Eastern Michigan University - Aurora Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

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President L. H. Jones

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irhigan Stair nrmal Glnllrgv L. H. JONES, A.M., PRESIDENT Svtaxtr Eineirh nf Ehuraiin11 HON. D. M. FERRY, President. HON. W. A. COTTON, Vice-President. HON. W. J.-MCKONE, Treasurer. HON. L. L. VVRIGI-IT, Secretary. HON. L. L. WRIGHT, Superintendent of Public Instruction,

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reaiinent E. Q. EIIJHPZ gratulated in having for its president a man splendidly equipped by nature, training, and experience as L. H. Jones. It would seem that every moment of his career has been preparing him for the suc- cessful administration of tl1e greatest institution for the training of teachers in the Middle West. Graduating from the State Normal School at Oswego, N. Y. at a time when that institution was the recognized leader in elementary education. he was immediately employed as one of its reg- ular instructors. However, a craving for a better and deeper knowledge of natural science soon took him to Harvard University, where he received further inspiration for his life work from the famous Agassiz. Upon leaving Harvard he took charge of the department of science in the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana. The character of his work at this place so attracted the attention of the authorities at Indianapolis that Mr. Jones was soon invited to identify himself with the educational interests of this city. It was here that his life work really was begun-at first in the high school, next as principal of the training school, and then as superintendent of the city system, forga period of ten years-by which he was enabled to work out his theories of education to such an extent that the schools of this city were recognized by the best critics of the country as standing for all that is good in educational theory and practice. Dr. Rice in his famous articles writ- ten for The Forum, after visiting thirty-six of the great school systems of the United States, unhesitatingly placed the Indianapolis schools at the head. It was here, too, that ward politics were relegated to the background and the HE Michigan State Normal College is to be con- . . . . so superintendent of schools became so in fact as well as in name. His greatest work here being accomplished, the city of Cleveland, Ohio, presented its claims to the services of our distinguished educator. It was here that Mr. .Tones was destined to occupy a position unique in the history of modern education. He was elected to the superintendency in this city on the same basis as judges are appointed to the Supreme Bench. His power was absolute in so far as the employment or dismissal of teachers was concerned and he exercised entire control over courses of instruction and methods of presenting subject matter. Such power as this could not go entirely unopposed. Politicians were loathe to give up their hold on the school system for purposes of patronage.. The law in itself was not perfect. But it was here that one of the greatest experiments in school admin- istration was to be worked out. Mr. Jones devoted him- self untiringly to this task for a period of eight years and what he did in Cleveland has borne fruit in not less than a score of our greatest American cities. The State Normal College was known to have had designs on the services of President .Tones even during his residence in Indianapolis, and five years ago, almost with- out hope of his accepting, our State Board -of Education offered him the Presidency of the Normal College. To the great satisfaction ofall he is now with us, and has just been re-elected for another term of Eve years. In addition to his active school work, he has been a member of the National Educational Association since 1872 and a member of the National Council of Education since 1888. In the meantime he has served the association as