Ben Blewett High School - Brochure Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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BEN BLEWETT Ben Blewett was born at Russellville, Ky., February 25, 1856. He was educated at Washington University, attaining the follow- ing degrees: A.B., 1876; A.M., 1879; L.L.D., 1916. JESSIE mil FUHD rcd-and JANE-ELIZAl established- August -the - fourtn-igio as a-fund-on THE SAINT LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION for - the relief- of ■ dist r e s r nd for-the ,aa a(iceme if: professional-training e foundaticn and-this-its-first net- were-raid to - serve - .as • ah Sarnzed -source • or- aid - for .- ressfonai flmtted-Mean v-mnqw- Tne-yision and • spirit - t.rrat - conceived -and • lnittaS d - tr.c • ideas . ere- recoJ! «tc ' { - vv ;r a- those -of- ( BEN His career with the St. Louis Public Schools is a true story of success, beginning as a teacher at the Cote Brilliante School in 1877. He was an understanding and con- scientious teacher, and in 1878 he was ap- pointed principal of the Lowell School. Then followed the principalships of the Humboldt School, 1880; the Carr Lane School, 1883; the Divoll School, 1884; the Stoddard School, 1889. In 1897 he was made assistant superintendent of instruction, and in June, 1908, he was elected superintendent of instruction, which post he held until his death January 26, 1917. Mr. Blewett was a brilliant educator and was responsible for many improve- ments in the St. Louis Public Schools System. Probably the most outstanding of these improvements was the innovation of the school age legislation. Until 1913, the Constitution of the State of Missouri limited the instruction of children, through the state taxes, to those between the ages of 6 and 20. For several years Mr. Blewett had been working to secure the reduction of the school age limit, but not until 1913 was he successful. In that year the State Legislature granted the reduction with the understanding that all students under six years and over twenty years be educated through the city funds and without aid from the state funds. This legislation was far reaching in effect, for it made possible the attendance at night school by adults without paying tuition and also permitted a child to have an added year of schooling by beginning at the age of five years instead of six years. Another of his most noteworthy contributions to the St. Louis Public Schools System was the Jessie Parsons Blewett Fund. This is a perpetual foundation, laid by Mr. Blewett through a gift of $50,000. The purpose and function of this foun- dation is to aid teachers in financial distress and also to help ambitious and talented teachers in obtaining higher professional training. Page Fire in- suit- 191?

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Dedicated to BEN BLEWETT The teachers and young people of St. Louis have never had a better, truer friend than Ben Blewett. Forty-one years of his great life were devoted to their service. For thirteen of those years it was my great privilege to be associated with him as my immediate superior in that service. In all my experience in education I have met no one for whom I have had a more profound respect or whose friendship I have held in higher esteem. Dignity, honor, courage in the faithful discharge of every duty, unfailing courtesy and justice in his dealing with others, and unselfish devotion to every legitimate demand of his profession, were outstanding characteristics of his great spirit and personality. The influence of such a man will live on. It cannot die. The schools and the people of St. Louis will never lose the fruits of his labor or the impress of his character. The men and women of your class, those who have preceded you, and those who will follow as graduates of your great high school, have in his life an inspiring example of high character, great efficiency and devotion to duty as you face the great problems and responsibilities in life. May the highest success attend your efforts! Very cordially yours, JOHN W. WITHERS Former Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools Page Four

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BEN BLEWETT HIGH SCHOOL The Ben Blewett High School is the result of many years of earnest endeavor in the field of education. In 1917, four months after the death of Dr. Ben Blewett, Dr. J. W. Withers, superintendent of schools following Doctor Blewett, recommended that the site of this school be purchased. Up to that time it belonged to Wash- ington University and the two buildings were occupied by Smith Academy and the St. Louis Manual Training School, two lower schools of Washington University. The property was bought for $300,000, and after several months of preparation, it was opened in September of 1918 as the Junior High School. Later, on the further recommendation of Doctor Withers and in honor of the deceased Ben Blewett, the school was renamed Ben Blewett Junior High School. Continuing as a junior high school until 1932, Blewett became nationally famous as an institution of learning. Now as a regular accredited high school it is fast making its place among the leaders. The principals of the school, in their chronological order, are: P. W. L. Cox, L. W. Rader, Dr. H. H. Ryan, H. H. Meeker, and finally our own Miss L. R. Ernst. Page Six