Student Rules, 1926

These regulations are taken from the 1926-1927 Hand Book of East Carolina Teachers College. These handbooks were originally printed by the YWCA and are quite small, measuring 4 3/4" x 3".Some hyperlinked footnotes have been added to aid the reader.

The Student Handbook is available for researchers to use in the library in the North Carolina Collection, call number LD1741 E44 A15x, and the University Archives.

Citation for this excerpt is: YWCA.Hand Book of East Carolina Teachers College, ECTC, Greenville, NC, 1926, pages 37-48.

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REGULATIONS

These regulations go into effect on a student's arrival in Greenville.

SCHOOL HOURS

Rising Bell -- 6:30 a.m.
Breakfast -- 7:30 a.m.
Lunch -- 12:50, except Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
Dinner -- 5:55 p.m.
Recitations begin 8:35 a.m. and close at 12:30 p.m.
Recitations begin at 1:50 p.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

No students shall leave the dormitory before 6:30 a.m.

Study periods shall be kept in dormitories by students who are not on classes from 8:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This does not prevent one student from studying in another's room provided quiet is observed.There shall be quite in the dormitories from 7:30 p.m to 6:30 a.m.

Quiet must be observed in the library at all hours. [1]

There shall be reasonable quiet in the dormitories and administration building at all times. [2]

Students must stay in their own rooms when they do not attend church and Sunday school Sunday mornings and YWCA services on Sunday evenings.

Evening Study Hour

1. Study hour shall extend from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., during which time students shall remain in their own rooms unless permitted to study elsewhere.
2. Students must go to their own dormitories when the fifteen minute bell rings.
3. Bells ring fifteen minutes before study hour and meals and ten minutes before quiet hour on Sundays.
4. Five minutes after the ringing of the meal bells students must be at their place in the dining room.

Office Hours of the Lady Principal

8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Monday, and directly after meals on all other days of the week.There are no office hours on Sunday.If necessary girls may see Lady Principal at any time. [3]

Infirmary Hours

1. Regular hours for consultation are directly after meals.
2. Girls needing medicine must get it before 7:30 p.m.In case of emergency, girls may go to the infirmary at any hour.
3. Sick students are not to be visited without permission from the Lady Principal. [4]

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Students must not use the telephones without permission.
2. Students who do not take music are not allowed in the practice rooms during school hours, nor to use the pianos at any time.
3. Students may use the piano in the recreation hall and gymnasium after school hours.
4. Gasoline and benzine are not to be used. [5]
5. Students must go immediately to their own dormitories when the 10 o'clock light winks. [6]
6. There shall be no talking, reading or writing during Chapel exercises. [7]
7. Students must not use electric irons, chafing dishes or sterno outfits.Curling irons must not be used in the dormitories that are not fireproof. [8]

Social Regulations

1. Calling hours are from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. on week days; on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m.; in evenings from 8:00 to 10:15 p.m.
2. Students who expect company on Sunday (relatives or friends) must file their own names and room number, and the names of the people who are to come.These must be filed not later than Saturday.
3. When a student wishes to go calling, she must sign her name, the name and address of the person upon whom she wishes to call, and file in the office of the Lady Principal not later than 1:45 p.m. on the day she wishes to call.If she hears nothing further from the Lady Principal, it is understood that her request is granted.
4. After public entertainments students may converse with guests, but must bid them good night before leaving the Administration Building.
5. Students must not dine at restaurants, go to any office or to the rail road station without special permission from the Lady Principal.
6. Students may speak to young men on the street, but not carry on an extended conversation with them, or walk with them.
7. Students must wear hats when shopping or calling.

