m snn OF THE EDINBORO STATE NORMAL SCHOOL Volume II FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1913 COUNTRY SCHOOL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT EDINBORO FIRST OF A SERIES OF CONFERENCES TO BE HELD IN THE CHAPEL ON MARCH FIFTEEN. Superintendent Rapp of Berks County, J. George Becht of the State Board of Education, Professor Wm. A. Elliott of Allegheny Col­ lege and Principal Baker to Give Program of Unusual Interest. Those who know Principal Baker know that there is one subject that claims his particu­ lar interest. His enthusiasm in all matters of edu­ cational value is keen, but let the subject of the welfare of the country school be suggested and all others take a second place. He is a pro­ found believer in the movement for the better­ ment of country life; any work that may tend to increase the efficiency of the rural school has his constant support. He has, from the day of his introduction to Edinboro on Alumni Day of Old Home Week, declared his belief that the peculiar function of the Normal School, that is under his direction, should be in behalf of ele­ mentary education in the country districts. ^To the end of advancing his theories he has ar­ ranged a conference for March 15, that prom­ ises to be of special interest, not only to the en­ tire student body, but to all citizens of the com­ munity. Two sessions will be held as follows: Morning Session at Ten O’Clock Devotional Exercises--The Rev. Mr. Richard A. Buzza Pastor, Methodist Episcopal Church, Eldinboro, Pa. Opening AddressPrincipal Frank E. Baker Forward Movement in Country Schools Mr. Eli M. Rapp Superintendent of Schools, Berks County. Socializing the Country Schools__ Dr. J. George Becht Secretary State Board of Education General Discussion, led by____ Dr. William A. Elliott Professor of Greek Language and Literature, Allegheny College (The topics printed below have been suggested for general discussion.) a St 7. What is the practical limit to the size of consoli­ dated districts? 8. Can rural schools ever become a great force in the community life until teachers become more permanent? 9. What can be done to make teachers of rural schools more permanent? 10. Should normal schools offer a distinctive course for rural teachers ? I I. What plan can be adopted to regulate the pro­ motion of poorly prepared pupils ? 12. To what extent can agricultural courses be in­ troduced into country schools as they are now organized? 13. In what ways can the country school and the country church work together ? Programs and invitations have been issued to some three thousand teachers and educa­ tional men in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It is very probable that the attendance will be Jarge. ■ - ^ Two Important Neetings During the past three weeks Principal Baker has attended two meetings that vitally concern the interests of Edinboro. One, a meeting of the Legislative committee of the State Board of Normal School Principals held in Harrisburg, and the other a PnncipaJs’ Conference in Slip­ pery Rock. At the former, legislative action was discussed and bills drafted to meet the present needs and the year’s requirements of the Normal Schools of the State, and to pro­ vide an adequate appropriation to the State Board of Education to enable it to purchase the stock and equipment of those Normal Schools that have accepted its provisional offer. As a [Concluded on Page Two] No. 10 BASEBALL SCHEDULE IS NEARLY COMPLETE. Edinboro Plays Many Schools For the First Time—More Dates are Open. Manager Fay Daley, of the baseball team, announced today that he had now nine games on the schedule, and the outlook for more was good. Rayen High, of Youngstown, has been offered May 10, or June 14. Slippery Rock Normal, may take May 1 7. It is gratifying indeed to see Allegheny, Thiel, Jamestown, and Chamberlain Military Institute on our schedule. We play Jamestown and Chamberlain for the first time. Several of our strong opponents appear near the opening of the season. Indoor practice will begin next week. The schedule which shows a marked improvement over any of previous years is as follows: Saturday, April 5; Cambridge High at Edinboro. Saturday, April 12; Warren High at Warren. .Saturday, April 19; Thiel at Greenville. , (Saturday, April 26; Allegheny at Edinboro., Saturday, May 3; Jamestown High at Jamestown. Saturday, May 10; open. Saturday, May 1 7; open. Saturday, May 24; Thiel at Edinboro. Friday, May 30; Chamberlain Military In­ stitute at Ramdolph, N. Y. Saturday, May 31; Jamestown High at Edinboro. Saturday, June 7; Chamberlam at Edinboro. Saturday, June 14; open. Saturday, June 21; Reserved