Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Oak Yearbook / INSTANO Yearbook (Indiana, PA)

Page 17 text:

JAMES E. AMENT, LL. D. In recent years the Indiana Nnrnial has shown marked development. This may be attributed to many things, the interest taken in her by the Com- monwealth; the gradual, but stea ly growth of the realization that she ailords one of the best opportunities for education given by any .school ; and lastly, the wide-spread knowledge of the retined and homelike atmosphere of the Institu- tion. This development is less noticeable to present sti;dente than to those who were acquainted with the school in earlier stages of its growth. Dr. Anient, the school ' s present executive, more than any other one principal the school has had, has brought about the conditions placing Indiana foremost among the normal schools of Peinisylvania. James E. Anient was born, September 2, 1863, at Woodburn, Illimis, his parents being James Roe and Emily Dodson Anient. Though born in the North, Dr. Ament ' s ancestry are of Southern extraction. His great-grandfather was Thomas Metcalfe, U. S. Senator, and former Governor of Kentucky. Directly or indirectly, the family, on the paternal side, is also related to the Dyers and the Monroes. Dr. Ament ' s mother ' s family, on the maternal side, were the Wil- liamses, of Amher.st County, Virginia. Ili.s grandfather, on his mother ' s side, was Dr. Eli Dodson. of iManchester, England. Dr. Anient has great love for teaching, and teaches because of that love. He always says that he became a teacher (|uite by accident, that he was really intended to be an architect. His training in, and knowledge of, architecture has been of the greatest value to him, however, in his work of building up great schools. His early education was received in the public schools of his nat ive state, and in Valparaiso Univensity. Later, his interest in education led him to graduate from th( Illinois State Normal University. Kentucky University made him a Doctor of Laws. Though never matriculating as a regular student, Dr. Ament has been an independent student of University Administration at the seats of several of our noted universities. For this purpose, he lived a year at Ann Arbor. Dr. Ament ' s teaching career began in 1882, at which time he became a teacher in the public schools of Illinois. In 1802, he was chosen superintendent of schools of Carroll, Iowa. He left this position in 1895 to become Superintend- ent of the City Schools of Rock Island, Illinois, the last position he held in public school work. In 1897, he ' became the first president of the Northwestern State Normal School at Alva. Oklahoma. In 1904 he iiecame president of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, lissouri, continuing there until 1906, when he took up his work as principal of Indiana State Normal School. In all the positions he has held, large growth has come to the .school, and hi.s admini.stration is always remembered as one of great prosperity. During his work as an educator, he has contributed many articles, based on educational problems, which are of great value. Dr. Anient is also a member of the National Educational Association.