All books or periodicals, when sent or brought to the college, shall be submitted to the Faculty, and none shall be retained by any student, unless with its approval. No newspaper shall be received by the students, and those furnished by the Managers shall be read in the students’ parlor only.
--From “Rules of Haverford School”
The Friend, a Quaker newspaper, was approved reading for Haverford's first students
Just as they do today, the earliest Haverford students spent a significant proportion of their time studying. However, as you can see from their schedule below, their reading and other activities were much more tightly controlled. At first, everything students read on campus required the approval of the faculty. Evidence from the Board of Managers’ minutes indicates that either justifying or enforcing this regulation soon became difficult. The Managers were already discussing the relaxation of this rule in 1836.
Student Autumn Term Schedule, 1834
(taken from the Board of Managers minutes)
6:00am: | All students wake to a bell (5:30 in summer, 6:30 in winter) |
6:30am: | Students answer roll-call and hear daily scripture |
6:45-7:30am: | Morning study and lesson preparation |
7:30-8:30am: | Breakfast and recreation |
8:30-9:30am: | Horticultural labor (or Gymnastics in winter) |
9:30am-12:30pm: | Morning lessons and recitations |
12:30-2:00pm: | Dinner and recreation |
2:00-5:00pm: | Afternoon lessons and recitations |
5:00-6:00pm: | Horticultural labor or other exercise |
6:00-7:00pm: | Supper and recreation |
7:00-8:00pm: | Lecture by faculty member |
8:00-8:45pm: | Evening study and lesson preparation |
8:45-9:00pm: | Suitable Serious reading by the Superintendent |
9:00pm: | Bedtime |