for Alumni game. A Forced Contribution. Having been publicly appointed to write an article of at least one hundred twenty-five words for this paper, or else have a certam amount of space left blank and dedicated to me, I have decided to write a few words of warning to the subscribers of the paper who are not members of the school. A short time ago the editor of this paper gave an enthusiastic talk in Chapel. He told us what we should do for the paper, how we should support it, and how it would be im­ proved by our support. Furthermore, he com­ pared the speed with which the paper is to flourish in the future with the speed of a fright­ ened jack-rabbit. So lest you may think, on [Concluded on Page Two] The Cantata. The entire music department is busily en­ gaged in preparing an entertainment which promises to be one of the most pleasing of the year—The Cantata, “Queen Esther.” For several weeks we have heard beautiful melodies floating on the evening breezes from Music Hall, and judging from these, we have no hesitancy in saying that this Cantata is some­ thing eminently worth while. This is not strictly a Normal entertainment, for when Mr. Glea­ son first took up the project, he cordially invited the best talent of the town to aid him, and the people of the town have shown their good will and appreciation by hezurtily responding, and joining with the students to produce one of the most beautiful cantatas ever written. "Queen Esther" is one of Wm. B. Brad­ bury’s productions. The setting of the story is m Persia, 500 years B. C., and the theme, the beautiful story of Esther. This fair Jewish girl, who, having been reared by her uncle, Mordecai, does not disclose her true nationality, even when she becomes wife of the King of the Realm. One of the favorite friends of the King is Hamen, who hates Mordecia, and not knowmg his relation to the Queen obtains a writ from the King that all Jews in the province shall be put to death. Mordecai discovers the plot and persuades Queen Esther to petition »he King for the safety of her people, whijdi she does at the peril of her own life, on A;count of the law that no one shall go before the King unbidden. The King hears her pe­ tition, and Hamen, now defeated, is hanged on the gallows which he had previously prepared for Mordecai. Thus the Jews are saved and Mordecai is given the ofiice of Premier, and there is great rejoicing throughout the province. The cast of characters is as follows: nothing undone to inake this affair a magnificent success, and it will undoubtedly be one of the finest entertainments ever given in Edlnboro. Edinboro Reserves Defeated by Erie High Second Team Passers. The reserves lost to Erie High last Monday night by a score of 31 to 14. The game was almost a repetition of the first team game played with Erie. The Erie boys played a fast and rough game throughout. Unnecessary fouling was promi­ nent. Hayes and Green, up against Mook and Sevin, did not play their accustomed game at forward. DeArment was outjumped by O’­ Connor. Bentley played a good floor game. Porter kept his man from scoring. For a time during the first half it looked as though Edinboro would outplay their oppon­ ents, but Erie came in strong near the close of the game, and found the basket time after time in quick succession. The line-up: Erie—31. Eldinboro — 14. Mead.. . ______ . R. F. .. .................. ..Green Carney, Sutton........ ... ..L. F... O’Connor.______ ...C. ... ... ___DeArment Mook -. . ______ .R. G.. - — ___ ..Porter Sevin. __________ ..L. G. --------------- .Bentley Field Goals — Mead 4, O’Connor 5, Mook 4, Green 1, DeArment 2, Bentley 2. Goals from Foul—»Mead 3, Sutton 2, Green 4. At the last of December 40,1 59 men were employed on the Panama Canal, of that num­ ber 5,816 were American citizens. Elsther, the QueenMiss Olivia J. Thomas Ahasnerus, the King----------------------------Charles Jones Hamen --------------------- ------------------- Morgan Barnes Mordecai_____________________ F. S. Oleason ZereshMrs. Chalmer Swift Mordecai’s sister.......................... .. Mrs. Frank Bonner Prophetess______________ ___________ ...... Nina Swift A Median Princess,.,--------------- .....Esther Averill A Persian Princess______________ Ethel Howland Scribe____________ Henry Gorlein Beggar____________________________Arthur Johnson .......................... -............................... Herald______________________ LeoArmagost Harbonah---------------------------------------------- Neff Cass A chorus of over forty well trained voices will be one of the main features of the enter­ tainment. The costumes are both elaborate and beau­ tiful. There is not a single part in the whole production that will not bring approval from the audience. Our able director, Mr. Gleason, is leaving Two Important Meetings [Concluded from Page One] of $400,000 for the purchase of the Normal Schools of the State, under provision of-.