East High School - Quill Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

Page 6 text:

35 Years for the A Dedication Mr. Kenneth Stratton, journalism and English instructor at East, will be ending a 42-year teaching career when he retires in June. By 1930 Mr. Stratton had received the B.A. degree from Simpson College and the M.A. from the University of Minnesota; he had been principal of the high school in Livermore, Iowa; then he was super- intendent of the consolidated school at Irwin, Iowa; he had taught at Faribault, Minnesota; and he had taught one year at Wallace grade school in Des Moines. He came to East in the fall of 1930 to teach English and journalism and also to found the East High Scroll (in 1931). This newspaper has, in recent years, maintained a circulation of 4,000 to 6,000, largely because of Mr. Stratton ' s superior ability as a newspaper ad- viser. Two years ago the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded Mr. Stratton its gold key award as one of the sixteen most outstanding teachers of high school journalism in the U.S. In 1952 his teaching was interrupted when he was selected as the first Ford Foundation Fellow in Des Moines, probably one of the highest honors he has received. He was granted a one-year leave of absence as a Ford Foundation Fellow. During this time, he visited high school English departments throughout the country, and studied at the University of Minnesota. Among other achievements, Mr. Stratton has been president of the National Association of Journalism Directors; he has independently published and sold throughout the U.S. over twenty journalism items (through direct mail); he is co-author of the widely-used journalism text Press Time; and he has been a guest lecturer at high school journalism workshops at four universities. Mr. Stratton has also written several English textbooks and work- books. He revised the book Daily Drills for Better English, and is co-author of two language workbooks for grades 7 and 8. East High can well be proud of Mr. Stratton, as a teacher, author and scholar who has served his profession and his students very well. The East High Quill yearbook staff is proud to dedicate this year- book to Mr. Stratton. ■4-