MPH in the Media

Manlius School noted for its discipline

The Manlius School was founded in 1869 as St. John's School, and it was later reorganized as St. John's Military School. By 1930, it was known as The Manlius School, and it had become one of the top military schools in the country for boys from grades 7-12.

In 1970, Manlius merged with Pebble Hill School to form Manlius Pebble Hill on Jamesville Road in DeWitt. Manlius Pebble Hill is an independent college preparatory school that has carried on many of the traditions of its predecessors.

Bob Oberst, of Syracuse, attended The Manlius School during the 1958-59 academic year and submitted these photos. Oberst attended the school for only one year because his father's job transfers had the family moving around, but he has fond memories of that year.

On what it was like to attend a military school: "As a college prep military school, the campus was run like a military post. Most high school students lived at school in one of three dormitories with their 'companies.' Various military uniforms were worn all the time. . . . Military haircuts were standard. All students and many teachers had military rank (Oberst was a private)."

On eating at the mess hall: "Each private had to take turns being bus boy for the day, which meant he waited on two tables. Meal time was not always serious. One morning, we marched into the mess hall to find a teacher's compact car in the middle of the dining area with our dining tables all around it. Then there was the day when the head of our table was dishing out spaghetti and he found a dead mouse in it so our table fasted for that meal."

On the classes: "The highest ranking cadet called the (English) class to attention when our teacher, Capt. Marsh, came into the room. Capt. Marsh said, 'Before this academic year is over, half of you will fail this class.' Some students laughed, but by the end of the year we saw that he was correct.

"Most of my classes were not as intense, but a good deal of learning went on in them.

"Classes in military science and tactics were an important part of our education. . . . We had to learn to disassemble an M-1 rifle and then reassemble it in the dark."

On having fun: "We had a snack bar called the Phoenix Tavern, where we could entertain guests on weekends and enjoy free time. There were social events and dances, but these were expensive.

"Across the road from our campus was an amusement park called Suburban Park. One day a year our whole school was invited to go to the park exclusively. The rest of the year the park was off limits."

On what the year meant to him: "It was with great pride at the end of my year at Manlius that our entire school in our best 'A' uniforms marched behind our color guard and our own HQ band in the May 1959 Syracuse Memorial Day parade.

"My year at The Manlius School helped me to build self-confidence and showed me the value of academic as well as physical hard work. . . . My year at Manlius gave me a better understanding of my father and his years of military service. It also gave me some of the tools I greatly needed to graduate from college and complete my military service."