^he school code of 1911. The particular clause of this last named bill which concerns Edinboro, is that providing the sum of $8,500 for the reimbursement of stock­ holders, the assumption of all indebtedness and the further appropriation of $8,000 for a re­ duction plant. Readers of the Birch Rod are requested to write at once to their Representatives and Sena­ tors urging the passage of these bills which so seriously effect the future of our Normal School. Our earnest hope is that the bills may pass. The meeting in Slippery Rock was concerned chiefly with a new two years’ course of study proposed by Edinboro, which affords graduates of High schools of the first class, an opportun­ ity to complete their professional work in Nor­ mal Schools without repeating subject already studied. The proposed course in general was favorably considered though final action was deferred to a later meeting. A Forced Contribution. [Concluded from Page One] reading the paper, that the students are ne­ glecting their studies and are spending all their tim^ in writing editorials; I wish to inform you that the great improvement is due merely to extra work on the part of the editors and a few of the most energetic students. A Student. Edinboro State Normal School ___ STANDS FOR — A HIGH STANDARD OF SCHOLARSHIP THE AMATEUR SPIRIT IN ATHLETICS WHOLESOME SOCIAL ASSOCIATIONS -------- IT ALSO izzm -------- BELIEVES IN AND SUPPORTS The Birch Rod Address the Principal " Edinboro, Pa. Page Three THE BIRCH ROD IRISH STORY TELLER VISITS EDINBORO. I Was at Reeder Hall Over Sunday—A Survey of His Work. The first number of the lecture course for the winter term was filled by Mr. Suemas Mc­ Manus, on Saturday, January 18. Mr. Mc­ Manus is the Irish story teller. He was born in Donegal where he yet resides. When eighteen he was schoolmaster in the same school house in which he had been a pupil and it was during that time that he gathered much of the material for the fairy and folk tales he now tells. He told to the children here in the afternoon several stories of the faries in Ireland. He told how the fairies first came to Ireland, that during the trouble between the angels in heaven, there were several of those angels who remained neutral, taking neither the side of Satan nor of Michael. Michael triumphed and Satan was cast into hell. Those who had re­ mained neutral, not being allowed to remain in heaven, were given their choice between hell and any other place outside of heaven. Since they had to leave heaven, they wished to be in a place as near to it as possible, and chose Ireland. In the evening he gave an idea of the strange and general belief in fairies now exist­ ing in Ireland. He told how the people gath­ ered in the evenings at the house where Bacach happened to be. Bacach was the wandering beggarman 'who travelled from house to house and stopped where he wished as an honored guest. The neighborhood was informed of his coming and came from all around. They had first a long prayer and when it was over, the stories began, lasting far into the night and * sometimes even until morning. Mr. McManus remained in Edinboro until Monday. Sunday evening, he entertained in Reeder Hall parlors, those of the faculty, who are rooming in the halls, with selections from his own writings. He has written for the At­ lantic, Harpers, the Independent, the Outlook, the World’s Work and a number of other magazines. Some of his poms are "I Under­ stand,” “An Exile,” and “An Irish Lullaby.”He also wrote “Bachelors of Braggy,” “New Ireland,” “Ballads of a Country Boy,” and “Donegal Fairy Stories.” Mrs. McManus has written many poems which have also been published. She writes under the name of Ethna Carbery. On leaving here Mr. McManus went to Akron, Ohio, where he was to lecture. From there, he intended going south, through Ten­ nessee and Alabama and, later on, west through California, Oregon and Washington. In May or June, he is to sail for Ireland. Mr. McManus mentioned that there were twenty m llion people of Irish descent in the United States, that number far exceeding those in Ireland. He expressed his opinion that home rule would do much to help the Irish, but the thing to be greatly desired is independence. II m Greater Erie's Greater Store—Boston Store m m m A Comfortable Store A large, roomg comfortable store in which to do gour shopping—that is what we claim for the