General Privileges

1. Students may go shopping on Monday mornings or afternoons and Friday afternoons.
2. On leaving and returning to the campus students must register.
3. Students must have a special permission sent directly to the President of the College from their parents for out-of-town privilege.
4. No student may go calling and shopping on the same permission unless it is her shopping day.Students who wish to go calling must return directly to the college unless permitted to do otherwise.
5. Students may occasionally go driving on any afternoon except Sunday, with chaperones approved by the Lady Principal.Students may go to ride with parents and near relatives on Sunday afternoons.
6. Students may spend Sunday in town with relatives with permission of the Lady Principal.
7. No student is to go home or make any out-of town visit two week-ends in succssion without special permission from the President of the College.No student is to leave the college for a week-end visit within the first three weeks after the opening of the fall term, unless given a special permit by the President of the College.
8. A student must not leave the college on Saturdays until 30 minutes before her train time, and must return on Monday within 30 minutes after her train arrives at the station in Greenville, unless especially permitted by the College to do otherwise.
9. A student may leave the College for week-end visits after she has finished her last class on Saturday, and must return before study hour Monday night.
10. Students may go to the Picture Show once a week.The picture must be approved by the Advisory Board of the Student Council.
11. Students may spend Saturday and Sunday nights out of their rooms with permission from the house president, provided there are not more than the usual number in the room.
12. Students may go walking in groups of five, provided they sign up and do not go to town -- the streets which may be used are Student and on to the river, that part of Fifth street which leads toward Washington, and out Charles street.Students may also wear knickers when going on a hike.
13. Students may have their mothers, sisters and girl friends visit in their rooms from 3:30 until 5:45 p.m.
14. Students may be permitted to see near relatives at any time except when going on class or during study hour.
15. Students may have successive dates with the same boy if they so desire.
16. A group of people coming to see students for just a few minutes are not required to go to the parlors but may talk with them in front of the building for 10 minutes.
17. Mothers and fathers, when coming to see students, may do anything they wish with them, provided it does not interfere with school work.
18. Lady friends and relatives may be entertained in the parlors of Dormitory A. [9]
19. Students may leave the campus with a grown brother (21) or sister (18) without a chaperone.
20. A privilege granted to a class will not be revoked, but the individual abusing it will suffer the consequences.
21. No student living in town may come into the dormitory without permission granted by the dormitory patron.

Class Privileges

In addition to the general privileges, the following are according to classes:

First Year Normal and Freshman Class [10]

1. One month before Commencement, students may have for one week, the privileges granted to the Second Year Normal Class.
2. Students may have company twice a month, on Saturdays or Sundays.
3. Students may go calling twice a month.

Senior Normal and Sophomores

1. Students may go down town any afternoon except Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Students may occasionally take meals in town with relatives with permission from the Lady Principal.
3. Students may study in the class rooms at night with permission from the Lady Principal.
4. Students may have company one night a week.
5. Students may spend one weekend each term with friends, with permission from parents mailed directly to the President of the College.
6. Students may go calling once a week.
7. Sophomores are allowed Junior privileges the last month of the spring term.

Junior Class

1. Students have all the aforementioned privileges.
2. Students may use Study Hall at night.
3. Students in groups of twos may sign up and walk off campus in the vicinity of the College except during school hours.
4. Students may have three dates during one week-end, once each term, provided the friend comes from a distance.
5. Students may get permission from SGA President occasionally to go to the café.
6. Students may go down town any afternoon after 12:30, provided it does not interfere with school work.
7. Students may go to ride with friends (with permission from home) chaperoned by an approved Senior.

Senior Class

1. Students have all the aforementioned privileges.
2. Students may go to church or to the theatre with brothers by filing their names.
3. Students may go to church or to the theatre with a gentleman friend, provided there are two girls in the group and they return immediately after the show or church.The shows must be approved.
4. Students may go to the Picture Show one afternoon or evening each week, provided they go in groups of four in the evening.
5. Go up town any time, except during class periods, between 12:30 and dinner.
6. Entertain a woman friend in the dormitory one night during commencement.
7. Go to the cafeteria for lunch and dinner, returning in time for study hour (except on Sundays).
8. Study in one another's room during study hour with reasonable quiet.

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Footnotes

1. The library was located in Whichard. Return to text

2. All classes and events were held in the Austin Building, also called the administration building until the Graham was constructed in 1929. Return to text

3. Mrs. Kate Beckwith served as Lady Principal from 1909 to 1925. Miss Annie L. Morton succeeded her in 1926 and was given the title Dean of Women.
   As lady principal, not only was she [Beckwith] charged with guarding [students] morals and well-being, she was also expected to imbue them with the social graces and maidenly decorum appropriate for a Southern lady in the role of a professional woman. During the Progressive Era, this was no simple task, but rather a challenge that embraced the paradox of retaining the posture of traditional and proper feminine dependency while fostering the competency and independence that were essential for a teaching career. Bratton, ECU The Formative Years, pp. 120-121

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4. Before modern medicines were developed, flu epidemics and other illnesses were not uncommon and could become quite serious. In his yearly reports to the Board of Trustees, President Robert Wright often mentioned student illnesses, such as malaria and commented on the school's good fortune for not having an epidemic with students living in such close quarters. Return to text

5. Used in sterno heaters, see footnote 8. Return to text

6. Students refered to the flashing of the lights as wink, wank and wunk. Return to text

7. Chapel was held every day from 9:30 to 10:25. Robert Wright gave the "chapel talks" which were often used to reinforce strict discipline, teach morality, and give general information regarding school matters. Attendance at chapel was required.Return to text

8. Early versions of hot plates. Return to text

9. Fleming Dormitory. Return to text

10. ECTC offered students the option of a four year college degree or a two year "normal degree" teaching certificate. Return to text