Boys Technical High School - Artisan Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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4 . 1 Q . WI-Ie Builded Better Than He Knew An artisan of the old school, Mr. Frederick Ziegenhagen early in life followed the pattern- maker's craft. With the true craftsman's love for his tools and with the spirit which could be breathed through these tools into works of art, he was able to communicate this feeling of warmth and healthy respect for creating material things to the men of Tech from 1915 all the way down to the present. This affection for craftsmanship has been a stout bastion of the Tech tradition ever since. Not only did Mr. Ziegenhagen teach by this precept and by glowing example, but in 1919, when Tech became a high school, he helped work out the course of study by means of which the artisan's scope could be broadened by academic studies. Occupational skills for the boys first and foremost, but the inner man, an enlightened member of the community, could now grow, thanks to Frederick W. Ziegen- hagen. The people of industry warmly approved. Men of industry had established this school fifteen years before. The Association of Commerce guided its formation as a private school where boys were trained in useful occupations. The admission of Tech into the public school system introduced a new and startlin change in American education. Reading, writing, and a knowledge of mathematics would make a better, a happier, and a more efficient worker-an artisan and citizen. The program ex- g , --Emerson panded and Tech's student body rose to nearly three thousand in 1934. Mr. Ziegenhagenis role as vice-principal grew to meet the expanded horizons of Tech. He showed keen executive ability. F.W.Z. can do it if anyone can was the by-word. And F.W.Z. did it. In 1945 he became principal, and his topnotch administra- tive ability was employed to its greatest point. He fixed his eyes firmly upon the final goals of students, yet kept his finger upon the pulse of industry so that immediate response to its needs could be met by changes of emphasis in the curriculum. The teacher in him was never subdued. His main goal, the goal of all teachers, remained the welfare of his charges. He constantly stressed the importance of craftsmanship: the sheer love of a good Workman for his tools and the things he could create with them. He envisioned a bigger school to carry on this immensely important work which, in his own words, has made 'fonly a beginning in this service for the community. The new school is almost ready. Everything about Tech, new and old, every stone in the buildings, each tradition, every faculty mem- ber, and every student, has been built in some way by having known him. Mr. Ziegenhagen! The 1959 Artisan is respectfully, gratefully, and affec- tionately dedicated to you.

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The history of Boys, Tech pretty will parallels the life of Mr. Frederick W. Ziegenhagen. When Tech's life began, our prin- cipal was working in indus- try. After Tech was taken over by the Milwaukee School Board and the en- thusiasm of the working people caused our school to be filled to overflowing, Mr. Ziegenhagen decided to devote his life to his fellow man in the field of education. He saw our building grow from its be- ginnings through a series of expansions, and now the finest and largest wing of all is to be opened in Sep- tember. He also saw the curriculum change from its limited beginnings to a reg- ular Milwaukee high school course of study which pre- pares students for industry or college. This grand career in education is depicted on these two pages. As a mem- ber of the 1917 faculty we see Mr. Ziegenhagen, the drawing teacher, in the pic- ture at the upper right. He is the second person in the second row sitting along- side Mr. T. Thom of our Machine Shop. As an in- structor in Manual Arts we see him running a class in the lower right hand pic- ture. He later became chairman of the Cabinet Making Department. When