BOSTON STORE. In considering the comfort and convenience of our customers, we have studied how best we could arrange store facilities to make this the most attract­ ive store in Erie in which to do pour trading. Our out of town customers we have had particularlg in mind and we have provided Rest Rooms, Bu­ reau of Information, etc., for their comfort. You mag have gour wraps and other parcels checked at the In­ formation Bureau, Main Floor, thus leaving gou unemcumbered when doing gour shopping. Then the Din­ ing Room in the Basement gou will find most restful and cheerful after a shopping tour. Regular Dinner served dailg and lunches at all times. You would not expect better or tastier cooking in gour own home than gou will find in our dining room. n to m m The merchandise of a store, of course, is the backbone of its success, and we claim larger and bet­ ter assorted stocks and as low if not lower prices than gou will find elsewhere. To the students of Edinboro Normal and their friends especiallg we extend an invitatiod to make the BOSTON STORE gour store home. ERIE DRY GOODS CO., State Street, Erie, Pa. Page Four THE BIRCH ROD THE BIRCH ROD A fortnightly newspaper edited by the stu­ dents of The Edinboro State Normal School, and published at the print shop of the Edinboro Independent. TERNS—This newspaper will be supplied for the school year, 1912-13, for the sum of fifty cents, or five cents a copy. This paper is entered as second-class mail matter at the postofBce at Edinboro, Pa. EDITORIAL STAFF Editors.................................Charles Marsh: Donald Richey Athletic Editor............................................Hubert Bentley News Editor......................................................Alice Walker Alumni Editor............................................... Helen Whiting Manager..............................................William T. McKelvey Assistant Manager......................................John Harbaugh “Crawford Jouri^al” for FisbAiary 13» contains an interesting item about the recent visit of some of our Spanish speaking students to Meadville, The following sentence in that article, however, nearly took our breath away: "They are at Edinboro and have been rather handicapped in their studies as there is no in­ terpreter of the Spanish language there." This startled us, for we had flattered ourselves that we were unusually well supplied with men _ 'n our faculty who could interpret the Spanish language. Mr. Barnes of our language de­ partment has had years of experience as a teacher of Spanish in the Thacher School of California, and Mr. Walk of our training department, under whose direct supervision our Spanish speaking students are placed, was a school superintendent in the Philippine Islands for nine years and there learned Spanish. Yet by the high authority of the "Crawford Journal" we are in­ formed that these cultured gentlemen are in­ capable of interpreting the Spanish language. What a blow it is to our self complacency! How our gods are fallen! Any\vay, wasn’t it kind of mean for the "Crawford Journal," even if it did find us out, to expose us to all North­ western Pennsylvania, where we wish especial­ ly to maintain a good reputation? } The Philo Everett Sociey has invited the Potter Society to a special musical program at Chapel Hall, Saturday, March 1, at 6 o’clock. Senior-Junior Scrap. Room 35, Reeder Hall. 2:30 p. m. Officials. January 13. Dean Shiever, Referee. Bruce Patterson, Timekeeper. It has been said that there is only one time in Hubert’s life that his wonderful "gift of gab" failed. This happened one day when "Bent" refused to believe that the Juniors desired him to remove a "Fourteen" Jersey. It seems that seven Juniors were talking the matter over with our worthy Senior (with the proper officials in their respective places, of course.) All of a sudden they could not tell what they wished, forcibly enough, so force seemed inevitable. One Junior nabbed the neck of the "jersey" from behind, while others made sure that "Bent’s" feet were made non-destructive. The struggle between the Senior and the Juniors lasted probably two minutes when three husky Seniors were attracted by the noise. Taking about a minute to force the door open, they rushed into the room only to find Hubert in a comer with his tongue hanging out, and face as black as ink. But the blackness of his face did not seem to worry our patriotic Jun­ iors. They kept wringing and hauling with all their might. It was the "jersey" they wanted: To make a long story short the fresh Seniors soon scattered the murderous mob and helped "Bent" to remove the "jersey." The blackness, then, so