on the floors of their room. They were required to return the carpet and each received 5 dem.
It was stated that some of the boys have keys to the dark rooms. These should be returned.

Jan. 28, 1895: Rumor says there is card playing in the gentlemen’s building. A case was reported to the Prin. which was investigated and found to be false.

Feb. 4, 1895: Mr. Cochran desires to know why the Faculty think his influence in the school is bad. The following reasons were given:
1. Uses bad language
2. Manifests a haughty air.
3. Has taken goods from other rooms, and destroyed property.
4 His companions have changed for the worse.

Feb. 18, 1895: Messrs. Wm. Roundsley, Bagenstose, Patterson, Koefer, Kreider and Burns, were accused of playing cards. When called before the committee they all confessed the charge and said they had learned to play cards at home, with the single exception of Mr. Roundsley.
Their punishment was fixed at 10 dem. each, and sign a pledge not to play cards while connected with this institution as students.

Feb. 25, 1895: The Prin. stated that the boys who were playing cards were obliged to sign a pledge which was read. 90 boys signed a paper to use their influence to prevent card playing if the demerits were removed from the boys punished. On motion this was done.

Apr. ,1895 [sic]: A committee composed of Messrs. Lyte, Byerly, Hull, Bitner, Lindsay, and Roddy was called in the public office to consider the care of Mr. Keifer, who was reported for putting his arm around Miss Elizabeth Hunter on the funk’s streets.
Mr. Keifer also went to Lanc. twice without permission.
Mr. Keifer was called before the committee, an he denied the charge. I simply spoke to her, and had done the same thing before and she did not object. As soon as I knew she was in earnest I went away.
After some discussion it was thought best to ask his father to have his son withdrawn from school.

Committee Meeting, Apr. 24, 1895.
Messrs. Lyte, Byerly, Hull, Bitner, Lindsey, Lansinger, Roddy, and Pinkham, met to consider the case of Mr. Keifer.
Mr. Lyte stated that he has written to Mr. Keifer’s father to take his son Guy away from school. But the father came to ask if his son could not remain until the close of the term.
It was stated that on the day when Mr. Keifer had promised his father to do better, he in company with Mr. Coyle kicked a boy’s new hat to pieces.
After some discussion it was moved, and the motion prevailed that he be required withdraw from school to-morrow.

May 14,1895: Mr. McBurney stated that he had been met in his hall in the dark, after the last retiring bell, by two students who, in their endeavor to get away and prevent recognition, threw him to the floor. He is quite sure that one of the boys was Mr. Greider, and the other Mr. Rohrer.
Mr. Grider [sic] having withdrawn from school, Mr. Rohrer was called before the committee. Mr. Pinkham said that Mr. Rohrer had intended not to appear before the committee; but was urged to come and did so. Mr. Rohrer at first denied having any thing to do with the while matter, but afterwards confessed that he was there, but Mr. Greider threw Mr. McBurney.
It was finally decided that Mr. Emerson Rohrer will be required to board out of the building at Mr. Fry’s, and not be allowed to go into the gentlemen’s building.
Mr. Greider will not be allowed to reenter School without first obtaining permission to do so, and if he be permitted to return, must sign a pledge to comply with all the regulations of the school.

June 4,1895: In the report of the visiting committee, it was stated that the students lack in general information.

June 12,1895: It is rumored that Mr. Lynch meets Miss Gert. Miller at Mr. Howards.

June 29,1895:
Faculty met in Room A Saturday Morning at 7.35.
Mr. Metzger water throwing during study period. Mr. Reitzel was the leader. Reitzel threw water seven times on other students, under the doors and through the key-holes. Tudor threw threw once, Jones once, and Flack once.
Reitzel was reported for swearing.
Mr. Free, on the 27 of June, threw a bag of water into Mr. Eschbach’s room.
Mr. Rex was reported for swearing.
Mr. Reitzel received 20 demerits, 15 for throwing water and 5 for swearing.
Mr. Rex received 5 dem. for swearing.
Clyde Eby rec. 15 dem. for throwing water.
Mr. Free ,, 10 ,, for ,, ,,

Oct. 28,1895: Mr. Bitner stated that a committee from the Evan. Church stated that if they received $25 more from the Faculty, they would be able to put several windows with stained glass in, and would name them, Normal School. It was though best by the Faculty not to have any windows marked “Normal School,” The reasons for this decision are (1) If windows were put in Evan. Ch., other churches would have an equal right to ask and expect windows for their churches; (2) If windows of a similar character were not put in the other churches, the Evan. Ch. would appear to be the Church approved by the Faculty; (3) that there would not be a sufficient amount contributed to finish a window which would be a credit to the School.

Oct. 28,1895:
M. Langner.- I was in bed at the time of the noise, got up, and went into the hall. I made a noise like a cat. On a former occasion I took a lamp out of the hall, and carried a piece of pipe into the hall.
Punishment- 10 dem. sign a pledge.
Mr. Witcomb- A helped to make the noise over the transom on the evening referred to, imitating a cat and rooster. Did not help to take the wheelbarrow into the hall, but knew it was going there. I have also repeatedly thrown water from the windows. After leaving the room he returned and said that he had been telling us lies, because the boys told him, that he would fair better if he lied. He then corrected the two statements (1) that he knew what the noise was for, (2) that he knew that the wheelbarrow was brought up for a purpose.
Punishment- 20 dem. sign a pledge
Mr. Cassavant – He was in the noise the first night, but not the second. Was in the nocturnal parade.
Punishment- 5 dem. for going to Lanc. without permission, and 10 for noise in the hall. Not punished yet for parading
Mr. Melvin- was not in the noise but took part in the nocturnal parade.
punishment – not fixed
Mr. Witmer- Was not in any of it.
Mr. Miller- Was not in any of it, simply asked students for stories

Nov. 25,1895: It was reported that there is too much candy made among the ladies. They get the butter and sugar in the dinning room.

Dec. 9, 1895: Miss Hughes is not doing well in class. She reads too many novels.

Dec. 10, 1895: Case.- Mr. Cassavant met Miss Sadie Flack at the west end of Millersville and had met frequently before.
Mr. Cassavant .- was called before the committee and said he took a walk with Miss Flack. I did not know she was going out. Never met her before, and was with her this time about 5 min and left her near the car house.
Misses Lyle, Landes, Taylor and Myers were added to the committee and Miss Flack was called in.
She said.-“I met Mr. Cassavant on the way to Petersville in front of the small house on the hill (above Rummels). I told him in Gram Class that I was going to take a walk and he replied all right. I left him at the leather store (Brubaker’s). I met him beyond the limits, around the big square. I met on Thanksgiving day.
Punishment.- Miss Flack will received 15 dem. be required to sign a pledge, be campused indefinitely and be obliged to write to her parents, who in turn will write to the Prin.
Mr. Cassavant was required to withdraw from school.

Dec. 16,1895: The ladies will not skate on the Conestoga.

Feb. 26,1896: It was decided to have a rule hereafter that any student who tells the faculty a deliberate lie shall receive 10 dem. for the offense.

Mar. 2, 1896: Mr. Hosletter promised to send some matter concerning the Armenians. A collection will be taken up in the chapel on Wednesday, for the relief of the Armenians.

June 22, 1896: Mr. Clyde Hosletter rec. 5 dem. for annoying a drunken man in chapel.

July 3,1896: Mr. Clayton Hess rec. 10 dem. for carelessness