Eastern Michigan University - Aurora Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

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PRESIDENT JONES

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(SiTrtiugs tu thr (tlass nt lUflU HiJl ' TH, good health, high aspirations, noble enthusiasms anri right ideals form the best possible equipment for one ' s life work. Some of these you have by native endowment, and others of them you are now enga.ned in acquiring. Especially is it true that now you are forming those conceptions of life, conduct and achieve- ment which are likely to dominate your course throughout life. While you rejoice in your youth and dream of achievement, may the light that never was on sea or land guide ycu as truly as the star of old guided the wije men of the East! I who once was young and now am old am glad of this oiportunity to say to you that glorious as is your youth and hopeful as is your outlook upon life, the best is } ' et to be. The sense of work accomplished, of trusts nobly borne, of duty bravely done may yet be yours in fuller measure. The Michigan State Normal College will rejoice with you in your successes, s mpathize with you in your temporary defeats, and believe in you always. IVIay the good God above direct your efforts and bless your lives ! L. H. JONES, President.

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rrsiltfut Snnra ■Sj Si RECEDING numbers of The Aurora have T ■ J) ' . given the educational career of President L. H. Ks p Jones somewhat in detail. It may be of interest, therefore, in the present number, after a brief resume of the main facts of his life, to offer a simple analysis of the qualities of mind and heart which have contributed to his eminent success as an educator. He was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, and acquired his early education in the common schools and an acadeni} ' of that state. Graduat- ing later from the Oswego Normal School, New York, he went to Harvard University to study science with the famous Agassiz. With this preparation he began teaching science in the Terre Haute Normal School. After four years here, he went to the citj ' of Indianapolis, where, from a position in the high school, he was pro- moted, first to the directorship of the Training School, and finally to the Superintendency of the city schools. Ten years of distinguished service in this important position led to a call to the city of Cleveland to work out an educational experiment. Can a system of city schools be taken out of politics? May their administration be safely and wisely entrusted to a Superintendent with practically life tenure of office, and with power to engage, promote, and even dismiss his assistants? The successful working out of that experiment, in the face of ceaseless opposition and intrigue on the part of politicians, has become a part of the educational history of the country. In addition to such rich and varied experience in test- ing educational theories by their practical application. President Jones has always kept himself in touch and con- ference with the leading educators of the country. An hour ' s conversation is worth a day of reading, says Bacon, and President Jones has always sought to clarify his own experience and to correct or to confirm his own opin- ions bv face to face discussion with eminent educators. For many years, therefore, he has been a member ot the National Educational Association and always a welcome and able contributor to its deliberations. In 1890 he was made a member of the National Council of Education, was later a member of the famous Committee of Fifteen, and in 1896 was President of the Department of Superintendence. It should seem, then, that President Jones ' s whole life has been in rare degree a professional preparation for the position which he now holds at the head of the -Michi- gan State Normal College. The healthy growth of the institution under his five 5 ' ears of administration, and the hearty and loyal support of his entire Facultj- in carrying out his policies, furnish but new evidence of his rare administrative ability. It was a fitting tribute, therefore, to his service in Michigan that the State Board of Educa- tion granted him a six months ' leave of absence during the present college year. The time was given to extensive travel in Europe, and the President returned in January to receive a rojal welcome from both students and Faculty,